Posted on 11/28/2009 6:00:26 AM PST by Prospero
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed "great regret" in August that the U.S. is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC). This has fueled speculation that the Obama administration may reverse another Bush policy and sign up for what could lead to the trial of Americans for war crimes in The Hague.
The ICC's chief prosecutor, though, has no intention of waiting for Washington to submit to the court's authority. Luis Moreno Ocampo says he already has jurisdiction—at least with respect to Afghanistan.
Because Kabul in 2003 ratified the Rome Statute—the ICC's founding treaty—all soldiers on Afghan territory, even those from nontreaty countries, fall under the ICC's oversight, Mr. Ocampo told me. And the chief prosecutor says he is already conducting a "preliminary examination" into whether NATO troops, including American soldiers, fighting the Taliban may have to be put in the dock.
"We have to check if crimes against humanity, war crimes or genocide have been committed in Afghanistan," Mr. Ocampo told me. "There are serious allegations against the Taliban and al Qaeda and serious allegations about warlords, even against some who are connected with members of the government." Taking up his inquiry of Allied soldiers, he added, "there are different reports about problems with bombings and there are also allegations about torture."
It was clear who the targets of these particular inquiries are but the chief prosecutor shied away from spelling it out.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Does anyone doubt that some of the first Americans to be investigated will be Bush and Cheney?
This little nugget’s being revealed right now has a purpose. It is to shift the news cycle away from Healthcare, where conservatives are hounding the Administration and Congress, and Afghanistan where the commies are hounding their friends in the administration and onto prosecuting Americans for war crimes. This will send a tingle down leftist legs again and distract some of the conservatives.
You know that they are. I know that they are. So does anyone else with the intelligence to breathe.
“only Westerners who have committed imaginary crimes against the Third World.”
Actually - only conservative or non-leftist US politicians. I didn’t notice Castro or Chavez on their to do list.
Castro and Chavez are Third World types & therefore exempt.
BTTT.
I’ve already talked my nephew out of going into the Rangers. He will be the 1st in our family line to NOT serve in the USARMY, and I’m glad that he has recognized the need to not serve under a CIC that’s spiteful of our military. I simply showed him the quote by barry sorento in which he non-chalantly suggested that our soldiers who’ve sacrificed life and limb for our country to pay for their own heath insurance after they had been wounded on the field of battle in defence of the USA.
The kenyan is rabid with hatred for real Americans.
Out.
I only wish it had been a matter of talking him out of it.
Seems with the Army, one juvenile strike and you’re out.
Actually some of these precedents are great...it will open up a plethora of things Obama can be charged with.
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