Iraqis lose right to sue troops over war crimes

[elf]

Military win immunity pledge in deal on UN vote

Kamal Ahmed, political editor
Sunday May 23, 2004
The Observer

British and American troops are to be granted immunity from prosecution in Iraq after the crucial 30 June handover, undermining claims that the new Iraqi government will have 'full sovereignty' over the state.
Despite widespread ill-feeling about the abuse of prisoners by American forces and allegations of mistreatment by British troops, coalition forces will be protected from any legal action.

They will only be subject to the domestic law of their home countries. Military sources have told The Observer that the question of immunity was central to obtaining military agreement on a new United Nations resolution on Iraq to be published by the middle of next month.


more herehttp://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1222817,00.html

[elf]

1. a scandal

how did they manage that

[number6]

2. Iraqis lose rights ...

:(

[Tinoire]

3. Disgusting. I hold my breath though- there will be an international

tribunal to judge this. No way can this go unpunished!

[elf]

4. I heard

that the USA threatened, to get out of the NATO in case, they don't get immunity

[Tinoire]

6. You know what's hilarious about that? Europe doesn't want NATO anymore

they want their own defense forces and have been not only making a lot of noise about it but actively working towards it. France and Germany have been pushing the EU to include a mutual defense clause and a defense structure independent of NATO.

This is really too rich :)

I hope the EU has the strength to stand up now but it may be a little too early.

===

<snip>

French President Jacques Chirac, Germany's Gerhard Schroeder, and the leaders of Belgium and Luxembourg are pushing for EU military planning and command structures, separate and independent from the US-led NATO alliance. The four leaders also want clear treaty provisions for "structured cooperation" on defense which would allow small groups of EU nations to forge ahead with military integration without waiting for potential skeptics to catch up. And in a first for the EU, they want the new constitution to include a mutual defense clause.

Officials in Washington make no secret of their suspicions of the EU's defense moves, especially since the four countries leading the initiative opposed the Iraq war and are refusing to take part in the country's post-war reconstruction effort. Americans are especially worried at signs that British Prime Minister Tony Blair – America's staunchest European ally and a strong opponent of any non-NATO based European defense cooperation – may be starting to sympathize with his continental counterparts on EU defense plans.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld used a NATO meeting in early October to warn Europeans of his opposition to the Union's military ambitions.. A few weeks later, US envoy to NATO Nicholas Burns told a meeting of the alliance's 19 members in Brussels that independent EU defense represented "one of the greatest dangers to the transatlantic relationship." NATO Secretary General George Robertson has cautioned EU governments on wasting resources by duplicating alliance structures and capabilities, telling the four EU defense pioneers that what Europe needs are "more usable soldiers and fewer paper armies."

<snip>
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=2693

[Aidoneus]

8. these tribunals only work..

either with victor's justice, or because of overwhelming power over those being prosecuted to neutralize their natural opposition. I don't see the latter happening. I suspect the only judge that will hear these cases shoots flaming hot metal from his eyes.

[Peak_Oil]

5. Shameful.

We as citizens should be upset about this. When we support putting Bush above the law abroad, what do you think will happen at home?

[fairfaxvadem]

7. well there's a sweet deal.

Go invade a country with a "get out of jail free card". Must be nice. I don't mind paying my taxes for the best military the US can provide, but I do mind them being used as a mercenary army for special interests.

How many more ways will Iraq get screwed? We will probably lose count.

[Must_B_Free]

9. This action is aimed at stopping the Abu Ghraib photo leak

On CNN last night, it was revealed that the photos only leaked because they were required to be given to the defense lawyers as part of the discovery process for the Iraqis who were suing the US for the torture they endured.

If you stop them from sueing, you can keep them from having a right to the evidence.

Have they plugged the leak? It seems that UN is interested in participating in the coverup rather than seeking justice. No wonder they won't protect Arafat.