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Victor’s Justice

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Posted on Jul 18, 2008
Nuremberg Palace of Justice
holocaustresearchproject.org

The Nuremberg Palace of Justice, where World War II’s war crimes tribunals were held. The trials were criticized by some for holding only the Axis powers accountable to wartime conventions.

In what will be the Pentagon’s first war crimes trial since World War II, the U.S. will go forward Monday in trying Osama bin Laden’s former driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan. Unknown still is the trial date for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and the rest of the government cabal that also may have committed war crimes.


The L.A. Times:

In a victory for the Bush administration in its protracted quest to prosecute terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo, a federal judge in Washington on Thursday rejected defense attorneys’ appeals to halt the trial of Osama bin Laden’s former driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan of Yemen, and it will get underway Monday.

Hamdan’s lawyers had argued before both U.S. District Judge James Robertson and the military judge hearing pretrial motions at Guantanamo, Navy Capt. Keith J. Allred, that the trial should be delayed until civilian judges weighed the constitutionality of the tribunal’s rules and procedures.

Robertson said that those challenges could be brought during or after the trial and that he would respect “the balance struck by Congress” when it created the war-crimes tribunal with the 2006 Military Commissions Act.

Allred rejected defense contentions that Hamdan was entitled to constitutional protections beyond the right of habeas corpus upheld June 12 by the Supreme Court.

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By Carmelo Lisciotto, August 1, 2008 at 11:10 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

An interesting debate.

Carmelo Lisciotto

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By cyrena, July 19, 2008 at 4:08 pm Link to this comment

nrobi…

And THIS is the most frustrating of all…

“.. Yet, for all the bluster and bloviating, of the Halls of Justice around the world, there has as of yet been no indictment of the current administration for these atrocities and the contravening of international law and treaties which specifically prohibit the capture and torture of innocent men, women and children…”

~~~~

No ‘entity’ anywhere in the world has yet to call any single criminal of this administration to account for the worst abuses of international law ever. The capture and torture of innocents is probably the WORST of their crimes, but there is an entire list of crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, and all of the laws of war and occupation that they are equally responsible for.

I cannot explain why this has not yet taken place, other than to state the obvious, which is that the geopolitical power held by this regime (and the US military) has obviously thwarted any efforts. I don’t know of any, (other than this as a first) that have even attempted it.

There have been judicial and other opinions provided, none have yet led to any indictments or prosecutions.
I believe though, that this CAN happen, once we get them out of the space that gives them this power.

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By nrobi, July 19, 2008 at 9:38 am Link to this comment

The problem with trying the driver for Osama Bin Laden, is this: how tertiary was he to acts of terrorism and did he personally commit these acts of terror?  If not, then an excess of injustice is occurring and should be remedied by the following, 1) He should be immediately released, 2) Mr. Hamdan, should be given compensation for the time spent in US custody, 3) Mr. Hamdan, should receive an apology from the US government for their inept and unconscionable behaivour towards a man that had nothing to do with the “war on terrorism.”
As far as I understand, Mr. Hamdan, was an innocent and completely faultless person, who was caught up in a dragnet of people with whom he associated and who for the most part had nothing to do with acts of terrorism.  More than likely, Mr. Hamdan, was the unwilling dupe of a person, with which he had a minor dispute and for whom the US paid a bounty of some nearly $5,000 US.
This scheme of the armed forces to pay bounty hunters, for the capture and turning over of men, women and children suspected of terrorism, by leaders of the tribes they belonged to, enemies and others looking to make a buck or two, is a shameful and disgraceful use of taxpayer money, not to mention the fact that many if not all of the men still incarcerated at Gitmo, have families and friends that they have not seen in over 6 years.
All this against the backdrop of an imperial president, who, claims the power of “special detention,”  this being a doctrine whereby His Majesty, King George II, detains “illegal enemy combatants,”  foreign citizens, and American citizens without benefit of the writ of habeas corpus and without benefit of counsel. Along with these travesties of justice, the accused person, will be subjected to torture, and not permitted to face his or her accusers and without the right to know the evidence against him. 
The shrub and Darth Vader have contravened every law of the United States, regarding the treatment of prisoners of war, by declaring that they aren’t really prisoners of war, but illegal enemy combatants,  also they have committed atrocities which can and should be classified as genocide and crimes against humanity.
Yet, for all the bluster and bloviating, of the Halls of Justice around the world, there has as of yet been no indictment of the current administration for these atrocities and the contravening of international law and treaties which specifically prohibit the capture and torture of innocent men, women and children. I, am appalled at the lack of justice for these people, should the International Courts, indict and arrest those responsible for this debacle, I for one will be proud to stand up and say, these people deserve whatever punishment they receive, for they are without doubt the worst criminals that the United States has ever produced.
Please if anyone from the Hague reads these thoughts of Americans,  do what you must to make sure that the liberty and freedom of the world is not held hostage to a rogue nation like the US.

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By Purple Girl, July 19, 2008 at 5:57 am Link to this comment

Finally a group has had the Balls to call this admin what it is War Criminals. The majority of Congress and SCOTUS should also face the Global Community for their Complicity!
Just like France helped Liberate U&S;from English Tyranny -Perhaps the Int’l Red Cross may Free US again from the Organized Crime syndicate which has seized our Gov’t & Country!Even if they get off on those charges- it will start the process of Trying them all for Treason and Crimes Against Humanity/Nature with their Blood for Oil doctrine which has reigned for Decades!Alternative Energy has been available for decades but has been denied to the World for profits and Power, Criminal and a Mortal Sin!

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By cyrena, July 19, 2008 at 12:47 am Link to this comment

WOW Fadel, I swear I never even considered this…

“.. And if we contemplate the possibility of the members of this axis of evil criminals ever being brought to justice, are we going also to put their drivers, cooks, servants, spokesperson, secretaries, staff members and the untold number of entourage, including secret service personnel on trial too?!

This is an important question that logical sane people must raise!

~~~~~

Seriously, I hadn’t even thought of the absurdity of trying Hamden just as a driver and nothing more. I had been stuck on the illegality of trying him or any other person kidnapped under the created category of ‘illegal enemy combatant’.

So you’re absolutely right. Should we just try everybody who’s ever been associated with cheney, rumsfeld, and bush? Try Laura (Bush) and Lynne (Cheney) and Barney the dog too.

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By Sol, July 18, 2008 at 11:53 am Link to this comment

It is absolutely astouding to me that after 7 years of this presidency, journalists like you are still doubting this man is a war criminal? ‘...that may have also committed war crimes.’ - is the doubt because somehow this nut is the President of the US? If it was the president of Uganda or Bosnia…etc,he would have already been charged a long time ago. I for one will bhe salivating when the world court has the balls to get these monsters in jail.

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By Fadel Abdallah, July 18, 2008 at 11:18 am Link to this comment

So the stage is set for the circus trial of Salim Ahmed Hamdan, whose crime is that, for a living, he landed a job as Osama bin Laden’s former driver! 

“Unknown still is the trial date for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and the rest of the government cabal” that actually committed horrible war crimes against humanity.

And if we contemplate the possibility of the members of this axis of evil criminals ever being brought to justice, are we going also to put their drivers, cooks, servants, spokesperson, secretaries, staff members and the untold number of entourage, including secret service personnel on trial too?!

This is an important question that logical sane people must raise!

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