Should a War Crimes Tribunal be held to judge American atrocities?

[Q]

Should a war crimes tribunal be held to judge American atrocities in the ME?

- The Nuremberg trials were held because...among other things...the Nazis didn't understand or refused to accept that what they did was wrong. Even at the trials they acted surprised that the rest of the world had the right to judge their torture and killing of those they felt were inferior to them. The world judged the Nazis for their 'aggressive wars' and crimes against humanity.

- This is exactly why a war crimes tribunal has to be held in an international court to try American atrocities in the middle east. The Bush* government, their supporters and a good percentage of the American people STILL won't accept that it was not only morally wrong...but criminal. Like the Nazis before them...those who committed the atrocities AND their commanders must be judged and prosecuted so they finally understand that the world will not condone these war crimes and crimes against humanity.

- Allowing these atrocities to be hidden away and covered up will only lead to the entire world turning against us. This in turn will lead to more violent acts of terrorism on our soil by those who feel helpless to stop us in any other way. We either seek justice in the name of the world community, America and its victims...or face being labeled as Nazis and fascists that honor no other law but their own.

- America can turn this hatred around if we subject ourselves to the same international laws we demand that every other nation honor. Is our nation above the law? Exempt from prosecution? Let's prove to the world that we're part of their community and show them we're not afraid of the word justice.

- Comments?

[Mikimouse]

1. I couldn't agree more, but the real question for me is this...

Are we, as a people and a society, really culturally mature enough to submit to an international review of our actions? I would argue tha we are still at the 'petulant child' stage, where we have a vague understanding that we have done something very wrong, but will rationalize it any way we can, largely to avoid having to review our own individual actions. This topic has come up time and time again, in various venues, ranging from the loss of international credibility, to increasing gas prices, and more often than not, the messenger gets shot on sight. Reality bites, but as we often say in the addiction treatment field, 'pain is a rgeat motivator'. We are never going to get anywhere until we own the pain we have caused.

[TahitiNut]

5. That's a moot question.

An international court is a 'court of last resort' that would only take on such a case once it deemed the judicial system in the relevant country (US) incapable of meting out justice. That, in and of itself, would not be accepted by a majority of Americans, if the December 2000 USSC debacle is any indication. If we didn't take to the streets on that, we'll never realize that our courts are corrupted, imho.

[Q]

12. True...but no one expects America to 'investigate' itself...

...This is a Bush* tactic being used by both parties to cover their asses in the knowledge that they waged an illegal, aggressive war against a country that couldn't defend itself. That the US had no justifiable reason to be in Iraq makes war crimes even more unacceptable and good cause for the rest of the world to be concerned and get involved.

[Mikimouse]

20. I don't consider it moot at all...

I consider it a matter of cultural maturity. It takes maturity to reccognize that one is capable of being wrong. We don't have that level of maturity, and unless something happens to force that realization on us, it may never happen. An internationally broadcast war crimes trial has a way of shaking people to their foundations, and frankly, I would support that wholeheartedly. We cannot anby longer simply brush these things off by assuming that people will not respond, because they will, given a real incentive. When the economy tanks, which it undoubtedly will, and we are forced to change our collective lifestyles because we cannot afford to maintain our individual debts, we may learn. When we have to look for potable water because our water is contaminated with raw sewage, and our food is barely palatable, with no medicine, and our very survival a matter of immediate concern, THEN we will learn the consequences of our GD arrogance.

[bvar22]

2. Absolutely!

I would like to see a statement supporting this from our Democratic candidates.

[Q]

4. This is much as a fantasy as impeachment because there's no...

...loyal opposition. The Democrats just announced that they agree that further evidence of war crimes WON'T be released to the public. There is absolutely NO chance of justice if both parties are in on the coverup.

- Why should the rest of the world have faith in us when we don't have faith in ourselves?

[Deja Q]

9. Oh good. More puke-lite when we don't need it the most.

No wonder people don't vote or vote fringe.

[Q]

14. Could it be that people don't vote because they feel their interests...

...are not being represented? Why should they vote against their own and country's interest? Or perhaps they vote 'fringe' because they believe their former party is more beholden to corporate cash than them?

- I've voted Democratic for 30 years. Don't call me 'puke-lite'. I've been loyal to the party..but they've betrayed me and my country. Don't like that message? Tough shit.

[stellanoir]

3. yes but. . .

as is elucidated in Hersh's most recent article. . .

http://newyorker.com/fact/content/?040524fa_fact

We run the risk of the culpability falling on the lowly MP's, not on the so-called Military Intelligence, Special Op's, and contractors, or those higher up (Rummy & Dipstick & *) who's arrogance encouraged, enabled, or allowed these atrocities.

I know it's highly unlikely but the only way we can redeem ourselves in the eyes of the world is in the Hague at the International Court with restitution for the victims being paid by Halliburton, Bechtel, & big oil companies.

[Q]

6. The Nuremberg trials found evidence that...

...Nazi officials ordered the torture and killing of untold numbers of innocents. Evidence existes...but is hidden away...that officials in the Bush* government approved or turned a blind eye to the torture and killing. That makes them no less guilty in the eyes of justice and the world.

- There was a time in America when lynchings and murders of blacks were condoned with a 'wink and a nod' by communities and law enforcement because it was culturally acceptable. Is America doing to 'towelheads' what they once did to native Americans and Blacks? Is this all about using force to subjugate 'inferior' races in the name of empire?

[0007]

18. I won't settle for any less than the Hague

junior should be frog marched right out of White House. And charge with murder and treason.

The damage junior has caused this country is unimaginable.

[leftofthedial]

7. of course

but first we have to get these criminals out of power

George the Lesser is certain to pardon everyone in the neocon movement before leaving office, so it will require an international war crimes tribunal to bring them to justice.

[Texican]

8. Muslim Law

To show our good intenetions everyone connected with this, from shrub on down could submit to a Muslim court. Al Sadr would make a good judge.

[Q]

16. No...it must be an international court...

...with an equal representation by Iraq and other involved ME countries.

- Justice has to be perceived as being fair and impartial or we're just giving lip service to the concept.

[Q]

10. It's clear what the Bushies (and many Democrats) intend to do...

...about this 'scandal'. They'll release no further photos or evidence of human rights violations and allow the American people to believe that it was no big deal and that all the guilty parties will be prosecuted. No one in charge (command and control) will be made accountabile and the SCALE of the atrocities will never be acknowledged.

- Democrats will not use this Bush* Cover up against him because they have become part of the mentality that won't admit that invading and occupying Iraq was wrong in the first place. Where does the world go to seek justice when the 'lawgivers' are out to protect their own asses?

[Cleita]

11. I really wish if the Iraqi's do get their own government that

they and the rest of the Arab world insist that a committee be formed by the United Nations to investigate this whole war and the participants right up to the American President. I know the Bush administration can't be forced to cooperate, but I think an unbiased and unpolitical report of who is at fault here and who should be put on trial would go a long way in documenting this event for history. Let's see if Bush puts that document in his Presidential Library.

[TacticalPeek]

13. Attorney General Edwards should have discretion to prosecute or

send a criminal referral to the International Criminal Court, after some niceties are cleared up with the ICC.

[kentuck]

15. Can a War Crimes Tribunal meet without the US ??

Of course, if there were leadership in the world that didn't give a damn about whether or not they pissed off America, whether they could withstand the loss of trade, banking, and commerce, and whether they could talk the other countries in going along with them. I think that would be an almost impossible task, even though probably beneficial to the world.

[Q]

17. Indeed...how do you put the world's only remaining 'superpower'...

...on trial? It would take an Amrican leadership willing to subject itself to the rule of law...both domestic and international.

- America take note: this is what happens when you don't take democracy and elections seriously: you get a lawless government that makes their own laws for their own benefit.

[kentuck]

19. Unfortunately, we do not have an American leadership willing....

to subject itself to the rule of law. That's why we backed off the Geneva Convention rules, etc... We are outlaws.

[Malva Zebrina]

21. Should a war crimes tribunal be held to judge American atrocities in the M

One would think so--but perhaps those things are only for the little guys.