does any government have standing to arrest bush at Mandela's funeral?

[yurbud]

or even make a credible threat of arresting him for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Iraq and Afghan Wars?

that would remind people that his crimes have gone unpunished, and remind his victims and him that we haven't forgotten.

[yurbud]

1. if they want our presidential delegation to be bipartisan send Papa instead of baby bush

[hack89]

2. No. No government is that stupid. nt

[yurbud]

6. but one is stupid enough to take the moral equivalent of Pol Pot to a Gandhi's funeral

[hack89]

7. I am sure President Obama knows what he is doing. nt

[Terra Alta]

3. Oh how I wish.

Nothing would make me happier than to see Dumbya have to answer for the atrocities he committed.

[dipsydoodle]

4. If so

would be for the crime of aggression which is covered by the ICC. As such any government, or its citizens, which recognise the ICC could arrest him.

[tritsofme]

10. Um...has the ICC issued a warrant I wasn't aware of?

Pretty much everything in this post is wrong.

[dipsydoodle]

12. They don't need to.

War crimes are war crimes.

[former9thward]

20. Yes, they do need to and they haven't.

[dipsydoodle]

24. The closest analogy I can give you

was the threat in the UK of our citizens arresting visiting Israeli dignitaries, quite rightly , for either the same crime or that of collective punishment. The law was amended here to lock that out.

Soon as the ICC declares a subject to be either a war crime or a crime against humanity it covers all offenders.

[former9thward]

26. No legal authority has ever issued a warrant.

There have been groups and individuals calling for it but they have no legal standing. It would be like someone on DU going up and trying to arrest him. Not going to happen.

[tritsofme]

29. You understand much less about the ICC than you think

Might be good to spend some time on Wikipedia or something.

[Ranchemp.]

30. No entity of legal authority or person

has issued a warrant, there are plenty of individuals calling for the arrest of Booosh, but they have no legal standing to make the arrest except maybe a citizens arrest, and that would be iffy in a foreign country.

[frazzled]

5. That would possibly discredit the memory of Mandela

After all, here was a man who resisted taking action against the formerly apartheid-supporting De Klerk and even made him Deputy President in an effort at national reconciliation.

Mandela personally met with senior figures of the apartheid regime, including Hendrik Verwoerd's widow Betsie Schoombie and the lawyer Percy Yutar; emphasising personal forgiveness and reconciliation, he announced that "courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace."[236] He encouraged black South Africans to get behind the previously hated national rugby team, the Springboks, as South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. After the Springboks won an epic final over New Zealand, Mandela presented the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar, an Afrikaner, wearing a Springbok shirt with Pienaar's own number 6 on the back. This was widely seen as a major step in the reconciliation of white and black South Africans; as de Klerk later put it, "Mandela won the hearts of millions of white rugby fans."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

[dipsydoodle]

8. Since you've mentioned the 1995 World Cup

the entire match is on Youtube.

Other than that the film Invictus with Matt Damon covers the whole story - lovely film.

[yurbud]

14. did Declerks body count number in the six to seven figures?

[Lurks Often]

9. No US President is going to allow one of his predecessors, regardless of party, to be arrested,

detained or otherwise taken into custody because it would set a precedent that would allow them to be taken into custody.

[polichick]

13. Unless that prez gives a shit about justice.

[Lurks Often]

15. Unless that President wants to end up in jail himself

or are you ignoring that an increase in drone strikes or the failure to have left Afghanistan is almost certainly illegal under international law as well.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find a US President since (and including FDR) who hasn't broken international law at one point or another.

[yurbud]

19. Bush did it more obviously and arguably with the least real justification

[Lurks Often]

28. Doesn't change what I posted,

for that matter any member of Congress that authorized the use of force OR voted to fund Afghanistan would legally be considered an accessory.

[yurbud]

32. I agree--which doesn't exonerate them or Bush

[Lurks Often]

37. And what about President Obama?

since he has continued Bush's actions and in some cases escalated them, do you consider him a war criminal as well?

[yurbud]

40. Yes, but not in the same league as Bush

[polichick]

21. It's sickening. Pres. Obama had the world behind him...

He could have done so much to clean up this corrupt gov't but he's too much part of the club.

[Lurks Often]

27. Being a US President is the world's most exclusive club n/t

[polichick]

34. So covering for war crimes is just part of the club rules?

[Lurks Often]

36. My posts have been very clear

a US President that allows a predecessor to be arrested, sets a precedent that will allow HIM to be arrested as well.

[polichick]

38. Heaven forbid someone suggest that a U.S. prez NOT break int'l law...

which is what would be required in order to avoid being arrested.

[Lurks Often]

39. That wasn't what the OP was about and I wouldn't get your hopes up about it happening. n/t

[tina tron]

11. Bush has got some weird thing with Africa

It's like he uses the whole continent for PR purposes. I've noticed this trend.

[yurbud]

18. you just gave the most persuasive counter argument:

the possibility of video of Bush dancing with black people in Africa again.

[yurbud]

41. VIDEO: BUSH AFRICA DANCE

As Col. Kurtz said in APOCALYPSE NOW, "the horror..."

[polichick]

23. Does it have to do with his HIV/AIDS programs there?

[WilliamPitt]

25. He's done far more good for Africa than he ever did for America.

George W. Bush’s Legacy on Africa Wins Praise, Even From Foes
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/04/george-w-bushs-legacy-on-africa-wins-praise-even-from-foes/

[1awake]

16. If that country wants erased from the map, sure. n/t

[Vox Moi]

17. You bet. Ours does.

Nuremberg or Guantanamo?
Poetic justice would indicate kidnap, torture and force-feeding at Guantanamo.
A trial would be more in tune with the Rule of Law.

Lots of people died in Bush's war of choice. Lots of people died making the trials at Nuremberg possible. Our failure to hold Bush and friends accountable is a complete disgrace.

[polichick]

22. It's a disgrace - and also strips us of even the pretense of moral authority.

[hrmjustin]

31. Would be nice.

[dipsydoodle]

33. Its an extremely unlikley event given that Blair is going too.

Blair doesn't travel anywhere now under expert advice to any countries where he would be liable arrest.

Nothwithstanding that anything is possible given that the turnout by their public will be unprecedented and security is foreseen to be complete nightmare.

[mstinamotorcity2]

35. I doubt it.

Dubya would never risk going to a place where he could be arrested. It has been floated that he should be charged for War Crimes and crimes against Humanity. But if any President were going to be held accountable for crimes against humanity, Charity begins at home and then spreads abroad. America would have to stand trial for crimes against the Native American and work her way down. America will never answer to her ugliness. Ever. Or maybe I will say America won't answer in the fashion that is appropriate. To those who live with the legacy of pain, it kind of rubs you the wrong way when you hear people say well we have to put all that negative stuff behind us and move forward. Funny how people say move forward when you are treated no differently than the past. The same soup just warmed over in a different bowl. Mandela was a true Prince. A Prince in Deed and Honor. He is a hard example to follow. But I am truly glad he set the bar. It lets us know that the true goal of tolerance, peace and forgiveness is a doable thing. Arrest Dubya, we can only Dream. but don't stay in the dream bubble too long, you will run into a repug, its where they live