Chile's Augusto Pinochet always thought he was above the law so his arrest in London in 1998 surprised the world.
International law is developing to the point where administrators and advocates for unacceptable norms will soon face justice. And this includes those in the West.
How about individuals who advised the Bush administration to avoid the Geneva Convention and advocate torture? John Yoo, a UC Berkeley law professor, is one such man.
Philippe Sands is professor of law at University College London and practicing barrister and he recently debated Yoo:
"Yoo was well aware of the torture convention. However, when I raised the Pinochet precedent in our debate, he seemed slightly taken aback.
"It seems he may not have turned his mind to the possibility that a legal adviser associated with a policy that permits torture contrary to international legal obligations could be subject to international investigation."
Nobody should be immune.
International law is developing to the point where administrators and advocates for unacceptable norms will soon face justice. And this includes those in the West.
How about individuals who advised the Bush administration to avoid the Geneva Convention and advocate torture? John Yoo, a UC Berkeley law professor, is one such man.
Philippe Sands is professor of law at University College London and practicing barrister and he recently debated Yoo:
"Yoo was well aware of the torture convention. However, when I raised the Pinochet precedent in our debate, he seemed slightly taken aback.
"It seems he may not have turned his mind to the possibility that a legal adviser associated with a policy that permits torture contrary to international legal obligations could be subject to international investigation."
Nobody should be immune.
5 Comments:
Thought crimes? Actually, these provisions were directly related to US forces torturing detainees. It happened and it still happens and you can defend torture all you like. I notice you seem incapable of condemning torture. They're only Arabs, right? Yep, your hilarious war on terror will be won through torture.
Antony,
I strongly recommend you read Sands' latest book on international law. "The USA and The making and Breaking of international law" (or something like that). it is a ripping read and it explores the legal consequences of Bush's actions, International trade law, the laughabole legal opinions about the "legal war" in Iraq, and the abandonmenet of the geneva convention.
Thanks, will do.
I remember him recently on Lateline. Western leaders and their little minions should be fearful of international law. If people like Saddam are culpable - and they are - so should people like Bush, Blair and Howard.
That rather scares those who believe in Western exceptionalism.
The 'other side'? Whatever.
Arafat should have been charged with many crimes. Along with every Israeli leader since '48.
Shabadoo,
You may not have noticed this but Antony clearly argues that international laws apply to everyone equally. The neo-con's absurd exceptionalism is just as offensive as Mugabe thumbing his nose at the international community.
The fact the neo-cons won't sign up to the ICC is stunningly hypocritical and diametrically opposite to their rhetoric.
Given that administration penchant for torture and their love of personal freedom ("their" being the key word) it comes as no suprise Bush and his cohorts do not want to be held accountable by an ICC.
This arrogance will cause others to justify torture and will have serious legal consequences for decades.
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