War Crimes - Double Standards

albert · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:02

Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

Say another country done what Blair and Bush done to Iraq, then i'm sure the rest of the world would impose massive sanctions on that country or probably worse. But we in the UK and The Americans seem to have got away with it.

I just can't get my head around why Blair and Bush haven't been arrested and tried in court.

RDM · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:04

albert said:
Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

You would have to prove it was illegal first.

albert said:
Say another country done what Blair and Bush done to Iraq, then i'm sure the rest of the world would impose massive sanctions on that country or probably worse. But we in the UK and The Americans seem to have got away with it.

I just can't get my head around why Blair and Bush haven't been arrested and tried in court.

Because international law only exists as far as someone is willing and able to enforce it.

Nutella33 · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:28

Because international law only exists as far as someone is willing and able to enforce it.

and those that enforce it, invaded.

it helps that the target was one that no other major world powers considered worth kicking up a fuss about.

if we started taking out friends of china and russia things would change rapidily.

Robbo · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:32

albert said:
Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

No, that would be stupid.

platinum87 · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:33

albert said:
Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

Say another country done what Blair and Bush done to Iraq, then i'm sure the rest of the world would impose massive sanctions on that country or probably worse. But we in the UK and The Americans seem to have got away with it.

All actions conducted during war are illegal.

Why arrest Blair and Bush, their involvement is tiny, they are just puppets, if they hold dictators powers, then maybe fair enough, but they didn't.

albert said:
I just can't get my head around why Blair and Bush haven't been arrested and tried in court.

Its over your head?

Cosimo · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:35

albert said:
Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

No.

britboy4321 · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:43

The winner of a conflict never stands trial for war crimes (unless he is involved with another conflict that he loses).

How many Americans stood trial for war crimes after WW2 (including dropping 2 nukes on civilian cities). Was Bomber Harris put on on war charges for Dresden?

Nope, because we won.

gettothechopper · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:49

no it wasnt and no they shouldn't

Glaucus · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:51

albert said:
e that the war was illegal?

.

Really must have missed that.

It wasn't illegal and has never been shown to be illegal.

Rotty · 4 Mar 2011 at 14:56

No, the reasons given may not have been proved to be correct but it was done with the right intentions and needed doing whether WMDs existed or not

JonnyT · 4 Mar 2011 at 15:02

War history is written by the victors, simple as!

Rroff · 4 Mar 2011 at 15:02

albert said:
Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

Absolutely no... I'm all for there being a proper in depth investigation into what went on and charges brought if there is a reason to... this knee jerk "the war was wrong lets put the authority figures in jail" attitude is just pathetic.

Nutella33 · 4 Mar 2011 at 15:07

and needed doing whether WMDs existed or not

well no it needed doing some 15 years ago, which is when all the major charges that were brought before saddam on his trail happened. the british armed forces have been shown videos of the moments after some of the mustard gas attacks commited for at least a decade in their introduction to CBRN.

it is the timing and the lies that was always the question. there are tens of countries that are dictatorships, that torture their populations and use paramilitary force to suppress their people but we havent acted against them in the same way we acted again iraq.

there is also debate just how much WMD was believed by those in power in the west, or wether it was simply a reason thought up after to convince wavering populations.

serious questions need to be asked and ramifications for those in charge, not like the chilcot inquiry which was simply damage limitation via the media that didnt look for answers and did not follow up on the legal consequences of the lies told by those in power.

i dont believe in a war crime trial for them, but i would happily see them in prison for manipulating the nation in such a way that they did.

meghatronic · 4 Mar 2011 at 15:08

albert said:
Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

Pathetic.

Though, knock yourself out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_the_Iraq_War

lcg · 4 Mar 2011 at 15:11

albert said:
Does anyone else here think that Tony Blair and Bush should be tried for war crimes in Iraq on the premise that the war was illegal?

No.