December 9, 2002
AMERICA IN THE DOCK:
Group looks to hold Bush to account for Afghan campaign (The Japan Times, Dec. 10, 2002)Criminal jurist Akira Maeda and a group of Japanese citizens will hold the first hearing of a civic tribunal concerning Afghanistan in Tokyo on Sunday.The group is seeking to hold the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush accountable for breaches of international law during the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan.
The hearing will feature reports on damage suffered by Afghan civilians, speeches on why the military strikes violate international law and a message by a support group, the International Action Center. The latter was founded by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
Nothing speaks worse of Democrats than their insistence that America should make itself subject to the ICC and thus to such heinous prosecutions. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 9, 2002 1:05 PM
Hmm, finally the crazy mullah Omar has found some friends : the Japanese. Does he like raw fish ?
Posted by: Peter at December 9, 2002 2:41 PMWell, anyone with legal knowledge I hope will add to the comments here, but....
This is why I get really, really nervous about things like siung the Saudis over 9/11. I also remember some people trying to sue Fidel Castro over some basically political reasons.
Not that I don't prefer either one of them to drop through a hole in the earth, but the fact is, just about in any court on earth, precedent does matter. And are we REALLY sure that in persuing these suits (such as the Saudi one) that we are not setting a precedent that could come back to bite us in the ass? Think we could be sued over what happens in Iraq this winter? Wanna bet that, if you don't, quite a few people overseas might deem to think differently, and file suit accordingly?
I guess in the end we can tell any foreign court to piss up a rope (How many divisions ya got?), but there are times I think that suing the Saudis, Castro, et al is asking for trouble.
What we should do is get some Chinese or South East Asians to sue Japan over WWII. It's also interesting that these people are more concerned about bringing the US to heel than, say, North Korea which kidnaps their fellow citizens.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at December 9, 2002 5:49 PMAnd perhaps someone can explain how the Japanese have standing in regards to events in Afghanistan? Or is international "law" something where everyone has standing except Americans?
But the giveaway is Ramsey Clark-- this is nothing more that a rally by people who always seem to end up on the same side as dictatorial thugs and other mass murders.
Yeah, I think you guys are jumping the gun.
It says "civic tribunal," not a court of law
recognized by anyone. Like "Winter Soldier"
or Russell's inane Stockholm investigations.
While I would leap to strangle any international
court in its cradle, this ain't the baby.
Bet the lawyers are drooling....
Posted by: Barry Meislin at December 10, 2002 2:22 AMInternational law is rapidly becoming international lawlessness. "Law" which is merely asserted, not assented to, undermines the whole concept.
Posted by: pj at December 10, 2002 9:31 AMHarry:
This is the dry run.
No international law without an international bailiff.
By the way, raw fish is delicious.