NATO worried over possible Libya war crimes probe

I have to admit that I am somewhat confused by this.

Since when have the laws of ICC (International Criminal Court) ever applied to western nations?

LINK TO ARTICLE

Anyhow, it would appear that certain NATO officials who have spoken on conditions of anonymity, seem to believe that there is actually a possibility that an examination of alleged crimes committed by NATO forces during their operation in Libya might take place.

NATO officials are worried that their organization may be investigated by the International Criminal Court after its prosecutor said allegations of crimes committed by NATO in Libya would be examined "impartially and independently," according to diplomats accredited to NATO headquarters.

Of course, NATO suggests that their should be an internal review of the matter, and that should suffice.

The diplomats said action to pre-empt a war crimes investigation would likely include an immediate internal legal review of all incidents in which NATO bombing or other actions caused civilian casualties.

From a legal (as opposed to justice) standpoint, this would be a very difficult case to open:

NATO and other international organizations enjoy diplomatic immunity in criminal cases...

Since NATO is not a signatory to the ICC treaty, it would appear likely that any violations of the conventions on the laws of war would require direct dealings between the court and its member states, and not with NATO as an institution.

This will be very interesting to follow, but I have a feeling that Mr. Moreno-Ocampo will be getting a second copy of the memo explaining to him how the ICC was never intended to be used against the western nations, and this supposed "investigation" will never take place.

the Billmeister

They should definitely be worried about what ever any probe may find. Libya was an utter disaster minus the part where TPTB make a tons of money, which was the whole plan so maybe it's not such a disaster.

It was a disaster for the Libyan people though.

These probes usually uncover some wild stuff but there is always a predetermined scapegoat. Who will it be this time?

reply to post by Billmeister


It won't go anywhere and they'll get away with it like everything else

Families in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya should start massive law suits against NATO and the countries involved; the population of the world would back the families and demand they receive decent compensation. It' won't bring back the dead or stop the pain of those who survived.....but it's the only way NATO countries will learn a lesson. Hit em hard and go deep in to their $$$ pockets.

The Chemical Weapons Convention is also looking at the US bombing chemical weapons bunkers in Iraq and releasing those chemicals into Earth's atmosphere.

It all comes down to....neither "Courts" will be able to do anything against the US/NATO.

Are you kidding me?

Look at what we did to the Philippines flying Marco's out of there and alllll the gold and currency of that entire country....into the US.

Or Bill Clinton using 20,000 troops to put that Dictator in charge of Haiti....and we robbed and pillaged Haiti. France set them up with a good agriculture society where they all had jobs growing crops...and they had money. Slick Willy got the Dictator in charge and started dumping Arkansas crops into Haiti (which were Federally subsidized)....and those US crops were cheaper than even the Haitians could grow them. So they all lost their jobs...their farms collapsed...and every last cent in their country was sucked out as they struggled to find currency to buy the cheaper US crops. Slick Willy destroyed Haiti before the Earthquake ever did.

Ain't nobody holding the US\NATO accountable.Who ever tries will be swinging from a rope.

reply to post by Billmeister


This NATO war crime should be one of the first processed.

NATO's Continuing War Crimes - Libya's Water Supply
www.abovetopsecret.com...