Man fined for Iraq relief loses in court

[Zancan]

A Seattle man who sued the federal government to overturn a $10,000 fine levied against him for violating economic sanctions on Iraq by taking medicine and toys to sick Iraqi children lost his court case yesterday.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control fined Bert Sacks in May 2002 for his 1997 trip under authority of a presidential executive order issued after the first Gulf War. Sacks refused to pay, began raising more money for an Iraqi medical clinic and instead took the Treasury Department to court.

Sacks and his attorneys argued, in federal court last week, that the United States violated binding international laws, such as the Geneva Conventions, which protect humanitarian shipments and make such fines unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge James Robart rejected Sacks' assertions, noting that the travel ban resulted from a series of executive and legislative actions after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/196778_sacks26.html

[w4rma]

1. And Haliburton is getting fined, when? (nt)

[TacticalPeek]

2. Obviously an amateur.

The pros use off-shore subsidiaries, then thumb their nose at the goody two-shoes 'Justice' Dept.

Patriotism? That's for the 'old' America.

[Massacure]

3. He should pack up and move to Canada.