House gives go-ahead to sue Iraq over torture

[inanna]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former POWs and civilians who were tortured or held hostage during the 1991 Gulf War could pursue lawsuits against Iraq under legislation the House has approved.

The White House, saying the bill would threaten economic and political progress in Iraq, threatened to veto the measure if it reaches the president's desk. It still has to clear the Senate.

The legislation, passed by voice vote late Monday, could affect some 17 prisoners of war - all but one pilots of aircraft downed over Iraq or Kuwait - and more than 200 American civilians working in Iraq and Kuwait and held as "human shields" after then-President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, would take away the president's authority to exempt Iraq from lawsuits brought by Americans tortured by state sponsors of terrorism. The president could still grant immunity if he certifies that Iraq has adequately settled, or is making good-faith efforts to settle, claims against it from pending court cases.


Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_TORTURE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-09-16-10-01-24

[MercutioATC]

1. Hmmm...do THEY get to sue US now?

I'm betting that we've tortured a lot more people than they have...

[zbdent]

2. But they can't sue Iraq ...

It's not torture ... at least, not according to Bush/McSame's definitions ...

[bemildred]

3. Boy, you just don't know what to say with stuff like this.

Do they really want to open this can of wormss?

[frylock]

5. i really don't believe they think this shit through..

my ironometer is freakin pegged right about now.

[mallard]

6. harsh irony yes

Does Congress intend to help sue the cuurent Iraq or the pre-invasion Iraq - because they had something of a hand in turning that country right around - from the peaceful harmless cradle of western civilization into a living hell on earth?

Maybe they think this is like insurance. I'd call it another in their profound list of extremely short-sighted, bad investments.

I got to get me one of those ironometers.

[Hugabear]

4. I don't get this. It's not the same government.

If Saddam were still in power, I could possibly understand this. But the people who were in power during the Persian Gulf War aren't in power any longer, so what does this accomplish?

Wouldn't this be like suing Barack Obama over Bush's mistakes once Obama takes office?

[Jackpine Radical]

8. The logic for suing Barack would be stronger than that for suing iraq.

Shit. An unintentional rhyme.

Anyway, Barack's administration would be a lawful continuation of the US Government. Responsibility for past acts resides in the government, not the person heading it. There would be an argument that the current Iraqi government is discontinuous with the prior one.

[pberq]

7. Seriously folks - you can't make this stuff up.

Gee, I wonder how this will play with all the Iraqis that were tortured by the U.S.?

[Pterodactyl]

9. I don't see the point to this.

Saddam Hussein is like, you know, dead.