UN Says U.S. Soldiers Could Face War Crimes Charges

[Scooter24]

(excerpt)
GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations' top human rights official said on Friday abuses by U.S. soldiers of Iraqi prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison could amount to war crimes.

Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan said U.S.-led occupation forces had committed ``serious violations'' of international humanitarian law in Iraq and had ill-treated ordinary Iraqis.

In a report for the world body's Human Rights Commission, Ramcharan, a British-trained barrister from Guyana and long-time U.N. official, also said coalition troops were able to act with impunity and urged the appointment of an independent figure to monitor their behavior.

In a clear reference to the Abu Ghraib incidents, since when several U.S. male and female soldiers working there have been detained, Ramcharan said ``willful killing, torture or inhuman treatment'' of detainees was a grave breach of international law.

(more-story)
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-iraq-rights-un.html

[bryant69]

1. Interesting

I wonder how this will play out. I suspect if Bush wins the election it will just be another reason to completely withdraw from the UN. If Kerry Wins it will put him in a tough spot; he'll probably work out some kind of deal to keep our soldiers tried in a world court. What else can he do?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[mike_c]

3. hand them over in chains....

eom

[2Design]

2. amazing we have court martial the guy who bought it to light by

taking pictures.....RumsfeldCo have push their message to the miltary, if you take pictures or speak up you life is over.....

[Spazito]

4. War crimes trials can and should happen within the US...

and include bush, cheney, rumsfeld, et al. There is a 1996 bill entitled the War Crimes Act that spells it out:

http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t17t20+1070+0++%28War%20Crimes%20Act%29%20%20AND%20%28%2818%29%20ADJ%20USC%29%3ACITE%20AND%20%28USC%20w%2F10%20%282441%29%29%3ACITE%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20