Should President Obama honor an international arrest warrant for Bush & Co?

[IndianaGreen]

If the US is to cleanse itself from the crimes of the Bush regime, it must either prosecute the lawbreakers or honor international arrest warrants for Bush and his officials for any crimes they committed against humanity. Here are the most likely to issue warrants for Bush and his henchmen:

Profile: Judge Baltasar Garzon

Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon is widely recognised for his determination to bring suspects to justice, no matter where they may be or how old the crime.

He came to prominence in the late 1990s, when he campaigned for the extradition former Chilean military ruler Augusto Pinochet, from London to Spain for human rights abuses.

In late 2003 Judge Garzon compiled a 692-page indictment which called for the arrest of 35 men, including Osama Bin Laden, for their alleged membership of a terrorist group. The number of suspects was later increased to 41.

In 2005 24 faced justice in Madrid, in Europe's biggest trial of alleged al-Qaeda operatives.

Eighteen were found guilty of belonging to an al-Qaeda cell and sentenced to long prison terms.

These included the suspected leader of the group, Syrian-born businessman Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, who was found guilty of helping to organise the 9/11 attacks in the US. Six defendants were acquitted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3085482.stm

International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The ICC is based on a treaty, joined by 108 countries.

The ICC is a court of last resort. It will not act if a case is investigated or prosecuted by a national judicial system unless the national proceedings are not genuine, for example if formal proceedings were undertaken solely to shield a person from criminal responsibility. In addition, the ICC only tries those accused of the gravest crimes.

In all of its activities, the ICC observes the highest standards of fairness and due process. The jurisdiction and functioning of the ICC are governed by the Rome Statute.

http://www.icc-cpi.int/about.html

The question is: Should President Obama honor an international arrest warrant for Bush & Co?

[polichick]

1. Absolutely!

[IndianaGreen]

3. Looks like Spain is going to investigate CIA rendition flights from Spanish soil

The world's knives are out for justice!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3623979

[polichick]

7. I'm glad somebody cares about justice, since our Congress doesn't.

[onenote]

2. there aren't going to be any such warrants, so its a moot point

[IndianaGreen]

6. Keep praying to your god about amnesty for Bush &Co

because you are wrong. It has started:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3623979

[onenote]

11. I'm not praying for anything. Just acknowledging reality

And the reality - not pretty, but nonetheless the way it is -- is that no country or international body will issue an arrest warrant for chimpy or any of his gang. Let's both bookmark this thread and compare notes from time to time to see who has a clearer grasp of reality.

[Clovis Sangrail]

12. that's not the same as issuing a warrant for a former US president /nt

[IndianaGreen]

14. Presidents and former Presidents are not above the law

The only reason Pelosi put impeachment off the table was because any serious hearings on Bush regime crimes would disclose Democratic complicity.

[Clovis Sangrail]

17. I didn't say *anybody was above the law

I pointed out that Spain investigating if members of the Azanar govt (not even Aznar himself) were criminally liable is significantly different from Spain issuing an arrest warrant for the head of foreign govt.

[Voice for Peace]

4. yes!

would love to see the International community help out with this one.

[AndyTiedye]

5. YES!

[GodlessBiker]

8. If an arrest warrant is issued, Bush may largely be trapped in this country.

If Obama does not honor it.

[onehandle]

9. They got away with it. nt

[Zombie2]

13. Yep....

It does seem that way... doesn't it?

Massive protests every time you turn around (unless you watched the MSM) all over the world.... in the end, nobody really gave a turd.

[IndianaGreen]

19. They didn't gave "a turd" because we didn't punish them!

We must make them as fearful of us as the GOP establishment is fearful of their base.

[Clovis Sangrail]

10. maybe

in Bush's case yes but in general only maybe

honoring an international warrant for the arrest of US politicians should have to meet a couple criteria
1) they're no longer in office
2) it should be 'reasonable' ... I don't know if that should be decided by a court or the sitting president but there should be some standard.

[Joe Bacon]

15. Won't happen

Kristol let the cat out of the bag. Bush will pardon everyone and walk away clean.

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. Chimpy's pardons don't mean shit outside the borders of the United States.

I hope they prosecute every last one of those bastards.

[SwampG8r]

16. someone correct me here if im wrong

(like you have to actually say that on DU?)but didnt we send balkan war criminals there
it would seem to set a precedent of cooperation with the icc and an aknowledgement that icc is a valid court

[AtomicKitten]

18. Absolutely, but I don't think he will.

:(