Rights Groups Oppose U.S. Bid for Exemption from War Crimes Tribunal

[Spazito]

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 21 (OneWorld) - Amid global outrage over the abuse by U.S. soldiers of Iraqi detainees, the Bush administration has asked the United Nations (news - web sites) Security Council to exempt its troops serving in UN-approved peace-keeping operations from prosecution for war crimes before the new International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague (news - web sites) in the Netherlands for another year.


The request, expected to be debated before the Security Council Friday, comes less than six weeks before the current exemption--which many international-law experts believe violates the UN Charter--expires. Observers said the move appears designed to get the issue out of the way now, so that Washington can focus its diplomatic efforts in the UN on obtaining a new resolution authorizing the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq (news - web sites) from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to a new Iraqi government by June 30.


Still, the timing of Washington's move struck some analysts as less than ideal, given the global attention the ongoing prisoner-abuse scandal has received since photos depicting the sexual humiliation and mistreatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad were leaked to the press three weeks ago.


The abuses depicted in the photos, as well as subsequent media accounts, testimony before the U.S. Congress, and the circulation of reports by human rights groups and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), indicate that the U.S. military may be responsible for war crimes under the Geneva Conventions in both Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites) that theoretically could be prosecuted before the ICC.

more

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/oneworld/4536865621085149503

[jay-3d]

1. Maybe

bush is afraid he will be prosecuted.

[Just Me]

2. Well, you gotta' admit that this administration's inflamatory timing,...

,...on pretty much every single thing it does,...is quite spectacular. It's as if,...they just cannot help but piss everyone off,...their arrogance and "holier than thou,...we can and will do whatever the hell we want to do" thingy is absolutely mind-boggling.

[Tinoire]

3. NO Exemptions!

These Nazis must be prosecuted and made to pay for their crimes so we can reclaim our name.

Until that day, I will not be proud to be an American and God how I yearn to be proud of being an American again.

[mom cat]

4. You can and should be proud to be a true Constitution loving,

freedom fighter for America. I have no pride in what the illegal administration is doing but I'm proud of all the Americans and true freedom lovers are doing all around the world, and that includes you. I'm rather new to DU, but I have particularly appreciated your posts. Don't wet the bushies shame become yours. peace, and keep up the fight.

[Tinoire]

5. Thanks Soulsick - You're right

We have no reason to be ashamed!


It's so hard to put in words what I'm feeling though because one minute it's utter stupefication, the next it's rage, the next it's deep hurt and all of those emotions rotating like the kaledeiscope of photos we're seeing. But no shame, this is, as you said, Bush's shame and we should keep it that way.


I'll take that to heart and by the way, welcome to DU :)

[mom cat]

8. Thanks! I'm glad to be here. As a therapist, i work a lot with

abuse survivors in giving the shame back to the perpetrators. I know whay you mean by a swirl of feelings. Frankly I have gone to the numb zone since the Berg video.

[Hand]

6. Security Council to Chimpy:

[crossroads]

7. Isn't it a bit late now! ... Nice timing eh?

ONE word: Photos!
:eyes:

[cal04]

9. U.S. Faces Growing Opposition to Exempt U.S. Peacekeepers From War Crimes

The United States faced growing opposition Friday to a new exemption for American peacekeepers from international prosecution for war crimes, with human rights groups arguing that it is unjustified in the face of the prisoner abuse scandal.

The Bush administration argues that the International Criminal Court - which was established on July 1, 2002 and started operating last year - could be used for frivolous or politically motivated prosecution of American troops.

When the court was established, the United States threatened to end far-flung peacekeeping operations established or authorized by the United Nations if it didn't get an exemption for American peacekeepers
Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice program at Human Rights Watch, said Friday he expects the resolution to pass, but he told a news conference that the growing number of abstentions should send a strong message to Washington that much of the international community opposes immunity for U.S. troops.

He said the reports of "sexual humiliation and savage beatings" of Iraqi detainees by U.S. soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad highlight the importance of an international court of last resort to prosecute war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBSUY95JUD.html

[Jack Rabbit]

10. All people of goodwill should oppose the junta's attempt to exempt itself

The invasion of Iraq for what amounted to no reason was a war crime on its face; the torture of POWs and other protected persons is that much worse.