Phillipe Sands was a guest on NPR's Fresh Air tonight, discussing his book The Torture Team, An Administration Accused .
One of things Sands talks about in the Fresh Air interview is that international war crimes charges can be brought by any nation. As an insider, consulting international lawyer, Sands described conversations he has had with heads of states of other nations, where the reality of the United States being charged with international war crimes, is often discussed. He said that the current administration doesn't think it will happen because no other nation would do that to the United States. He said that charges could be made against Rumsfeld, Cheney and possibly even Bush.
If I understood what he was saying correctly. Like what happened to Pinochet in Chili, it could take years. Do ya think it will happen?
George Clausen’s Day Dreams
1 day ago
We can only hope... But, it will take years. I do not believe any country would do it while Bush is still on the throne. He has been known to attack, invade, and destroy countries without reasons other than the ones he fabricated. If I am a country, I hesitate to piss the guy off in fear of retaliation...
ReplyDeleteThe strong evidence supporting war crimes charges so far surpasses what's necessary for impeachment, and yet We The People have done nothing.
ReplyDeleteWe look like a nation of whipped puppies.
How humiliating.
Good point, Winston, about retaliation. There are all kinds of things, not necessarily military, that the Republicans could inflict on a nation attempting such a thing.
ReplyDeleteI guess I found myself fantasizing about just what country would be best suited to do this (charging Bush Co. with war crimes) and receive praise for it from the rest of the world. I came up short, as I don't know enough about international law to speculate.
Anyone interested in taking a stab at it? Even an educated guess would be fun to fuel my anti-Bush fantasies.
Sorry folks, it's not exactly like I'm new to feeling this way or being aware of these thing; just new to expressing it in the blog.
Got to be either Japan or Germany... Think on it...
ReplyDeleteI believe Winston is right. And yes, it may very well happen, and I sincerely hope that it does.
ReplyDeleteI forget the figure now of the number of us who have signed the petition. When I think of it being ignored, I want to bang my head against the wall.
Winston: Strong possibilities. How about the French? hehehhe ;-)
ReplyDeleteCR: Americans aren't going to do anything, especially while there is a war going on where many Americans feel an obligation to support the war.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to have to be another nation...
If we believe in justice then it should happen. Of course the United States has done what we have done to Iraq in other countries as well and our military/politicians have yet to be punished for those crimes. Consider Panama for example. People here in America hardly know a thing about it but George Bush I invaded that country and murdered many innocent people. That invasion and occupation is a war crime as well.
ReplyDeleteLib: the list is long; too long. I've been disgusted with U.S. foreign policy since I can remember...Even Clinton, who made some of the worst foreign policy decisions ever: Rwanda comes to mind. Whatever's expedient and in "our best interest".
ReplyDeleteWhen I daydream..it can happen.
ReplyDeleteIn reality..I doubt it..but those farkwits better be extra careful when traveling to other countries after they..cough..leave office.
This has been tossed about for a couple of years now and there was a story that Rumsfeld did indeed flee a country while due to give a speech. The Bush administration will not be traveling much, methinks. It is my hope that they will need to use their frequent liar miles and travel outside of our borders for an extended stay.
ReplyDeleteI know, guys. I'm just dreamin' along with you on this.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great if when Bushie is really, really old and retired somewhere, playing golf and duck hunting; you know, the retirement of his dreams; the Chinese would come after him and his crew, for war crimes?
My SG1 said to me last night that her opinion is that the Chinese would be best suited to bring war crimes charges against the U.S. She explained why but I think I nodded off. ;-)
Anyway, thanks for indulging me in the war crimes fantasy. It aint't gonna happen, I know, but it sure as hell should.
I think a lot of this depends on our nation's relative economic and military power in the future. Bush's greed and corruption is weakening both. He could be the agent of his own downfall.
ReplyDelete