Harsh justice where U.S. relies on Iraq tribes (summary executions)

[Barrett808]

Source: Reuters

Harsh justice where U.S. relies on Iraq tribes
By Peter Graff
Reuters
Tuesday, September 4, 2007; 6:41 AM

AL QAIM, Iraq (Reuters) - Seated between his police chief and a U.S. Marine battalion commander, the Iraqi mayor opened his weekly security meeting by explaining how he had authorized one of the local tribes to carry out a summary execution.

The police had caught two men who had killed another policeman.

"As you all know, the Iraqi court system is still weak," said Mayor Farhan Ftehkhan, while an interpreter translated for the benefit of the Americans.

"Yesterday I met the sheikhs, and they decided to kill them as soon as possible. So the tribes took their decision and they killed those criminals."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/04/AR2007090400353.html

[OldTymeDem]

1. And?

This is their culture, let them do what they are used to doing. Who are we to judge and impose malignant western culture and morals on them? Yankee go home!

[acmavm]

2. Boy, I bet the thugs in the bush** administration are jealous.

[rodeodance]

3. "In their mind they had done nothing wrong. That's the way it was done for centuries."

U.S. forces said they learned about the summary execution only after it had taken place. Bohm said they did what they could to make clear that they did not approve.

"I met with the mayor. I met with the judges. I met with the Iraqi police. I told them we did not condone this," he said.

"In their mind they had done nothing wrong. That's the way it was done for centuries."

The sheikhs made no effort to deny they had carried out the summary execution. In fact, they provided Bohm with meticulous documentation of their "verdict," bearing their signatures and stamps, as well as a video showing the killers' confessions.

In an interview later in his office, Mayor Ftehkhan acknowledged the execution might cause difficulty for his American guests but said he had no choice but to ensure the men were executed before a vendetta could erupt.

[Supersedeas]

4. Bushist style democracy -- kill when the feeling siezes ya