U.N. Says Abu Ghraib Abuse

[desdemona]

U.N. Says Abu Ghraib Abuse Could Constitute War Crime

By WARREN HOGE

Published: June 4, 2004

NITED NATIONS, June 4 — The United Nations' top human rights official said today that the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers could constitute a war crime, and he called for the immediate naming of an international figure to oversee the situation.

Bertrand Ramcharan, the acting high commissioner for human rights, acknowledged that the removal of Saddam Hussein represented "a major contribution to human rights in Iraq" and that the United States had condemned the conduct and pledged to bring violators to justice.

"Everyone accepts the good intentions of the coalition governments as regards the behavior of their forces in Iraq," he said in a 45-page report issued at the agency's headquarters in Geneva.

But, Mr. Ramcharan declared, after the occupation of Iraq, "there have sadly been some violations of human rights committed by some coalition soldiers."

In an apparent reference to the incidents of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison and to cases where Iraqi prisoners have died in detention, Mr. Ramcharan said that "willful killing, torture and inhuman treatment" represented a grave breach of international law and "might be designated as war crimes by a competent tribunal."

He said it was a "stark reality" that there was no international oversight or accountability for the thousands of detainees, the conditions in which they were held and the manner in which they were treated.

To correct this situation, he said, the coalition authorities should immediately appoint "an international ombudsman or commissioner." That person would be charged with monitoring human rights in Iraq and producing periodic reports on "compliance by coalition forces with international norms of human rights and humanitarian law."

read article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/04/internat...04CND-NATI.html

[DudeAsInCool]

It appears from the article the other day that soldiers from other countries were involved in this mess... its disturbing any way you look at it...

[Bombardier]

It appears from the article the other day that soldiers from other countries were involved in this mess... its disturbing any way you look at it...

At least their were claims other countries were involved.

Poland has denied everything. I don't know about the rest.

Yep, disturbing is a good word to describe the situation.

[desdemona]

I'm just thinking how we held leaders and military generals from other regimes responsible for the action of their men when conducting war crime tribunals in the past, but it seems as if the US considers themselves immune from the same scrutiny. We are a great power but not immune from abuse, americans suffer a type of social isolationalism when it comes to the world community, in other words, the world doesn't revolve around us!

[Bombardier]

it seems as if the US considers themselves immune from the same scrutiny.

Of course, it's the double standard.

It's the old "do as we say and not as we do" way of thinking.

The US would never really come down hard on itself. It just like when the FBI or CIA makes mistakes in their secret missions that cause people to lose lives. It's all an "internal issue" and only maybe only the janitor would be fired.

[DudeAsInCool]

americans suffer a type of social isolationalism when it comes to the world community, in other words, the world doesn't revolve around us!

Yep, and the guys in the White House could care less what the world thinks

[desdemona]

but world opinion should matter, what we do affects the world, that's my biggest complaint about this administration, they want to change the world, but they want to change it to reflect what they think is moral, and what they think each person should relish as their standard of living, aid is one thing, but forcing changes on peoples and countries is so arrogant.

Edited June 4, 2004 by desdemona

[DudeAsInCool]

that's my biggest complaint about this administration, they want to change the world, but they want to change it to reflect what they think is moral, and what they think each person should relish as their standard of living, aid is one thing, but forcing changes on peoples and countries is so arrogant.

Exactly. And who the hell do they think they are? I wouldnt be caught dead with their attitude or so-called morals...