Arab group to sue U.S. government over Lebanon evacuation

[sabra]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060724/UPDATE/607240392

Arab group to sue U.S. government over Lebanon evacuation

DETROIT -- The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee says it will sue the U.S. Government, claiming that it failed to protect American citizens from the fighting in Lebanon.

The lawsuit, which was to be filed Monday on behalf of about 30 American citizens, alleges that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld did not take all possible steps to secure the safety and well being of U.S. citizens when fighting erupted between Israel and Hezbollah guerillas.

The committee is asking the U.S. District Court in Detroit to order the American government to request a cease fire and to stop shipments of weapons or any other military support to Israel during the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Lebanon.

"We just feel the U.S. government has put its citizens at risk by supplying missiles when many U.S. citizens are still there," said Nabih Ayad, lawyer for committee and the citizens who were all in Lebanon. Ayad said a few included in the lawsuit are still trying to leave the country.

"We're not trying to interfere with the war, we just want to protect our U.S. citizens and try to bring them back," Ayad said.

[whistle]

1. Why aren't the Saudi leaders pissed off with Bush and his public ...

...attitude and displayed behaviors over this war situation involving Israel, Lebanon and Palestine? Has anyone seen or heard from the Saudi royal family leaders about this?

[Bush_MUST_Go]

2. NOLA - Lebanon. The admin. doesn't care about ANY citizens.

[Anita Garcia]

9. except the richer more corporate ones

[bdamomma]

6. Saudi Arabia

wants a ceasefire.

apparently bush and his deadly cabal just want dead bodies.

read here, bushie can't be too happy, thus aide but no ceasefire, bush will have a place in hell for this. don't you wish Saudis would say no oil if no ceasefire!!!!!!!!!!!! that would be sweet.


http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072406L.shtml


Saudis Urge Bush to Push for Cease-Fire in the Mideast

[chill_wind]

10. Saudis have weighed in. The King sent *junior a message

thru the Prince before Rice ever left Washington last night:

"Stop that shit!"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1715086&mesg_id=1715086

[Solo_in_MD]

3. PR stunt at best, pandering to foreign media at worst.

and will obsecure the real issues.

[The Stranger]

4. How so?

[Solo_in_MD]

7. The use of such novel legal theories are good only for press releases

They will get drop kicked by the courts because they are indeed preposterous.

However when the Arab street hears about the legal actions and that it was bounced, it will reinforce the evil Zionist conspiracy thinking that is rampant over there. It will also reinforce in the eyes of the average American that those who support the Arab cause are a bunch of legal loonies. Note that CAIR is already doing a good job of that.

Stick to real cases and real issues, not ones fatuous ones designed just to garner media attention here and abroad.

[The Stranger]

11. Why is it "indeed preposterous"?

Tell me where it is "preposterous," and give me substance.

[Jim Lane]

12. I agree it's preposterous

Technical legal explanation: Under the "political question doctrine", issues such as whether the U.S. should support a cease-fire are committed to the discretion of elected officials, whose decisions aren't subject to review by courts.

Common-sense explanation: Do you want a Bush-appointed judge to be ordering the next Democratic President about what positions to take at the U.N. or in international negotiations?

[The Stranger]

13. What if they sued someone else?

What if they sued the bombers and shooters? Sovereign immunity?

They are injured and clearly have standing, and there are clear violations of U.S. law taking place.

[chill_wind]

5. "We just feel". Kind of a soft statement!

"We just feel the U.S. government has put its citizens at risk by supplying missiles when many U.S. citizens are still there,"


A million billion people besides me had to be struck by the enormity of what the US did in the face of that. Along with the whole huge assisted assault on the Lebonese, *it goes without saying*.

I am glad they are raising this action. May there be many more in soon time.

[Julius Civitatus]

8. Remember, they still wanted to charge $10K per refugee

and the outrage of public opinion made them change this "policy" two days later.

The State Department wanted to charge the refugees for their own evacuation.

Don't forget that. This, from the same administration that brought you the disastrous rescue after Katrina.

[Ragin_mad]

14. Actually, federal law requires them to charge for the evacuation

and by now not charging they are in fact in violation of federal law.