Fallujah killing 'war crime' [“ ...death or life without parole if found guilty”]

The Australian ^ | November 17, 2004 | From correspondents in Washington

[johnny7]

HUMAN rights groups said today the killing by a US marine of a wounded Iraqi could amount to a war crime and showed the need for US forces to be better trained about the laws of war. "If it is what it appears to be, then obviously it would be a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions. It would probably be a war crime," said Joe Stork, Washington director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International echoed calls by the top UN human rights official, Louise Arbour, for an investigation of suspected abuses in Fallujah, Iraq, including the disproportionate use of force and targeting of civilians. The US military has launched an investigation after NBC pool footage showed a US marine shooting a wounded and unarmed man in a mosque in Fallujah, the scene of fierce fighting in the past week. NBC said the marine had been shot in the face the day before, and his fellow soldiers have spoken out in his defence, saying he was under combat stress in unpredictable, dangerous circumstances.

Amnesty International spokesman Alistair Hodgett said investigations into other incidents in Iraq had been too slow and he urged a prompt, open, inquiry, after which findings should be made public. "The deliberate shooting of unarmed and wounded fighters who pose no immediate threat is a war crime under international law and there is therefore an obligation on the US authorities to investigate all such reports and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable before the law," said Amnesty. Amnesty International had already called on US authorities to investigate an earlier incident aired on British television in which a US soldier appeared to have fired one shot in the direction of a wounded insurgent. Mr Hodgett said Amnesty was particularly concerned US military leaders had not properly communicated legal obligations to forces on the ground about the treatment of wounded prisoners and the protection of civilians. "This latest incident is just a further reminder that one cannot take it for granted that troops on the ground will strive to abide by the spirit and the letter of the law if they are not given leadership on that matter," he said.

Of particular concern, said Mr Hodgett, were comments in the past by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld calling "war on terror" suspects "killers" and "the worst of the worst". "Sadly I think some of the consequences of this (attitude) have played out on the battlefield," Mr Hodgett said. The Fallujah shooting incident followed others in which US troops have been accused of violations in Iraq, including the Abu Ghraib prison scandal that resulted in the sentencing of several US soldiers.

Military law expert Eugene Fidell said he was uncomfortable linking the latest incident to the Abu Ghraib prison scandal where soldiers were accused of sexually abusing and mistreating prisoners. "But if the facts are as they appear to be, this is a matter that cannot be swept under the rug. If it leads to a careful evaluation of the training and instructions that the marines and the Army in Iraq have had, that will be extremely desirable," said Mr Fidell, a visiting lecturer at Harvard Law School.

Mr Fidell said he anticipated a general-court martial in which the suspect could be sentenced to death or life without parole if found guilty, but added that was highly unlikely because of extenuating circumstances.

[johnny7]

I bet Chrissie Mathews is on the phone right now with these pansies. Last night he was making-out with that CIA leaker/author trying to make him further denounce the Bush administration.

Man... give me one minute with little Chrissie and he'll be doing his show on radio... once he's off the IV.

[Diogenesis]

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[Billthedrill]

And people wonder why we didn't accept the ICC.

[milwguy]

The geneva convention? Let's see, we follow the geneva convention why? The terrorists behead, kidnap, torture, and have no regard for human life, even to the point of boobytrapping their dead(which by the way killed one this marines fellow soldiers the day before). Our soldiers are supposed to expect every terrorist to not attempt ANY method to kill them, and yet they are to respond according to the geneva convention? What a sad commentary on our allies and the libs

[Stashiu]

We should suit up the so called human rights groups, set them loose in the next Fallujah, and let them get some combat experience.

[geedee]

I wish these pantywaists had to spend one day . . . just one damn day . . . in our soldiers' shoes in Iraq. Their pomposity makes my frickin' blood boil.

[muawiyah]

Whenever Amnesty International gets into it over something an American has done, that usually means it was OK.

These guys have such a terrible reputation these days concerning human rights concerns it's really not news to hear anything they have to say.

[68 grunt]

http://www.petitiononline.com/as123/petition.html

[TheDon]

This is all much todo about nothing. The marine will be cleared and returned to duty. Case closed, end of story. The legacy media will have to look elsewhere for a bombed milk factory.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Terrorists who feign surrender or injury, hide among civilians and masquerade as noncombatants incur all moral and legal responsibility for the consequences.

[McGavin999]

Do more than just boycott. Write to your senators and DEMAND that GE either cleans up their rotten news division or they will be removed from all US government bid lists.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Did al-Qaeda sign the Geneva Convention? How does that work if they are not signatory?

[SE Mom]

OMG- just when I think I cannot GET any angrier.

[Casloy]

Joe Stork, Washington director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch.

Hey Joe, why don't you kiss my big behind?

[angelanddevil2]

I for sure will. I need to buy a washer, dryer and fridge for my new home, and quite honestly I was looking for GE's. NOT ANYMORE. Is Kenmore OK?.

[xzins]

This will get me out in the street if they bring that Marine up on charges.

This is the pc-socialists persecuting our troops all over again...Vietnam all over again.

[AMDG&BVMH]

"The deliberate shooting of unarmed and wounded fighters who pose no immediate threat is a war crime under international law and there is therefore an obligation on the US authorities to investigate all such reports and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable before the law," said Amnesty. "

Of course, the US IS investigating.

But no comment as to the reporter, Sites, who was there and did nothing to stop a "war crime." HE knew that there were likely to be wounded there, apparently the Marines did not.

Don't lets let HIM off the hook. He was recording a supposed "war crime" on video - when, if he thought it was one, he should have taken action to stop it.

[hpfisher]

GRRRRRR!!!

This man is not going to be made an example for flakes in the media trying to convince everyone (read: Europe and native Iraq) that we an American soldier is worse than a thug-terrorists. Reading this make me feel hatred, not tolerance.

[Slings and Arrows]

No, we should follow the Geneva Convention, especially the part where it says a combatant out of uniform has no protection. Was al-Deadmeat wearing a uniform? No? Geneva Convention satisfied.

NEXT!