Lawyers Against the War
Michelle Malsbury, BSBM, MM
March 18, 2009
Last evening I caught an interview on MSNBC (Chris Matthews, 3/16/09) with a woman spokesperson from Canada who is one, of several, lawyers and lay persons against war (LAW), war crimes, torture, and other human rights violations. Her organization acts as a watchdog for ALL of the people in our world. See what she has to say about former President Bush.
President Bush is travelling to Canada today (3/17/09) and he will be met with picket lines and possible prosecution for war crimes and torture in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gitmo. As long as George W. Bush was president he was exempt, but their (Canadian and British) legal parameters do not allow this loophole for presidents who are no longer in office, according to the spokesperson above. I personally, hope they are successful in this quest and in the express purpose of upholding human rights for ALL people!
On George Bush's first visit to Canada (2007-08), LAW came armed for a fight against George W. Bush with regard to his alleged violations of human rights in Iraq, Cuba, and Afghanistan. Lawyers for George W. Bush, at taht time, argued to extend the diplomatic immunity. And furthermore added that George W. Bush should have these rights indefinitely and not allow prosecution of crimes after his legal term in office. (www.lawyersagainstthewar.org) At that time, Judge Kitchen ruled that President Bush would be exempt from prosecution. Miffed, LAW objected to this nullification stating that this decision was "…irregular in proceedings and wrong in substance.." (Mandel, Michael, 2008). Furthermore, LAW said that this movement was merely procedural and that the evidence alone would be substantial enough to support these allegations and bring him to justice in a court of law. LAW plans to continue this appeal. Today may be their lucky day!
Let´s look at some of the premises for this LAW organization from their web site at www.lawyersagainstthewar.org. LAW´s official purpose is to protect human rights of persons whom are victims of illegal force around the world by imposing the use of national and international laws to settle disputes of conflicts and to punish those who act against those laws. In the case of George W. Bush we need to look no further than the video tapes on file as concrete proof of illegal force used on prisoners/detainees in Iraq at Abu Ghrab prison camp and Gitmo in Cuba. More violations are being filed for those detainees in Afghanistan. Proof is being offered from a variety of credible sources including the media and soldiers acting in U.S military capacity under direct or non-direct orders to do so.
In addition to those protectionisms outlined above LAW seeks to; (www.lawyersagainstthewar.org )
Summarily end to the bombing/air strikes and other illegal use of force in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Call upon the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly and the Secretary General of the United Nations to discharge their legal duties and institutional responsibilities to maintain international peace and security and to ensure that member states´ reactions to threats to international security, whether such threats are perceived or demonstrated, conform in all respects with international law and principles of justice.
Their own national government, in Canada, and the responsible organs of the United Nations to ensure that all actions taken internationally by states in response to inter-state crimes and disputes including the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of crimes adhere to international law.
national governments and the responsible organs of the United Nations to ensure
o the rights of combatants and non-combatants,
o fair trials for offenders suspected of or charged with inter-state crimes,
o no impunity for human rights offenders.
Please do your part to support human rights. There are no membership fees and individuals or organizations can join LAW in this cause. For more information please log on to their web site at www.lawyersagainstthewar.org.
References;
MSNBC News segment with Chris Matthews, Hardball with Chris Matthews Segment on 3/16/09 interview with LAW.
www.lawyersagainstthewar.org
President Bush is travelling to Canada today (3/17/09) and he will be met with picket lines and possible prosecution for war crimes and torture in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gitmo. As long as George W. Bush was president he was exempt, but their (Canadian and British) legal parameters do not allow this loophole for presidents who are no longer in office, according to the spokesperson above. I personally, hope they are successful in this quest and in the express purpose of upholding human rights for ALL people!
On George Bush's first visit to Canada (2007-08), LAW came armed for a fight against George W. Bush with regard to his alleged violations of human rights in Iraq, Cuba, and Afghanistan. Lawyers for George W. Bush, at taht time, argued to extend the diplomatic immunity. And furthermore added that George W. Bush should have these rights indefinitely and not allow prosecution of crimes after his legal term in office. (www.lawyersagainstthewar.org) At that time, Judge Kitchen ruled that President Bush would be exempt from prosecution. Miffed, LAW objected to this nullification stating that this decision was "…irregular in proceedings and wrong in substance.." (Mandel, Michael, 2008). Furthermore, LAW said that this movement was merely procedural and that the evidence alone would be substantial enough to support these allegations and bring him to justice in a court of law. LAW plans to continue this appeal. Today may be their lucky day!
Let´s look at some of the premises for this LAW organization from their web site at www.lawyersagainstthewar.org. LAW´s official purpose is to protect human rights of persons whom are victims of illegal force around the world by imposing the use of national and international laws to settle disputes of conflicts and to punish those who act against those laws. In the case of George W. Bush we need to look no further than the video tapes on file as concrete proof of illegal force used on prisoners/detainees in Iraq at Abu Ghrab prison camp and Gitmo in Cuba. More violations are being filed for those detainees in Afghanistan. Proof is being offered from a variety of credible sources including the media and soldiers acting in U.S military capacity under direct or non-direct orders to do so.
In addition to those protectionisms outlined above LAW seeks to; (www.lawyersagainstthewar.org )
Summarily end to the bombing/air strikes and other illegal use of force in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Call upon the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations General Assembly and the Secretary General of the United Nations to discharge their legal duties and institutional responsibilities to maintain international peace and security and to ensure that member states´ reactions to threats to international security, whether such threats are perceived or demonstrated, conform in all respects with international law and principles of justice.
Their own national government, in Canada, and the responsible organs of the United Nations to ensure that all actions taken internationally by states in response to inter-state crimes and disputes including the prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment of crimes adhere to international law.
national governments and the responsible organs of the United Nations to ensure
o the rights of combatants and non-combatants,
o fair trials for offenders suspected of or charged with inter-state crimes,
o no impunity for human rights offenders.
Please do your part to support human rights. There are no membership fees and individuals or organizations can join LAW in this cause. For more information please log on to their web site at www.lawyersagainstthewar.org.
References;
MSNBC News segment with Chris Matthews, Hardball with Chris Matthews Segment on 3/16/09 interview with LAW.
www.lawyersagainstthewar.org
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