Is there an alternative to bombing Syria? Rep. Chris Smith thinks so.

[dkf]

The House Republican from New Jersey introduced a bill Wednesday to set up a Syrian war crimes tribunal as an alternative to missile strikes against Bashar Assad’s government.

Smith’s resolution would call for an immediate ceasefire in Syria and direct the president to work with the United Nations to set up a tribunal to investigate war crimes committed by both the Syrian government and rebel groups in the country.

I spoke with Rep. Smith by phone about how his proposal would work, and why he was opposed to the Obama administration’s push for military action.

Brad Plumer: Tell me about your proposal to set up a Syrian war crimes tribunal. Why is this preferable to military strikes?

Chris Smith: I’ve worked on three different war crime tribunals over the years: The Yugoslavia tribunal, the Sierra Leone tribunal and the Rwanda tribunal. What I’ve seen is that if there's the political will to go after people who have committed crimes against humanity, and if you have a dedicated team of prosecutors, then it’s a non-lethal way of holding people to account.

http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/06/is-there-an-alternative-to-bombing-syria-rep-chris-smith-thinks-so/

I think I like this idea.

[Katashi_itto]

1. I'd be fine with posting on Syria's Facebook page.

[polichick]

2. Surprised he would go there, since we have war criminals of our own...

but I like the idea too.

[avaistheone1]

3. Sounds sane and reasonable.

k&r

[Tx4obama]

4. The proposal up in the OP is from a Republican, the one down below is by two Democrats...

Senate bill would give Syria 45 days to sign chemical weapons ban

9/5/13 9:31 PM EDT

The United States would give Syria 45 days to sign an international chemical weapons ban or face the wrath of American military might, under a draft resolution being circulated by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.).

The alternative to a use-of-force resolution could forestall an immediate American strike and create an incentive for Assad not to use chemical weapons against his own people again. It may also provide a rallying point for lawmakers who are reluctant to either approve strikes or reject the use of force outright.

“The failure by the government of Bashar al-Assad to sign and comply with the (Chemical Weapons) Convention clearly demonstrates a disregard of international norms on the use of chemical weapons,” reads a draft of the resolution obtained by POLITICO. “If the Government of Syria does not sign the Convention within 45 after the date of the enactment of this resolution, all elements of national power will be considered by the United States government.”

The resolution would require the president to use the 45-day period to submit a Syria strategy to Congress. In the interim, he would be expected to use all diplomatic tools to build an international coalition for stopping the use and proliferation of chemical weapons in Syria.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/senate-bill-syria-weapons-ban-96353.html?hp=l2

[polichick]

5. The Republican proposal is best because it involves other nations...

We're not the world cops, judge, jury or God.

[AverageJoe90]

7. Why not try both? nt

[TreasonousBastard]

10. They've had 20 years to sign this thing but still hang with North Korea as...

one of the few holdouts. Another 45 days just gives them more time to hide whatever they want to hide.

Besides, they had to get the stuff from some country that already signed, so how good is that?

[dkf]

12. Using chemical weapons aren't the only crime against humanity.

These tribunals would attempt to stop egregious behavior beyond CWs. That's how you save lives and mete justice.

[Tx4obama]

14. My guess is that if one of them is allowed a to get a vote then the other one will be too.

p.s. To everyone - I never said that one was better than the other, I just posted the extra one for the folks that didn't know about it

[AverageJoe90]

6. TBH, the only reason I can trust Rep.Smith is because he's actually served on a few of these before.

If it weren't for that, you can bet I'd have waited for someone else to put it forward. I'm sorry, but most Republicans CANNOT be trusted to do the right thing for the right reasons, these days. I do hope this man is an exception.....

[sibelian]

8. But he's a REPUBLICAN.

That's CHEATING. Of some kind.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Good idea, but how long is THAT going to take...

meanwhile more death and destruction from all sides.

As time goes on, bombing will be less and less effective, so let's add another year, or two, or three...

[Iliyah]

11. The house gopers won't go with neither

just because. And I'm leary of gopers anyways, and it has been mentioned if it was a goper in the WH boots would have already been on the ground in Syria alongwith bombing from above with the house gopers blessings.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. He must have read my post.

[davidpdx]

15. I like both that idea

and the one giving Syria 45 days to sign the chemical weapons ban. Both should be put up for a vote. Assad could be tried in absentia.

I took an international criminal law class through Coursera a few months ago. It was quite interesting. In addition to the reading there were case studies where you had to read a scenario and argue one of the two sides.

[dkf]

16. Is it okay by international law to force someone to sign a treaty?

[davidpdx]

17. No, they have the option of not signing it

there would have to be some consequence for that (i.e. sanctions). How that would work I don't know. Considering they are using chemical weapons it is in the interest of every country to have them sign it and start destroying their stockpile. It would be a hell of a lot better than the military option would it not?

[dkf]

18. Just think if all treaties got signatories like that.

I don't know.

[RC]

19. The problem with sanctions is that it is the people that suffer, not the rulers.

Sanctions also foment discontent, which can lead to civil unrest, which leads to US involvement, which leads to replacing the government with one that caters to our whims and desires - for a while at least. The list of examples is long. Iraq is the highest profile example. There are many in South America.