U.S. Urges Judge to Dismiss Suit on Chemical Use in Vietnam War

[NVMojo]

February 28, 2005

The Justice Department is urging a federal judge in Brooklyn to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at forcing a re-examination of one of the most contentious issues of the Vietnam War, the use of the defoliant Agent Orange.

The civil suit, filed last year on behalf of millions of Vietnamese, claimed that American chemical companies committed war crimes by supplying the military with Agent Orange, which contained dioxin, a highly toxic substance.

The suit seeks what could be billions of dollars of damages from the companies and the environmental cleanup of Vietnam.

In preparation for legal arguments scheduled for today in United States District Court in Brooklyn, Justice Department lawyers filed a brief last month that described the suit as a dangerous threat to the president's power to wage war and an effort at a "breathtaking expansion" of the powers of federal courts.

Though the case drew little attention when it was first filed, it has become an important test of the reach of American courts, drawing worldwide interest and setting off a fierce debate among international-law experts.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/nyregion/28orange.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[LynnTheDem]

1. U.S. urges charges against Iraq for chemical use in Iran-Iraq war

America; biggest hypocrite on the planet. And Americans can't figure out why they're so hated.

[EFerrari]

2. And they can't figure it out WHILE we're using napalm and depleted

uranium in Iraq.

[merwin]

3. So it's ok for us to have and use chemical weapons, but not for other

countries? How the hell does that make sense?

[LynnTheDem]

4. Because, as the Germans used to say, we're UBERMENSCHEN.

We're the best.

We're the greatest.

We can do whatever we want.

We're AMERICANS, we're above all others.

[cthrumatrix]

10. will we see any MEDIA debate and discussion on this....? NO

[dbt]

5. I don't need to hear another damn WORD about the power of courts!

In light of Bush v. Gore, HOW could the power of federal courts have any more "breathtaking expansion?" Moot point or Straw Man? You decide.

And, given the US track record since WWII, it might be time to threaten the "president's power to wage war."

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I cannot understand why any justice loving American would vote Republican.

It's obvious that the things that piss off redneck-style Republicans, are the very things that the Republican party wishes to legitimize. Using government to allow mighty corporations to continue abusing people doesn't sound like a platform anyone can win on, but, there it is.

[NVMojo]

7. Repubs are still drinking the neocon koolaid ...sadly.

[daleo]

8. If Saddam had used agent orange... n/t

[NNN0LHI]

9. I just clicked on this thread with the intent of posting what you just did

Weird.

Don

[daleo]

11. Collective unconscious, or 'great minds...' maybe. n/t