January 23, 2004
From the desk of Jane Galt:Hello, ICC
When Bush failed to sign the treaty for the International Criminal Court, many cited fears that US soldiers might be hauled before it on dubious war crimes charges.
Don't be ridiculous, said critics; it could never happen.
London - Britain's use of cluster bombs in the Iraq invasion could count as a war crime and justifies further investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor in the Hague, a group of international lawyers said on Tuesday..Seven academics from Britain, Ireland, France and Canada interviewed eyewitnesses and examined evidence to see if there was a case for referring British conduct to the court, said the pressure group Peacerights, which organised the review.
"There is a considerable amount of evidence of disproportionate use of force causing civilian casualties," one of the lawyers, Professor Bill Bowring of London Metropolitan University, told a news conference.
'The US cannot be tried before the court because it refuses to sign up to it'
"The United States cannot be tried before the court because it refuses to sign up to it. The United Kingdom did."
Marm - Why risk an M1, when you can bomb from 35,000 ft. without getting your hair mussed?
As for civilians, I agree "collateral damage" is terrible. If the Iraqi's had surrendered and not "sallied forth," then we would not have bombed them. To pin the blame of civilian death on us is a little silly. If Saddam cared a wit about his people, then he would not have defied the cease fire for a decade.
Personally, I think, if I knew the Americans were coming and I saw a column of my country's tanks coming, I would get out of Dodge.
Also, this points out why the UN is ineffectual at best. The countries that would abide by the UN are not the ones invading neighbors and gassing citizens.
Orbitron:
"Unprovoked"? So, is it "unprovoked" if you violate parole, and the cops come to take you in? Is it "unprovoked" if you resist arrest and they break down your door?
You are familiar with the various UN resolutions? That the Iraqis were in violation of them? That they therefore violated the terms of their ceasefire?
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