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Originally posted by FurvusRexCaeli
Originally posted by Cecilofs
BS. This was not "self defence",
Care to develop that theory beyond bare assertion? If I see the words "actor" or "Tim Osman," though, I'm gonna stop reading.
Originally posted by Xcathdra
reply to post by Pirateofpsychonautics
Huh.... So they are pissed the Doctor helped bring down a murdering terrorist and want to charge him with high treason. How about the morons pushing that be charged with High treason as well for supporting Bin Laden and giving him protection and sanctuary in Pakistan?
Sounds to me like some prominant pakistanis are upset they got caught with their hand in the terrorist jar and are trying to shift focus.
The experts are divided on the legality. The self defense argument does apply because Bin Laden was planning future attacks, so it was those future attacks that were being defended against.
Originally posted by Cecilofs
As for the legality I am not sure on that so I retract my statement but would like to hear from people more knowledgable. I am sure there are International Laws preventing it but I am also sure the US has loop holes around it or didn't bother to sign the documents as usual.
I'm sure the legality will be hotly debated for some time to come.
"The killing is not prohibited by the long-standing assassination prohibition in executive order 12333 [signed in 1981] because the action was a military action in the ongoing US armed conflict with al-Qaida and it is not prohibited to kill specific leaders of an opposing force," he wrote.
"The assassination prohibition also does not apply to killings in self-defence. The executive branch will also argue that the action was permissible under international law both as a permissible use of force in the US armed conflict with al-Qaida and as a legitimate action in self-defence, given that Bin Laden was clearly planning additional attacks."
Originally posted by Arbitrageur
That's a great comment!
Originally posted by Mortika
One thing I don't get is, That the Pakistani government said they didn't know he was there. So how can one be accused of treason?
The charge of treason almost suggests the Pakistani government knew he was there!
Otherwise, all he did was run a fake vaccine program, so the charge would be medical malpractice or something like that, which would still be a stretch since he didn't really hurt anybody. They may not even have a law to fit exactly what he did.
1: the betrayal of a trust : treachery
2: the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family
www.merriam-webster.com...
1a : one possessing or held to possess supreme political power or sovereignty
b : one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere
c : an acknowledged leader
I don't see why they need to bring up self defense when they have the enemy combatant argument, I think that's all they need, though I don't claim to be a law expert, but apparently Walter Dellinger is. Are you?
According to Walter E. Dellinger, solicitor general under former U.S. President Bill Clinton, shooting bin Laden is legal because it was not an "assassination" of a political leader but the killing of a military commander at best as part of an operation i.e. in a military combat. And, in a military combat, an enemy can be lawfully killed even if he is unarmed.
"Under international law, bin Laden is an enemy combatant. And one of the points of war is that you can kill enemy combatants.
Originally posted by Cecilofs
Assuming the OS is true, the guy was in another country posing no immediate danger to the US.
In fact he was allegedly killed in retaliation for 9/11, so its more like pre-meditated murder/assassination in my mind.
As for the legality I am not sure on that so I retract my statement but would like to hear from people more knowledgable. I am sure there are International Laws preventing it
this was Assassination - which is illegal according to the Geneva Convention
Originally posted by CynicalDrivel
He was doing this at our behest, he ought to be offered asylum, if it comes down to it.
Originally posted by OtherSideOfTheCoin
reply to post by Cecilofs
this was Assassination - which is illegal according to the Geneva Convention
I think you will find that at no point is the word “Assassination” used in the Geneva Convention.