Bush's Swiss visit off after complaints on torture

Bush's Swiss visit off after complaints on torture

www.rawstory.com

GENEVA (Reuters) - Former U.S. President George W. Bush, under fire from human rights group over allegations of ordering torture, has canceled a visit to Switzerland where he was to address a Jewish charity gala.

Bush was to be the keynote speaker at Keren Hayesod's annual dinner on February 12 in Geneva. But pressure has been building on the Swiss government to arrest him and open a criminal investigation if he enters the Alpine country.

Criminal complaints against Bush alleging torture have been lodged in Geneva, court officials say, and several human rights groups signaled that they

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Hahaha...YES!!!

So...FINALLY we see folks start talking, of course in FOREIGN nations, of bringing these war criminals to justice!

Unlike our own merry-go-round of criminals in Washington, who would rather just "move forward", and continue right on with the EXACT SAME crimes.

Now on the surface, one might say, "well this is going nowhere, and a waste of time---they will NEVER be prosecuted or held accountable."

BUT---Notice he CANCELED his trip? This ought to raise an eye-brow folks! He is obviously not acting as brazen as he once was, on the international scope of things! Seems his cozy little book deal revealations of approving torture may cost him his OWN freedom of traveling abroad with impunity, and IMMUNITY of prosecution.

LOVE it!

Hague, where are you at?

www.rawstory.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Now, that is good news!!! ......and justice for all!!

Since his confession in his book, I can't understand why the internationial courts have not filed charges againts him. Being Commander and Chief of the Military, he is liabil under International Military Law and the Geneva Convention. Chaney has had charges against him for bribery and charges against Rumsfield not long ago. I would not be surprised if there are not already charges filed against Bush.

The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties and three additional protocols that set the standards in international law for humanitarian treatment of the victims of war.

Link: en.wikipedia.org...

Grave breaches to which the preceding Article relates shall be those involving any of the following acts, if committed against persons or property protected by the Convention: wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, and extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly.

www.icrc.org...
link

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


If only they hadn't told him!

I can't accept this cancellation of the tour by former President George W Bush of his visit to Switzerland. The reason being is that, along with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, he swore that the reasons for the war in Iraq were legitimate, that the US State Department and all other bodies had advised that the war to be conducted was legal and all above board. As a consequence US & UK Forces went to war against Iraq, and according to former UK minister Jack Straw, as swore testimony before an Inquiry, not with the aim of seeking regime change.

We all know the result of the war in Iraq, death, destruction, terror, devastation, corruption, maiming, etc., on all sides.

Now given the messianic zeal and conviction of the Bush and Blair argument they should have no issue on visiting any country anywhere in the world and be able to convince anyone of their, what they believe to have been, justifiable actions.

If they cannot, or will not, do this are they are in effect accepting that their argument was flawed, and that they bear the full weight of responsibility for waging an illegal and aggressive war against the regime and people of Iraq. This would mean Jack Straw was an unwitting pawn, or co-conspirator, and has misinformed, due to not knowing, or lied under oath.

I suggest former President Bush ignore these petty threats and visits Switzerland.

If that isn't the case and he is running scared then the Swiss authorities should seek his extradition, and Blair too, to face the charges levelled against him.

reply to post by Rob37n


This is why, in my humble opinion, this story is HUGE.

If Bush actually believes that he has broken no laws and can not be convicted for his actions, then why would he CANCEL his trip?

This indicates to me, that perhaps his arrogance and feelings of untouchability are beginning to come into doubt.

Nothing will get done here in the states as we have seen, as all we have is one bunch of criminals after another replacing each other, and sweeping the previous crimes under the carpet to continue them on some more.

But on the international scale, it does not necessarily apply. This is a story to pay close attention to. It may well be the beginning of what's to come.

Sadly one of the things that comes into play in situations like this, is whether foreign governments are actually seriously intending to prosecute criminally (incarceration/execution) or whether they just want to shake the money tree in a shake down (money/concessions from the State Department).

That's literally the million dollar question that needs to be seen if one of these nations ever manage to land one of the big U.S. Fish.

Ultimately when it came to the African nation after former VP Cheney money was fitting punishment.

Haliburton stepped up to the plate and paid it. So a man Cheney and a corporation Haliburton rape a people of a nation in collusion with the government at that time, and then the next government rapes the corporation, while the people themselves of course still get fleeced coming and going.

I don't see how the world will be a better or safer place if prosecution roulette simply becomes a wealth transference tool from government to government or corporations to government.

Ultimately it's going to take incarceration or someone swinging from the Gallows Pole for these things not to be empty gestures.

I guess we can only hope and wait and see.

To all of the people who are die hard America fans
and consider yourself "patriotic" because you refuse to question our government. tell me why other countries are so interested in prosecuting
a former President of ours? Surely we have systems in place of our own which would prosecute
these criminals if they indeed were guilty of crimes. This is, afterall......AMERICA!!!
Land of the blahh blahhh and home of the Blahhh blahhh blahhhh.
Surely if these things were true our tride and true legal system would have brought these criminals to justice.

reply to post by DimensionalDetective


Why does bill Clinton get a free passing eh?
I want bill clinton to be charged with war crime charges to.

reply to post by Agent_USA_Supporter


You'll get no arguments from me on that one! Nor on Bush Sr, nor the current bunch of war-criminals conducting and carrying on the EXACT same policies and atrocities. They are ALL guilty and should be held accountable.

But Dumbya may be the most brazen and out in the open of them all---His "book" was literally a flat out ADMISSION of guilt. Stupid and cocky on his part. But when has he ever shown himself to be the brightest light amongst the lamposts? lol

reply to post by Screwed

Fleets of jumbo jets with America's finest and one way tickets to go see Judge Wapner in Switzerland, now that would be a true American dream.

Originally posted by mtnshredder
reply to post by Screwed

 

Fleets of jumbo jets with America's finest and one way tickets to go see Judge Wapner in Switzerland, now that would be a true American dream.

Bring 'em on. We have some nice cozy bunkers left from WW2 up in the mountains where we could put them and throw the key down the Eigernord wall.

reply to post by mtnshredder


The next time "W" is on a plane to a speaking engaugement I would give my left nut if the pilot would come over the intercom and make "an announcment"!
"Scuze me Folks, we are experiencing some turbulance, please fasten your seat belts and prepare for an Emergency landing...................IN SWITZERLAND!!!!! Muhh haaa haaa hhaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!"
"Thank you for flying 'Air Justice', we do realize you have a choice when flying and hope you enjoy your trip"

Im not usually in favour of punishment, being rather fond of the notion of forgiveness, BUT, how do we send a message to those presently in power that we will no longer tolerate their crimes and abuses and how do we prevent them in the future?

It seems there must be a price to pay and a heavy penalty for crimes of government. There seems to be a need for us to make them afraid.

Despite being against violence I have recently found myself wishing that someone would just assassinate Mubarak, so that the next dictator or leader who feels he can disrespect and disregard the wishes of their people, placing his ego above all else and weighing his own wishes over millions of people, will feel the chill of fear and consequence grip their hearts.

Similarly, it seems Bush and his accomplices must pay a price, if only as a warning to future would be leaders that they WILL all be made to answer to the people for their crimes.

Its time we started making those who abuse power accountable, 'by hook or by crook'.

'...Governments should be afraid of their people'.

It does sound like the petition to the International Criminal Court a few weeks ago for the Bush six on their policy of extraordinary rendition is gaining support. Hope this make congress think twice before fixing the patriot act into law. It is nice to get some good news like this from time to time with some common sense still remaining in the channels of power.

Reuters:

www.reuters.com...

Criminal complaints against Bush alleging torture have been lodged in Geneva, court officials say.

"Whatever Bush or his hosts say, we have no doubt he canceled his trip to avoid our case. The message from civil society is clear - If you're a torturer, be careful in your travel plans. It's a slow process for accountability, but we keep going," the Paris-based FIDH and New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights said in a joint statement on Saturday.

So who's going to "Hunt down the perpetrator of these cowardly acts"? Didn't Bush say something like this? My how the worm has turned...

If governments were driven by morality, George Bush would have to stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

And in today's related news---Seems two victims of the Bush admin torture policy have filed official complaints with the Geneva court today, asking for an investigation into these policies okayed by their admin:

Torture complaints hit Bush on ninth anniversary of key decision

Nine years ago today, the Bush administration decided that international law does not apply to prisoners of war. It was a watershed moment in US history, resulting in a policy of torture that pervaded and darkened the Bush years, and inflamed anti-American sentiment abroad.

To mark that grim anniversary, two men who claim to have been victims of torture filed official complaints in Geneva, Switzerland, seeking a ruling on universal jurisdiction.

Continued:

www.rawstory.com...