Pak court declares US drone strikes illegal, says they can be shot down

[dixiegrrrrl]

Islamabad: A Pakistani court today declared that US drone strikes on al-Qaeda and Taliban elements in the country’s lawless tribal belt were tantamount to a “war crime” and the armed forces would have the right to shoot down the CIA-operated spy planes.

The Peshawar High Court issued the verdict against the US drones in response to four petitions that contended the missile attacks killed civilians and caused collateral damage.

The two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan ruled the drone strikes were a “blatant violation of basic human rights” and the UN Charter and “thus, it is held to be a war crime cognisable by the International Court of Justice or Special Tribunal for War Crimes”.

Drone strikes “carried out against a handful of alleged militants, who are not engaged in combat with the US authorities or forces, amount to breach of international law” and a “blatant violation of the sovereignty” of Pakistan, the judges said in their order.

http://www.firstpost.com/world/pak-court-declares-us-drone-strikes-illegal-says-they-can-be-shot-down-769545.html

[cpwm17]

1. Of course the US drone strikes are illegal

How can anyone say otherwise?

[randome]

5. Easy. The Pakistani military usually clears the air space for drone strikes.

In other words, they help with the drone strikes.

But there do seem to be more forceful -and more official- complaints about them so I do think it's time to pull out.

To continue without regard to what the Pakistani judicial system rules, is to further widen the gap between civilian and military branches of the country.

So I say it's time to pull out.

[hr]
[font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font]
[hr]

[cpwm17]

6. The Pakistani military has no right to approve violations of international law

let alone allow gross violations of basic human rights.

You're not really arguing, so I'm not either.

[polly7]

2. About *'ing time! nt.

[Bigmack]

3. Are they easy to shoot down...?

Aren't they stealth or some such shit?

I know they are slow.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. The US reponded to this saying

[LiberalFighter]

7. Fine by me. Let them shoot down the drones.

Last edited Sun May 12, 2013, 05:02 PM - Edit history (2)

Will they know they are US drones or Pakistan drones?

Geesh alert me on something that isn't well known as a slur and depending on how it is used?

This word is usually taken as an offence by muslims, although users of the word mean no harm, they just use the word to save shouting Pakistani and to save breath.

[Luminous Animal]

10. The term "Paki" is a slur.

[ohiosmith]

11. This post was alerted on. The jury voted 4/2 to let it stand.

At Sun May 12, 2013, 02:37 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Fine by me. Let them shoot down the drones.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2833492

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

Obvious racial slur. I'm sure the poster did not mean it that way, but that doesn't make it any better.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun May 12, 2013, 02:46 PM, and the Jury voted 2-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I agree, but they have only had a couple of minutes after being told to change their post. In addition the subject line/article of the OP contains a shortened version of Pakistani.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: I doubt that the poster meant it as a racial slur. Leave the post.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: Even though I do not believe that the person who wrote this had racist intentions, but the fact remains that 'Paki' is considered a derogatory term. Abbreviations are fine - as long as saving a few keystrokes doesn't create a bigoted term instead.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: If the alerted might not know it is a slur, give a few minutes for them to change it. Leave it.
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Hugabear]

13. Unbelievable. So 'Paki' is now an acceptable slur

Ironically, I won't be surprised if this post gets hidden for complaining, while the original slur will stand.

[malaise]

8. Duh? n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Good. It's about time that Pakistan get out of America's pocket and protect it's people from murder

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. The multi-trillion $ MIC depends upon new enemies to maintain and increase funding.

Gotta make sure there are always new enemies to insure the permanent war budget.