New York Times:
A military investigation has concluded that American personnel made significant errors in carrying out some of the airstrikes in western Afghanistan on May 4 that killed dozens of Afghan civilians, according to a senior American military official.
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War crimes trial against the prez?
Why don't you do yourself a favor and look up what elements are necessary for such a charge.
I believe that questioning the legality of US actions in Afghanistan is more than appropriate.
The air strikes are demonstrably in violation of Article 51 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions:
http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/WebART/470-750065?OpenDocument
We didn't sign on to the 1977 protocols, but there is still reasonable grounds for charges.
As far as charges, the US doesn't recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC (over the US), so there are moral, legal, and technical issues with filing charges.
Furthermore, International Law affords a legal framwork for the military action of Nation States. Because we are not at war with a Nation State, rather with Terrorism or associated groups, our actions are outside the scope of International Law and thus should be considered aggression. Aggressors should not have rights, only responsibilities to the victims.
Thoughts?
War is money that is why Obama does not want to shut down Afghanistan and we are forever in Iran just like in Germany and Japan. Once we get our teeth in we stay put. The military needs to stay busy and that is about the only thing that promises a good living if you are lucky to survive. Nothing else
out there that pays as well. Afghanistan must have something to do with a pipeline for oil, I can't think of no other reason to be there.
add to this the problem of having locals plant GPS beacons to pinpoint targets and you get a giant clusterf***. Who's to say people aren't planting beacons in civilian areas with the intent of building outrage against Americans? Who's to say they aren't planting them on tribal enemies to suit their own purposes?
what a mess.
Remember when the GOP were outraged at such an insinuation that we killed innocent people -- even as "collateral damage"?
Facts have a liberal bias.
The US Air Force is out of control. It's been taken over by a bunch of fundies. These are no accidents!
Please, Please, Please, Bring our troops home. Especially Iraq/Afg/Pak, but even better - All the troops - worldwide.
The commander in chief could do this with a stroke of the pen - it is one of his few constitutional powers.
Essential to our credibility? How about essential to our humanity?
"Collateral Dammage" will always be a future of war. We are deluding ourselves if we think we have the means to target only belligerents. We will leave this region of the world in shame and defeated; the question is how long it will take.
You would have to ask Unical.
But it won't be during poppy season, the CIA will make sure of that.
Gosh, sorry about that. We'll do better next time. It won't happen again. We're here to help. Feel the love?
PEPE ESCOBAR
"It will happen again. There will be the usual apologies. It will continue. And it will get _much_ worse with the surge. What else?"
Pepe Escobar - On that 'oops' moment - http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=3672&updaterx=2009-05-08+15%3A46%3A33
Pepe Escobar - The Balkanization of Pakistan - Baluchistan is the ultimate prize - Asia Times - http://www.atimes.com/atimes/others/Escobar.html
Real News - search for 'Pepe', _not_ complete - http://therealnews.com/t/index.php
Very good sources.
Pepe Escobar truly is a voice of reason in a World gone m.a.d.
Thanks. Certainly he is. He has also all but disappeared from Real News where he was the best and the funniest thing there.
His sense of the ridiculous and his biting humour was hugely enjoyable for those of us who know the boot of Empire.
Every day with a new story from PE is a good day -- today is another: The Shadow W@r in Balochistan --
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/others/Escobar.html
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First Posted: 06- 3-09 01:18 AM | Updated: 06- 3-09 01:31 AM