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".
LOL.
Pity neigher of the guards body-slammed the little wuss 3 inches into the earth.
Monbiot is the way The Gruniad spells “moonbat.”
If the Dems sweep the elections, this is just a taste of what they will rule lawful for the next four years. I do not think my fellow Freepers have any idea of what type of fascistic steel-booted thuggery will accompany a Dem takeover. Look at Colorado, where it has just been made illegal to discriminate against anyone else’s PERCEIVED sexuality, with both criminal and civil penalties for anyone the Gay Lobby deems to be offensive.
****A spokesman for The Guardian, for which Mr Monbiot writes a regular column, said he was acting in a “personal capacity”.*****
Yeah right!!!! And God didn’t make little green apples.
Moonbot! You just can’t make up stuff this good!
I would have enjoyed seeing Bolton slam the little turd into the ground and then press charges against the twerp for attempted kidnapping.
Monbiot is the way French gays spell ‘man bait.’
Your fellow Freepers look at this nonsense with resounding approval and will not deign seperating themselves from their self rightous principles to prevent an Obama election.
Me! Me! Me! Me!....thou be damned is their hue and cry.
****I do not think my fellow Freepers have any idea of what type of fascistic steel-booted thuggery will accompany a Dem takeover..****
They will still not vote for John McCain...they have cheerfully deserted George Bush....because come hell or high water dammit - they deserve a perfect conservative candidate, who has not surfaced, may not yet be born, may not want the job....and...............
Good thing we weren’t there. I’d maim for Bolton.
This is a downright wierd news day.
I’m with you and I hope to see more of the same in Denver this summer.
Monbiot = British for “moonbat”
Just a little History for you but Mr Monbiot is the oringinal” Moonbat” this is where the name came from, this guy right here.
"My Birkenstocks got caught in my enviro-friendly folding chair (made of recycled materials) !!"
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