Don't let the Dhimmicrats hear that. According to many, if not most members of that political party they US Military is full of raping and pillaging barbarians....
Posted on 06/18/2009 7:28:30 PM PDT by AKSurprise
Nothing the US did in Iraq could ever constitute a war crime that could be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.
This is the view of Richard Goldstone a former chief international war crimes prosecutor and international law expert.
"I don't believe that any allegation that I have read or heard against the United States leaders comes anywhere near the sorts of crimes that the ICC has been set up to investigate. Genocide, crimes against humanity, serious war crimes - it just doesn't measure up."
Richard Goldstone - chief prosecutor at the war crimes tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda from 1994-1996 and currently head of a UN fact-finding team on international law violations - made his remarks during a Radio Netherlands Worldwide debate in The Hague.
Asked by a member of the audience if former President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, could ever see themselves on trial at the International Criminal Court for their role in the US-led invasion of Iraq - Judge Goldstone was unequivocal in his answer.
"Let me say I don't believe, while there are allegations of torture - and errors made in bombing of Kosovo during the Clinton administration - or some civilians being killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, I don't believe that any allegation that I have read or heard against the United States leaders comes anywhere near the sorts of crimes that the ICC has been set up to investigate. Genocide, crimes against humanity, serious war crimes - it just doesn't measure up, that's point one. I don't think it's a fair comparison."
The US has never ratified the treaty setting up the ICC and, as such, does not fall under its jurisdiction.
American citizens can in theory be put on trial at the ICC if they commit a war crime, or other crime serious enough to warrant a case, in a country that has signed up to the ICC, but then only if the US courts themselves don't take action.
Richard Goldstone said this is unlikely to happen as democracies like the US are always willing to demonstrate capable legal systems.
Invasion Under President Bush the US actively worked against the International Criminal Court putting a bill on the statute books, which became known unofficially as The Hague Invasion Act.
The American Service Members Protection Act, its real name, actually threatens American lawyers with legal action should they ever work on a case which could lead to a US citizen being put before the ICC. And it ultimately would allow US troops to come and free anyone on trial in The Hague, hence the unofficial name.
Judge Goldstone was also straight talking when it came to this point, saying the legislation should be scrapped as soon as possible.
"I think it is a blot on the ethics and the morality of the US Congress that there is an act that makes it a criminal offence for government officials to assist the ICC. This was an inheritance from John Bolton's days and I would hope sooner rather than later the now democratic majority in the Senate and the House will repeal those acts. There is talk of it happening and I'm sure it will happen. My attitude on it is very simple, get rid of it."
Richard Goldstone has been back in the Netherlands for the last three months as The Hague Peace Philosopher - an initiative resulting from the new Spinoza Fellowship, a partnership between the City of The Hague, the Netherlands Institute for Advance Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS), Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the University of Leiden's Campus The Hague.
The debate evening was the latest in the series of The Hague Debates organised by Radio Netherlands Worldwide with the City of the Hague.
Don't let the Dhimmicrats hear that. According to many, if not most members of that political party they US Military is full of raping and pillaging barbarians....
Of course, the International Criminal Court can still take a big bite of my ass.
Wow...did the Euro ICC lackey also find out that water actually makes you wet?
I presume he is including the heinous and dastardly crimes of torture committed at Abu Ghraib in his comments? (sarcasm)
BBC?
Der Spiegel?
La Monde?
Chris Mathews?
Got News?
Probably only saying that because the Obama regime is in charge now. That or Obama threatened to absorb Europe into the United States, in effect nationalizing Europe...ROFL
Maybe somebody should tell this guy that the U.S.is not a member of this gang and that they have no jurisdiction over us. We can thank Bush for that.
Murtha is deeply uh, quiet.
Cindy Sheehan? Where’d you go?
What tragic news!! I sent a copy of the article to the few liberal friends I have. I’m sure they’ll be broken hearted!
Heehee!! ;^)
Just part of the “Vast Rightwing Conspiracy”/sarc
The Obamacom “DemocRATS” aren’t going to like this. To them, just talking mean to one of their Islamofascist terrorist pals is “torture” and a “war crime.”
“I think it is a blot on the ethics and the morality of the US Congress that there is an act that makes it a criminal offence for government officials to assist the ICC. This was an inheritance from John Bolton’s days and I would hope sooner rather than later the now democratic majority in the Senate and the House will repeal those acts. There is talk of it happening and I’m sure it will happen. My attitude on it is very simple, get rid of it.”
For now.
...someone at the ICC is going to be fired tomorrow....
WAAAAAA!!! I want my War Crimes Trial!!!
Well, there, take that lefties.
Obama Administration appeals finding
'US committed no war crimes in Iraq'
You may be prescient. I expect “The One” to annex Mexico before too long.
Liberals everywhere will be apologizing now.
:: crickets ::
Oh what a relief! NOT.
I'm so sick of posers...
They can take their ICC and shove it where the sun don't shine.
The audacity was thinking the U.S. would ever commit war crimes level offenses. Screw the ingrates who always suspect the U.S. at every turn.
That will make DU heads explode.
No, they will simply pronounce Goldstone senile, confused and disoriented.
NO! NO! NO! NO!
The Barbarian Troops had to have have!!!
Makes the whole first half of the year worthwhile, doesn’t it? ;’)
It certainly helps!
Except for the Obamanation living in the White House, the first half of my year has been OK.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.