Franks may face war crimes charge

The Guardian (U.K.) ^ | 04/30/03 | Ian Black

[Pokey78]

Belgium under pressure to amend law allowing case to proceed

Belgium is coming under pressure from the US to block a potentially explosive war crimes case against General Tommy Franks, commander of coalition forces in Iraq.

Jan Fermon, a Brussels lawyer, confirmed yesterday that 19 Iraqi plaintiffs were seeking to bring charges that would name the general and other US soldiers who had allegedly committed crimes.

Mr Fermon claimed there were 17 violations of Belgium's controversial 1993 war crimes law, which allowed universal jurisdiction until it was amended early this month.

The legal move could prove embarrassing for the government of Guy Verhofstadt, who opposed the war in Iraq along with France and Germany, and is now seeking to mend fences with the US.

Recent high-profile cases based on the law against Israel's prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and the former US president George Bush drew heavy criticism, although a Belgian court appeared to kill off the case against Mr Sharon last year when it declared that he could not be tried because he was not physically present in Belgium.

But this attempt may be more about publicity than justice. Changes to the law allows Belgium to refer foreigners facing war crimes charges to their own governments if these are democracies.

The new version also allows the judiciary to reject complaints filed by plaintiffs who have lived in Belgium for less than three years or those in which the victim or the alleged perpetrator was not a Belgian.

Complaints will be investigated only if the public prosecutor's office decides Belgium is the right place to deal with the matter. Officials say that will be the exception not the rule.

But a US state department spokesman said: "We believe the Belgian government needs to be diligent in taking steps to prevent abuse of the legal system for political ends."

Mr Fermon claimed to be "optimistic" that his claim would be accepted under the new rules. "We have a very specific case, with specific evidence," he said. "I do not see how they can reject it."

Alleged crimes include the failure of US troops to prevent the looting of hospitals in Baghdad after the fall of Saddam Hussein, as well as a shooting incident on a Red Crescent ambulance.

Another claim involves the alleged US bombing of a crowded market in Baghdad, which Iraqi officials claimed killed more than 60 people.

Evidence including video footage and interviews was gathered by two Belgian doctors who were in Baghdad during the war.

Some 30 genocide cases have been lodged in Belgium including ones against Yasser Arafat, Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro.

[NeoCaveman]

Belgium is coming under pressure from the US to block a potentially explosive war crimes case against General Tommy Franks, commander of coalition forces in Iraq.

Pressure. How is this for pressure. Any action against Franks will be considered an act of war.

You want to rumble, Belgium

[MEG33]

I love moral equivalency..I think Belgium must be aware of the consequences of this legal action.

[Madcelt]

I have just four words for Belgium!! Make My Day, PUNKS!!

[dighton]

Such mischievous little waffle-monkeys!

[xkaydet65]

Put the whole Belgian nation of trial for the horror that was the Belgian Congo.

[spectre]

General Franks should only vacation in Belgium with his co-workers from Ft Stewart, GA, Ft Campbell, KY, Camp Pendelton, CA, and Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC.

[Frank_2001]

Yo, Belgian waffle-heads! EFF OFF!!! This is exactly why the US should NOT be signing any of those International Criminal Court-type treaties (and why I am not a diplomat;)

[mathurine]

Where and what is Belgium anyway? They have not been able to defend their own borders for 2000 years. The idea that they can police the world is both ludicrous and pathetic. They can't control sexual abuse of their own children in their own country! Why we would or should be allied with Belgium for any reason in the 21st century demands inquiry.
Les Belgiques son freaques magnifiques!

[ysoitanly]

PLEASE let's not pi$$ off Belgium. We will then raise the ire of Luxembourg - a rising power in the French surrender league now forming. Think of the children!

[NeoCaveman]

Where and what is Belgium anyway?

Being that it is France's Mini-Me, I'm going to say it's near France.

[Rob45and2]

This post should be sent to anyone still thinking we should still be part of the World Court. There are at present 280,000,000 +/- souls living in the US. There may still be 5 or 6 who think we should sign onto the World Court thing........

[Mr. Mojo]

Belium sure has an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

[Mr. Mojo]

Belium = Belgium

[the Real fifi]

This from a country which has bribed the jihadis with anything they want as long as they leave Belgium alone--selling Belgian passports and even "losing" 2,000 if them. PIGS!!!

[FreeReign]

Franks may face war crimes charge.

There are two kinds of people in the world.

Accorss country boundaries, races and religions, it's us against them and they -- suck!

The highest concetrations of "them" can be found in Russia, France, Hollywood, CNN newsrooms, "Palestine" and now, the courts of Brussels. None of them are worthy enough to lick Franks boots.

[ghostrider]

A group of Iraquis, that General Franks freed from torture and death camps, need to request the US Courts to issue arrest warrants for all Belgium government leaders for providing support to Saddam. They are clearly guilty of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Belgium ..... how many divisions do they have?

[Nip]

Remember that Belgium wrote their own law granting themselves that power.

Now, what would happen if we wrote our own law that empowered us to …….

Oh EXCUSE ME, only socialist countries can make up international laws to suit themselves.

[tessalu]

We need to get out of the UN and any nation where a gang of fools reside. Look at Arafat, Iran, Syria and all of the other wicked leaders, and it seems that they just live on and on. Look at the terrorist groups; do you see anyone of them headed for any trial?