Australia's John Howard's possible war crimes submitted to the International Criminal Court
By John Amato Monday Jun 02, 2008 1:30pmSydney is an incredible city to visit. I played there in 2003 and just loved it. OK, I'm just plugging the down under because it was an amazing trip, but it's not such a cool place for their ex-Prime Minister John Howard right now:
Meanwhile, the Australian Broadcast Corp. reported June 1 that a legal brief has been sent to the International Criminal Court alleging Howard committed a war crime by sending troops to Iraq. A loose alliance of peace activists, lawyers, academics and politicians is behind the brief, organized by the ICC Action Group, based in Melbourne.
An organizer, Glen Floyd, says Howard should be made accountable for sending troops to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations.
Howard, who led the country for 11 years and celebrated his friendship with President Bush, told the newspaper that the decision to send Australian troops to Iraq in 2003 was "very, very, very hard." But he stood by his choice, which he said helped further deepen Australia's alliance with the United States...read on
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Awesome.
Now when are we going to try the Administration and the 108th (I think) Congress for our war-crimes?
why oh why can't we start doing this here?
Does that mean someone might have the guts to try bush and cheney.
Right frickin' on!!!! Just you wait, Bu$h, Cheney, and the rest of your effed up boys and girls who perpetuated these war crimes over the past 8+ years... your turn is coming.
Part of the coalition of the schilling.
Go OZZZ!!!!
Marge @ 4:
Get these guys tried and found guilty and Bush/Cheney will have to hide out in Dubai! Think the Saudis will hide them?
AHHH the Aussies better beer braver people
Little known fact John Howard was the 4th STOOGE ...
That would be a good start. Execute all these god damned war criminals and traitors. In fact, a raffle to get to see who gets to put a bullet through some of them would raise probably half a billion Dollars the first week.
I've got to give the Australians a lot of credit. It has to be difficult as well as embarrassing nationally to accuse your own former leadership of war crimes right there on the international stage but, if it has to be done it has to be done. This legal brief obviously is only the start but it shows the world that Australia has no problems with holding its leadership accountable. What a pity the right wing fears the Bush Administration more than they do the rule of law or else they would participate in the same type of action.
Yeah, but the aussies kept electing that asshole for 11 years! They just copied the same pro corporation crap that America had perfected.
Let's hope that Howard likes to be a power bottom.
He justifies his choice to send his country's troops into harms way to "further deepen Australia’s alliance with the United States"? Wow.
And when do we bring war crimes charges against Bill Clinton for the bombings of Iraq in the 90s? Iraq hadn't attacked us then either, so naturally the unprovoked bombing is a war crime. Or even more egregious, the bombing of a completely innocent pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum in 1998?
John @ 15:
Or war charges against Reagan's SecDef for invading Grenada and deposing the Nicaraugan government and for invading Lebanon and letting the Israelis get away with war crimes, or even Jimmy Carter for allowing his Administration to draw the USSR into Afghanistan and start the ball rolling on 9/11...
John @ 15:
Why stop there. You can go much further back than that. We have been the thugs on the international stage for quite some time.
Unfortunately the bush administration has broken out system of laws by appointing a NeoCon leaning SCOTUS. And you know he did this for just this reason.
♠Bangkok-Bob♠ @ 18:
Alice Hussein @ 17:
Distraction!!!!
Get back on track! Let's use these trials to set precedents to take down BushCo!
They have to get to Bush before he can bail to Paraguay
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/oct/23/mainsection.tomphillips
South America is a favorite place for war criminals (several nazis, among others) to escape punishment....but it shouldn't be too hard for the world courts to find him there...
Also, would be great if they could get to Cheney before he bolts for Dubai in the UAE....
where he'll be rejoining Halliburton in their new 'international headquarters'...as chairman of the board...after all, they couldn't stay in Houston with their war crimes on daily display...
Question....how much does everyone think Cheney will get when he sells his half of Wyoming back to our country???
Explain how the USSR invading Iraq was Jimmy Carter's doing. This is a new line I've never ever seen before.
Afghanistan, sorry
Paraguay does not extridated for war crimes. Did he buy a ranch yet?
John @ 22:
From what I've read, Brezinki (or however the hell you spell it), he fully admitted drawing the USSR into it, and Reagan used this war and the US involvement to create the Mujahideen, one of whom happened to get the luck of the draw, and create Al-Qaeda.
Interview is here:
So, if you have to play the blame game for 9/11, Jimmy Carter has 3,000 people from the Twin Towers, and God knows how many Afghans' blood on his hands, all for giving the USSR a Vietnam scenario.
It is surprising that it has not been reported in the media that the environmentalist and the columnist who writes in The Guardian, George Monbiot, attempted to perform a citizens' arrest on John Bolton, when Bolton appeared on stage to give a speech in Wales. Monbiot was, alas, unsuccessful, as two large security guards escorted him out of the building. No charges were made against Monbiot, as it would appear that the last thing the administration would desire would be for attention to be focused on the war crimes that John Bolton has committed in the name of the United States.
Joe O. @ 12:
Just think how happy we would be to be able to do the same here. I, for one, can handle the embarrassment.
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General_Rennenkampf @ 16:
Reagan Breaks Laws then Lies About It
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZfnOJd_FmA
I've always wondered just what prompted the political leadership in Oz to send troops; what deals were made? Somebody's palms have to have been greased; a slice the expected oil profits intended to 'pay for the war', perhaps?
When our Dear Leader bolts to his Ranchero, we can hire Blackwater to do a rendition on his ass!
Good on the Aussies! As one of the Bush regime's most obedient lap puppies, any actions whatsoever that are taken in bringing Howard to justice will strengthen the cases against all members of the Bush regime.
Outstanding.
harley @ 24:
They've bought 98,840 acres of land which is reportedly adjacent to a similar parcel owned by the Rev. Moon. Sitting on top of the largest fresh water aquifer in the world.
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General_Rennenkampf @ 25:
OK, I'll try that link again.
General_Rennenkampf @ 33:
BobD @ 8:
Remember that Idi Amin lived in the Royal Palace at Riyadh for his waning years until he died.... under the protection of the Saudi Royals.
We can submit our gang after they're removed from office.
Hopefully, John Howard will be waltzing with a few "matildas" after he's filleted in The Hague.
Trittydi @ 32:
He termed it "surprising" that the Bush family is trying to settle a few short miles from the U.S. Mariscal Estigarribia Military Base.
ha, as if wars that ARE sanctioned by the United Nations are moral and justifiable.
OT: AP is calling nomination for Obama.
Here we go! :)
harley @ 37:
Maybe the base has a prison?
I think we should dig up Teddy Roosevelt's body and flog him for starting this American imperialism thingy.
earl @ 40:
Close to a secure air strip to get in and out of dodge.
displaced @ 41:
Or King George III for creating the conditions that made it necessary for the colonists to declare independence. (Let's see how silly this can get)
Forget Sir John Kerr's cur, This "swag" man should be waterboarded by some billabong.
Neo-classical secular humanist @ 36:
displaced @ 41:
At least he fought in the wars he created; imagine if Rumsfeld or Dick Cheney retired to fight in Iraq, like Roosevelt did during the Spanish-American War. Moreover, he would probably be considered liberal by today’s standards. He was: the first progressive president, for Universal Health Care, pro-environment, pro-regulation. So what if he started a couple of unnecessary wars or stole land from Columbia to build a canal? No one is perfect.
This is a very lame excuse by Howard:
"Howard, who led the country for 11 years and celebrated his friendship with President Bush, told the newspaper that the decision to send Australian troops to Iraq in 2003 was “very, very, very hard.” But he stood by his choice, which he said helped further deepen Australia’s alliance with the United States".
This is just plain BAD JUDGEMENT of a game of..... follow-the-leader....
When a leader defies INTERNATIONAL LAW........this should have been a HUGE CLUE that something is NOT RIGHT. CIVIL SERVANTS in HIGH POSITIONS are HELD by a HIGHER STANDARD. The FREEWORLD will be the judge whether that standard has been met. Negligence, Carelessness, and Abuse is NOT acceptable anymore than anyone who perpetrate CORRUPT acitvities.
CRIME is CRIME. Criminals must be prosecuted indiscriminately regardless of who they ARE. Martha Stewart paid her dues and serve prison time; Charles Manson is serving his time. What makes Howard, Bush and Blair any different?
WE AS PEOPLE must not ALLOW these very few bad APPLES corrupt OUR VERY SYSTEM and LAWS that WE AS PEOPLE have been obeying. To be lenient with the law of the land IS to corrupt the legal system.
We as people MUST not tolerate this.
IT TAKES DISCIPLINE to maintain a CIVIL SOCIETY. To tolerate crimes without consequences indiscriminately is to WEAKEN CIVIL ORDER. We can not live in PEACE as a CIVIL SOCIETY if WE CAN NOT control our government from making such heinous offenses against humanity.
Such misjudgements from these civil servants (Howard, Bush, Blair, etc.) CAUSED thousands of lives.
WE as people MUST dictate HOW WE want our government run in a FREE and DEMOCRATIC WORLD...........NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND...........
We should do the same, bring up war crimes for the president, vice president and every member of Congress that authorized us going into Iraq. Which is to say, most of them.
Wow, three "very"s. I'm impressed.
Still made the wrong decision though. Should've gone for four "very"s, or even "five". Or maybe just ask the nearest four-year-old if it's a bad idea to participate in the invasion of a country that is no threat to you so you can cozy up to a slightly retarded fake cowboy. They could've set you straight.
randomstranger @ 47:
My comment at #26 agrees with your recommendation. As this link demonstrates, George Monbiot attempted to do just that.
http://www.jwharrison.com/blog/2008/05/31/john-bolton-runs-from-war-crim...
Will he be tried in a kangaroo court?
Sorry...couldn't resist!
So I am confused..if he does indeed face an Investigation for War Crimes- what does it mean for Bushco? Can they also face charges and possible trial- esp. once they are no longer in power ?
General_Rennenkampf @ 25:
Wow. Jimmy Carter is responsible for the deaths of 9/11. That's a classic.
Trittydi @ 27:
I don't think anything can beat the embarrassment the bush admin has caused these past years. If these a-holes were being tried for war crimes, embarrassment would be the last emotion I would have. Pride in finally holding dickwad politicians accountable would be more like it.
Liberal AND Proud @ 50:
Same will happen to Bush,baby !
I guess Howard shouldn't have joined the 'Koalaition of the willing to be bribed'.
Condi Rice is hiding out with old hag from the phillipines (Markass) They should both be made to eat shoes for the rest of thier miserable lives.
Bitter for Hussein Obama (aka right wing hater) @ 21:
The Truth Hurts @ 52:
No. It was CLINTON's fault !!!
My position on the Australians trying to charge their former PM with a war crime seems like overreach. I don't blame Howard for sending troops to Iraq, for basically providing military support to a valued ally (us) that turned out to have in most respects lied to everyone about the need to invade Iraq. If the Aussies really want to file war crimes charges they ought to aim at the SOBs really responsible - Dubya, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Yoo, Addington, Libby, Rice, Chalabi, and anyone else involved - for the subterfuge, lying, mismanagement, embezzlement, and torture now associated with the whole Iraq fiasco.
I still can't believe Aussies put up with this creep for so many legislatures...
if this australian case goes forward, i think bush & co's asses are grass . . . in the absence of any evidence that iraq was involved in 9/11, they cannot justify the attack upon iraq, the subsequent dismantling of its government, and the ongoing occupation . . . even if it had been proven that iraq had wmd's, iraq's decimated military machine did not have the capacity to deliver a wmd to israel, much less the u.s. . . . . besides, the world is full of countries that possess wmd's (some of which are openly hostile to the u.s. and have the capacity to deliver them) but do not used them
i think that the first executive order by the new prez should appoint a special counsel to investigate these war crimes and ban all foreign travel by bush administration officials pending the completion of that investigation
General_Rennenkampf @ 25:
If only Sky Captain had made it in time.
Chico Hussein @ 54:
So, the terrorists hate us for our marsupials?
The Truth Hurts @ 52:
He was responsible for Osama Bin Laden gaining access to men with guns. It's no more of a direct responsibility than Dubya had for a plan years in the making that finally went into effect in about the eleventh month of his term.
Dubya had no excuse to invade Afghanistan and Iraq because of 9/11, though.
is that why he resigned?
Tony Blair is also a bright and shiny defendant charged with war crimes in the International Criminal Court so PM Howard doesn't feel so alone.
Isn't that special? While Mr. Blair ropes in a few million dollars while trying to bring all religions together as one happy family of paranormal entities worshipers . . he's charged with war crimes and crimes against mankind.
Maybe since Bush and Co are now defining his "uniter" status as only uniting Republicans as loud proud sociopaths glorying in mass murders Mr. Blair's newest job as a uniter of the paranormal pimps will help him fund his legal defense fund.
Anyone here think those high priced lawyers have associates working at the Pearly Gates schmoozing the judging that awaits their clients?
General_Rennenkampf @ 62:
So, are you kinda like a GOP talking points test pilot...taking this lame rewrite of history out for a test "spin"?
randomstranger @ 47:
no disagreement here.
The link, I hope it fucking works this time:
Site monitor-it keeps swallowing the damn link, can you help?
The money quote:
Q: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn't believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don't regret anything today?
B: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter. We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.
The decision to draw the USSR into Afghanistan was the product of Carter's Cold Warriorism. He also started arming the Mujahideen on the principle of bleeding the Red Army dry. Funny, neither he nor Reagan counted on a Saudi Wahhabite named Bin Laden turning the US's own weapons against it.
Liberal AND Proud @ 65:
what's the carter connection again?
Marge @ 4:
That will never happen, a bit of flag waving and flag pin spin and everyone will carry on infighting.
liberal traitor @ 3:
There are a lot of unpleasant answers for that question, too many unfortunately.
Liberal AND Proud @ 65:
Read the fucking link I posted, it's from his National Security advisor. Carter started the ball rolling, the real person who owes most responsibility is Reagan for letting the Mujahideen play with sharp toys and not forcing them to return them.
BaScOmBe against Bitter Elitist Appeasement Bullshit @ 63:
The pressure in the country was overwhelming, it's what happens when you have a lot of people who care about what's going on.
BaScOmBe against Bitter Elitist Appeasement Bullshit @ 68:
Here:
Read it, it's from his National Security Advisor's words. Cold War realpolitik's a bitch, ain't it...
General_Rennenkampf @ 70:
Why not roll the wayback machine allll the way back to the Saudi nationalization of their oil production. Hell...lets take it all the way back to the Crusades.
John @ 15 says:
What a dweeb.
Note-I consider Reagan to have the lion's share of responsibility for 9/11, but without Carter having set up the trap sandbox for Reagan to play in, St. Bonzo would never have had the chance to decide to arm the guys that later started bombing things like the Cole and the Twin Towers (twice.)
And while your at it...you want to be taken even slightly seriously...grow the fuck up and lose the four letter words..
JERK OFF.
Liberal AND Proud @ 73:
Actually, I consider Islamic terrorism born more out of resentment for Anglo-French colonization and dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire than anything else, plus the fact that most Muslim states are extremely weak, and terrorism is a handy weapon for the weak.
Had the Ottoman empire been just a mite stronger, you and I would be posting in late Ottoman Turkish and I would be explaining why those Krauts are blowing themselves up because Christianity is weak and Islam is strong.
Liberal AND Proud @ 76:
Oh, get off your high horse! Iran hates us because of Mossadeqh and the Afghans hate us because we drew the Russkies in and they started ripping the shit out of their country.
Don't even get me started on why Asians and Africans dislike Uncle Sam, or especially Latin America, where we interfere often just because we could.
General_Rennenkampf @ 67:
let's be clear:bin laden told booshTheElder to get the fuck off of