Posted on 05/28/2008 12:46:08 PM PDT by mojito
John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, has escaped an attempted citizen's arrest as he appeared at the Hay Festival.
The former ambassador - a key advisor to President George W Bush who argued strongly in favour of invading Iraq - had been giving a talk on international relations to more than 600 people at the literary festival.
Mr Monbiot was blocked by two heavily-built security guards at the end of the one-and-a-half hour appearance, before he could serve a "charge sheet" on him.
After being released by the guards the columnist - a fierce critic of the 2003 American-led invasion - made a dash through the rain-soaked tented village in a failed attempt to catch up with Mr Bolton.
A crowd of about 20 protestors, one dressed in a latex George Bush mask, chanted "war criminal" as Mr Bolton was ushered away.
Mr Monbiot said moments later he was "disappointed" that he had been blocked from making the citizen's arrest.
"This was a serious attempt to bring one of the perpetrators of the Iraq war to justice, for what is described under the Nuremberg Principles as an international crime," he said.
During Mr Bolton's talk, to a packed-out audience, Mr Monbiot had asked Mr Bolton what difference there was between him and a Nazi war criminal.
Mr Bolton said the war was legal, partly because Iraq had failed to comply with a key and binding UN resolution after the end of the Gulf War in 1991.
On the war's legality, he added: "This is not my personal opinion, this is the opinion of the entire legal apparatus of the US government."
A citizen's arrest can be carried out under certain circumstances by a member of the public, if they believe a person had carried out a crime, under the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
Earlier, festival director Peter Florence had said they had sought legal advice and been told carrying out such an arrest would be "completely unlawful" given the circumstances.
He said: ""The Hay Festival encourages visitors to voice their opinions, but also requires that, in their expression, they respect both the law and the speaker."
A spokesman for The Guardian, for which Mr Monbiot writes a regular column, said he was acting in a "personal capacity".
Indeed, we are in deep trouble. I see little hope that the Republicans will become Republicans again and win either the House or the Senate. That leaves the White House, and with three Dims running there...
Gee, how strange. Security guards are generally such skinny pansy types.
< |:/~
Instead we got the 3rd most liberal sitting Republican Senator. He's almost a perfect liberal for Christ sake.
Can anyone give me a serious information about what EXACTLY happens during a citizens arrest? Was he supposed to handcuff Mr. Bolton?
What the heck is a "charge sheet?" Is that like a subpoena?
Heck, I just googled moonbat and look what comes up. Very funny indeed.
Christ?
I think Bolton should have hired some experts, not as security, but to look like ordinary members of the audience.
While making him look like a stumble bum, they could have made a complete fool of the Moonbat, “accidentally” doing things like pants-ing him, having him appear to pinch women’s bottoms, squirting some really foul smelling liquid, or whiskey on him, and tripping him repeatedly.
He would probably be taken up by the police for creating a public nuisance.
I fear you're right. I also fear that a John McCain presidency would do little to stop such insanity. The American voter wants 'change' so much they will probably ignore the pitiful performance of the 110th congress and elect a Democrat majority to the House and Senate If that happens they'll be able to bulldoze the ever-compliant McCain, who longs to be liked by the leftmedia, or override any veto he dares to sign, which will probably be about as many as President Bush signed.
Anyone who thinks a McCain presidency will somehow thwart leftist plans to destroy America from within is delusional and/or forgetting McCain's liberal leanings, fueled by his ego that seems to need constant media approval. A Democrat voting majority in both the House and Senate will be far more dangerous to our liberty than some Marxist wannabe like Barack Obama (or Hillary - a rapidly diminishing prospect) stumbling along, trying to avoid any conflict with Islamic radicals, as Bill Clinton managed to do for 8 years.
>>>>>They will still not vote for John McCain
Why? He’s a Democrat.
Be careful down there.....the deep end is foe swimmers only
After all he is such a staunch supporter of Conservative issues lik the first amendment.
He'll be so busy bending over and grabbing his ankles (if he wins) to please the dems, poking us true Conservatives in the eye yet again.
See tag line
The Guardian should change its name to match its methods and call itself the Zookeeper.
What the heck is a "charge sheet?" Is that like a subpoena?"
Under their law this "arrest" would be completely unlawful.
If it could have been lawful, then he (the moonbat) could have forcefully detained the person if he (the moonbat) saw and/or specifically knew that the person he stopped had committed an "arrestable offense" under their law AND that there were no law enforcement officers in the area that could make the arrest.
There is no such thing as a "charge sheet" for a "citizen's arrest." It was merely his "script" that he wanted to read aloud while doing this so-called "arrest."
It was nothing more than a cheap and silly stunt.
jw
Be very afraid, the day when they could round up Bush, Bolton, Cheney, etc. for a trial at the Hague, ala Milosevic, may be fast approaching.
Could have used one slightly built security guard with a fully charged tazor.
Barking ‘Moonbat’ or Barking ‘man bait’, he’s still a little wuss that works at ‘The Gruniad’....clearly, as time goes on, it’s looking more and more like they’re gonna need us to pull their soon to be Islam-bait a$$es out of the fire again!
Check it out... nothing quite this exciting happened when we went to see him speak.
Lord Haw Haw was acting in a “personal capacity” too.
The Guardian should be careful about employing someone engaging in pro-terrorist propaganda such as calling out the US as engaging in an “illegal” war.
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