There Is a Process in Place for Dealing with War Crimes. [View all]
It's called 'The Rule of Law'.
We have the mechanisms in place on an International level. We signed on to various agreements with the civilized world on how to deal with accusations of War Crimes.
It works like this:
Once an accusation is made and there is some seemingly credible evidence to back it up Neutral Investigators are sent to the country in question to verify the claims, or not, as the case may be.
IF they determine, after spending sufficient time there, that there is evidence of crimes against the people, they return with that evidence and present it to the International Court.
There is no fear that presenting this evidence publicly will jeopardize anyone's 'National Security eg. So that excuse for NOT being willing to show the world the evidence, is eliminated.
Once there is agreement that in fact there is enough evidence to prove in court that War Crimes have been committed, indictments are handed down. It's hard to imagine that any civilized nation would not be on board to stop a War Criminal after the evidence has been seen and assessed to be true.
The accused then becomes an International Pariah and the accusations alone, WITH PROOF, cause others to fear being too supportive of his/her crimes in the future. Not only will that person be indicted but all those who aid and abet him/her in the commission of the crimes.
Eventually there will be an arrest or several arrests.
It works, without killing any more innocent people or becoming part of the killing generated by the criminals.
Here's an example of a War Criminal who was tried, convicted and sentenced for his crimes at the Hague not so long ago. The first one since WW11.
Isn't it time to begin to repeat this successful method of removing such people from positions of power where they can cause so much harm?
Charles Taylor sentenced to 50 years for war crimes
The Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted former Liberian president Charles Taylor last month of supplying and encouraging rebels in neighboring Sierra Leone in a campaign of terror, involving murder, rape, sexual slavery and the conscription children younger than 15.
The brutal dictator didn't look so tough anymore as he was forced to answer for his crimes in a civilized court of law:
Isn't it time to begin to repeat this successful method of removing such people from positions of power where they can cause so much harm?
This seems to be the obvious way to get World support for dealing with War Criminals.
The world is failing to see how a 90 day bombing campaign will not result in even more death and destruction.
The doubts about the evidence CAN be wiped away if that evidence is made available for a thorough investigation.
Also possible if we use the Rule of Law, is the investigation of all the allegations on all sides and if the allegations against the 'rebels' turn out to be true, they too can be held accountable. And anyone who is supporting them with arms and finances will be less likely to do so once they are indicted for war crimes.
Then the International Community can act to begin the same process that put Taylor away for 50 years.
What a concept! And why stop at one War Criminal? Why not rid the world of all War Criminals this way? It certainly would have a lot more support than our current ignoring of war crimes when it suits us.
The Rule of Law!
The preferred method of dealing with crime by civilized nations everywhere.
Why have we abandoned it?
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