Hague Prosecutor Says Bush-Blair Could Face War Crimes Charges: 1 Million Iraqis Killed

[Jcrowley]

Hague prosecutor says Bush-Blair could face war crimes charges: 1 million Iraqis killed
By Tom Mellen
Mar 19, 2007, 09:41


International Criminal Court prosecutor announced on Sunday that US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair could face war crimes charges at the Hague, after it emerged that up to one million Iraqis have been killed since the illegal invasion. Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said that he could envision a situation in which Mr Bush and Mr Blair found themselves in the dock. "Of course that could be a possibility. Whatever country joins the court can know that whoever commits a crime in their country could be prosecuted by me," Mr Moreno-Ocampo affirmed.

<snip>

Mr Moreno-Ocampo said that it was still possible for an investigation to be launched, if Iraq signed up.
Iraq's ambassador to the UN Hamid al-Bayati said that Baghdad is actively considering joining. Respect councillor for Birmingham Salma Yaqoob said: "It would be a step forward for the Iraqi people if Baghdad signed up to the ICC, as seeing Bush and Blair face justice for their flagrant violations of international law would help to relieve the sense of hopelessness in Iraq."

An Australian scientist has published a new estimate of casualties in Iraq, using four sets of independent data, including information from UNICEF and the UN population division, as well as medical literature.

Dr Gideon Polya's figure is far higher than the previous largest estimate of 655,000.

"The most comprehensive and authoritative literature and UN demographic data yields an estimate of one million post-invasion excess deaths in Iraq," Dr Polya said.

http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_24112.shtml

[Laura PourMeADrink]

1. why do they keep saying 35k iraqis killed? I know, trying to

make it look better. But - 35 compared to 655k????

[Iwasthere]

2. I get so sick of seeing the 40,000 Iraqi death number by the media

We have known all along the numbers are high. OMG, 1 million, Impeach them, then try the bastards!

[Rage for Order]

17. War Crimes charges would be sweet

But I have a hard time believing that 1,000,000 people have been killed in Iraq in 4 years. That would be an average of 685 people every day for 4 years. I can't believe that every news organization in Iraq could be so far off the mark in terms of total casualties. I think we'd know about it if nearly 700 people were being killed in Iraq each day. By the same token, I don't care if only 100 Iraqis were killed; I still want bush and blair brought up on charges.

[Usrename]

24. The larger number could be overlooked by the media.

What with periods where there are more than a hundred heads chopped off in one day in Baghdad alone.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=583283&mesg_id=583283


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=baghdad+beheaded+tortured+over+100+bodies
Results 1 - 10 of about 171,000 for baghdad beheaded tortured over 100 bodies. (0.29 seconds)

It does not seem that far-fetched to me, and it is more consistent with the decider's decision to not do body counts. I'm not even sure that isn't another war crime in and of itself. We should know the answer to this, without having any doubts about it.

[bahrbearian]

3. Must be one of the reasons we can't leave Iraq, They'd join.

[Turbineguy]

4. "Bring it on!"

Now where did I hear that before?

Ah yes, now I remember.

[Jcrowley]

5. At present

US is trying to get rid of Maliki gov't. Hard to find reliable puppets these days?

[dysfunctional press]

6. does paraguay recognize the authority of the world court?

just wonderin'...

[Horse with no Name]

14. You have to remember this little nugget. The Nethercutt Amendment in 2004.

It is hard to do considering the sheer enormity of crimes this administration has committed, but here it is in black and white:
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/us-relations/loss.htm
>>>snip
WASHINGTON - The United States is upping the pressure on four Latin American countries to sign bilateral deals exempting U.S. citizens from International Criminal Court jurisdiction, or face losing millions in economic assistance.

Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela and Paraguay could be denied $24.5 million in aid unless they sign the immunity agreements, a move likely to stoke Latin America's distrust toward the Bush administration, diplomats and analysts say.

The possible cuts are the result of President Bush last week signing an omnibus appropriations bill that contained the so-called Nethercutt amendment. The provision for the first time severs economic assistance -- not just military aid -- for countries that refuse to sign the immunity pacts.

Previously, the administration used the threat of withholding money to purchase military equipment and train officers in the United States as a tool to persuade nations to sign on the dotted line.

[dysfunctional press]

15. with the media in their pocket, they can literally do anything.

there's nobody around to sound the alarm bells that the public expects.

[Horse with no Name]

19. I seriously believe that the media is almost MORE responsible

because of their refusal to report the truth.
They have failed the American public miserably and I hope someday that is reconciled in the eyes of the people.

[Occulus]

20. Aw, Jesus...

WHY didn't we know about this? NOW their land purchases in Paraguay make one whole FUCK of a lot of sense...

[ORDagnabbit]

7. considering kissinger is still wanted for war crimes I wont hold my breath on this.

[bdamomma]

8. I wonder if Mr. Chavez will give the ICC his blessing!!

or even all those who were displaced from this war, to give their approval for this.

[Jcrowley]

9. Kicking

[helderheid]

10. HOLY ...

:wow:

[Jcrowley]

11. Beyond Impeachment: The Bush Administration As War Criminals

Beyond Impeachment
The Bush Administration As War Criminals
by Ken Sanders
www.dissidentvoice.org
June 27, 2005


In the wake of the Downing Street Memo and other leaked British documents created before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, many have begun to question the legality of the Bush administration's actions. In particular, families of soldiers, a few Democratic senators, and hundreds of thousands of outraged Americans, are calling for an independent investigation of the Bush administration's manipulation and outright fabrication of intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq. The word "impeachment" is even being bandied about.

While it is certainly appropriate to demand an independent investigation of the Bush administration's pre-invasion shenanigans, as well as to pursue bringing articles of impeachment against the President for his official misconduct, there is something larger at stake. There is the matter of the Bush administration's post-invasion atrocities. Pursuant to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483, adopted on May 22, 2003, the U.S. and the United Kingdom identified themselves and were recognized as the occupying powers of Iraq. As an occupying power, the U.S. accepted duties that were coextensive with its area of occupation. That is, the greater its degree of control, the greater its degree of responsibility.

<snip>

Additionally, U.S. snipers targeted civilian ambulances and medical clinics, and intentionally prevented physicians from entering hospitals to treat patients. U.S. troops also prohibited the delivery of necessary medicines or supplies into Fallujah. Similar incidences occurred during the U.S. military's recent offensive in Al Qa'im. Not only do these actions constitute gross violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, they also constitute war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Under the Rome Statute, it is a war crime to attack personnel or objects (i.e., ambulances and hospitals) involved in humanitarian assistance. It is also a war crime to attack "protected objects," including "hospitals or placed where the sick and wounded are collected."

As Commander-in-Chief of the military, Bush is liable for the acts of his subordinates in Fallujah and Al Qa'im. Bush meets regularly with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is fully briefed on military operations in Iraq. He authorizes military operations (or at least acquiesces to them) and knows or should know something about what they entail. As such, he cannot reasonably plead ignorance of the consequences of his orders and decisions.

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/June05/Sanders0627.htm

[PhilipShore]

12. Bush: The Republican /Taliban leader may go to the International Criminal court

[Quantess]

13. Oh, wow. I have to agree.

Bush and Blair (Bush especially, IMO) should be found guilty as charged.

[live love laugh]

16. They will all flee the country to avoid prosecution. Bush will be the

first president to leave the country in exile.

[Sapphire Blue]

18. K&R for Justice

:kick:

[Raksha]

21. A million Iraqi deaths? That's absolutely horrifying.

For once I can ALMOST sympathize with the Freepers...ALMOST. I really don't want to believe this.

[Jcrowley]

22. Go here

http://open.newmatilda.com/crosswire/?cat=1

[Time for change]

23. I do hope that Iraq signs up for this

It's very good to see that the ICC is addressing this -- it would be good also if this could get some play in the U.S. news media, but that doesn't seem likely :(

[Karenina]

25. Is it genocide yet?

:cry:

[helderheid]

26. k