Tuesday, October 30, 2007

French Court Charges Rumsfeld with Torture

Jubin George's excellent blog alerted me to a report that a French court has charged Donald Rumsfeld with torturing prisoners in Iraq and the US prison at Guantanamo Bay.

The charges against the former U.S. secretary of defense, is being brought by what is described as "leading human rights groups" who have the support of "the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the French League for Human Rights, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)."

Michael Ratner, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights, a non-profit human rights law firm in the US, said:"We will not rest until those U.S. officials involved in torture are brought to justice," he continued to say after the filing, that "Rumsfeld must understand that he has no place to hide," and that "A torturer is an enemy of all humankind."

The report adds that:"The charges against Rumsfeld were brought under the 1984 Convention against Torture, ratified by both the United States and France, which has been used in France in previous torture cases."

France is given jurisdiction in this case because the complaint was filed when Rumsfeld was in Paris as an invited guest of Foreign Policy magazine.

The complainants also argue that because the US and Iraq have not sought to investigate the allegations of torture; it is the "obligation" of France under the 1984 Convention to do so.

Furthermore, Rumsfeld cannot claim "immunity" because International Law does not recognize "immunity" as a legal defense in cases of torture.

There is no-doubt enough substantive evidence to prosecute Rumsfeld. This includes evidence by former U.S. Army Brigadier General Janis Karpinski who showed Rumsfeld's hand in the torture of detainees.

This then is a good day for those of us who would like to see this maniacal murderer brought to justice. It is also a step toward a growing movement that will seek to indict his partners in mass murder, Bush and Cheney.

Still, this is the 5th time that Rumsfeld has been charged for torture in a foreign court. Previous charges were brought in Argentina, Sweden, and Germany.

But stay tuned anyway because the march to bring the mass murderers to justice is in full swing.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok, as I was reading this I was thinking, one down and many more to go. Forrest Gump and his side kick will get what's coming to them in due time. I just hope I will be here to witness it.

Ridwan said...

You are exactly right Erica. There are so many hands with blood on them.

I will be happy to see these prosecuted and jailed for crimes against humanity: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Blair, ....

Anyone else wanna add to the list?

Be well sista,
Ridwan

Anonymous said...

Nahhh, the ones listed are the ones who really need to be dealt with first and in that precise order too!

If you really want a good laugh, check out my spot. I did an ode to Forrest Gump himself.

Anonymous said...

What business did we have against Sadam Husein?? Were over there DICKtating, opressing, and torturing... sounds familiar. These decision makers of our nation, they are suppost to be educated, so its a grand example on how the educated can be IGNORANT! There really is no excuse for torturing civilians ect. I wish we would just get out of Iraq. I understand the issue about wanting to finish the "job", but enough already!!!

Dione

Ridwan said...

Hey Dione:

I saw a picture (real one) of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam.

Daddy Bush created Saddam. They trained him, did business with him, and then ostensibly hung him.

The irony of the entire matter is that Bush is the Butcher of Bagdad not Saddam.

Who in their right mind believes that Iraq is better off now?

Thanks for looking in hey.

Peace,
Ridwan

Anonymous said...

You are welcome!
I hope you had a good trip up north,and have not gotten too burned out on grading your papers :)

Dione

nunya said...

He and the rest of this crew belong in the Hague, and then in front of a firing squad. I hear being gutshot is a horrible way to die.

I saw a book review you might like, although I'm sure you don't need to read the book. You've seen it up close and personal :(

A Brief History of Neoliberalism (Paperback) -- Thom Hartmann's Pick of the Month
By David Harvey