US War Crime Probes Inadequate: UN Expert

GENEVA — An independent U.N. human rights investigator said Thursday that the United States is failing to properly investigate alleged war crimes committed by its soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Although some cases are investigated and lead to prosecutions, others aren't or result in lenient sentences, said Philip Alston, the U.N. Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings.

"There have been chronic and deplorable accountability failures with respect to policies, practices and conduct that resulted in alleged unlawful killings _ including possible war crimes _ in the United States' international operations," Alston said in a report dated May 26 and published on a U.N. Web site.

A spokesman for the U.S. mission in Geneva, Dick Wilbur, said Alston's conclusions and recommendations would be reviewed closely.

"We support the independence and work of all U.N. special rapporteurs and meet regularly with those who examine issues in the U.S., including Mr. Alston," he said.

Alston, a New York University law professor, stressed he saw no evidence on a recent trip to Afghanistan that U.S. forces were committing "widespread" abuses or war crimes.

The U.S. military has conducted dozens of investigations into misconduct by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of which have resulted in trials and convictions.

But among numerous cases mentioned in the report, Alston cited that of Chief Warrant Officer Lewis Welshofer, convicted of negligent homicide in the death of Abed Hamed Mowhoush, an Iraqi general who had turned himself in to military authorities. Mowhoush suffocated after his head was covered with a sleeping bag and an electrical cord wrapped around his neck. Welshofer was fined and ordered reprimanded, without jail time.

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The U.N. investigator raised the case with U.S. authorities but said he has yet to receive a response.

Alston also criticized the lack of solid statistics on civilian casualties in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Figures collected by the U.S. military on Iraqi civilians killed at checkpoints because they were mistaken for suicide bombers had resulted in changes to military procedure that saved lives, he said.

Alston, an Australian, also examined alleged instances of illegal executions inside the United States, and recommended a systematic review of the death penalty in those states that apply it.

Like other U.N. human rights investigators, Alston is independent and unpaid, but his expenses are covered by the United Nations. His reports have no legal impact, but serve to highlight what he sees as abuses. He is reporting next week on Brazil, Afghanistan, Kenya and Central African Republic.

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On the Net:

PDF version of Alston's report: http://bit.ly/9Yec2

Comments

[mesmerised]

What I need to see is the who-what-w­hen-where-­how of all this. Have evidence and/or witnesses in order, on standby, ready for presentation to a prosecutor. And then to a criminal court. I've asked this a thousand times on all the blog sites I check out and I've yet to get anything close to a solid answer. I get the "you know how the neocons are, liars and killers" allegation. Okay. So they're liars and killers. Prove they committed these war crimes. Provide evidence that can be presented to a judge and jury and stands a fair chance of convicting someone. NOT ONE PERSON ANYWHERE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. Not one.

All of the allegations so far - that Bush and Cheney et al cooked this all up and then had documents drawn up and/or altered and then had Colin Powell present the lies to the UN and the world - have been shown to be just that: Allegations. No one comes forward from what would be an enormous and shaky cover-up to get the ball rolling. That is incredible.

Do THAT, damn it, and I'll listen. If Bush and Cheney did what their accusers say they did, I'll personally pull the switch that sends them to hell. Who would be more outraged than me, someone who has given them the benefit of the doubt?

[jmpurser]

Does ANYBODY think we learned the truth about Haditha?

[Paulo1]

"A spokesman for the U.S. mission in Geneva, Dick Wilbur, said Alston's conclusions and recommendations would be reviewed closely."

You missed a couple of words. The statement to be accurate should read. "A Spokesmen for the US mission in Geneva, Dick Wilbur said Alston's conclusions and recommendations would be reviewed closely which is totally at odds with President Obama's desire to sweep this all under the rug and not prosecute those responsible."

[Rog49Thomas]

I think they had a very thorough investigation.

They asked the chain of command and were told "We don't commit war crimes".

It was a closed and shut case.

[Macready]

this is no surprise .. . . the buck stopped at the WH .. . and those torturers weren't even held accountable for their actions . . . and they are still shouting and patting themselves on the back for it . . .

[demfriend]

Ok now. The soldiers are doing "war crimes" now? No a doubt bad ones slip through and there are some soldiers we have been less proud of in the past in many areas of the world and some who are criminals no matter in uniform or not. The majority of our soldiers are good decent people trying to do the job they are sent to do with less time off and less support along with a multitude of other negatives these fine soldiers deal with. So yes I admit the potential is there but also what about the for hire "soldiers" they are far worse in many ways with not too many being watched very close at all. Our soldiers have officers above them to watch them the former Blackwater has mercenaries from all over the world as well as former soldiers from the militaries ranks who wanted the benefits and pay they were offered to "transfer". Sure better policing is a need but what about the criminals we have sitting in nice houses in the US who wrote and pushed the torture memos?

[DLBSR]

Pot calling kettle black? The UN should try to understand, the best sermons are lived, not preached.

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[UncleJimbo]

Fox...Henhouse!?

[naschkatze]

Thank you, UN! They'll probably cut your money off though.

[V4Vigilance]

"US War Crime Probes Inadequate: UN Expert"

Preparing my nomination for "Understatement of the Year" now.

[kimleehan]

So what is Susan Rice doing at the U.N.? seems like all she cares about is Israel's invasion of Gaza or North Korea.