US drone attack - indubitable war crime, says US Analyst

The US drone attacks continuing in some of the countries as part of the war on terror unleashed by the US, specially in Pakistan where over 30,000 thousands have perished sine 2004, mostly women and children, has attracted world criticism on this inhuman act and question the wisdom behind killing a few militants with a colossal collateral damage.

US Drone Attacks: The indubitable war crime

Pakistan's emerging cricketer-turned-politician, the lone crusader against the drone attacks, has raised his voice against the drone attacks on many a fora around the world.

However, recently a political analyst in an interview  with Press TV has stated that the US assassination drone attacks amount to a “war crime” against civilians by a government that claims moral leadership of the world.

-->

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mike Harris, financial editor of Veterans Today (Arizona), to further discuss the issue of US drone attacks. Harris is joined by two additional guests of the program: Lawrence J. Korb, senior fellow of American Progress (Washington), and Toby Blome, CodePink peace activist (Washington).

Mike Harris asserts that:

"If we look at the drone issue here, the drone issue is nothing more than a war crime. And the whole premise of war in Iraq, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, and in Yemen is a fraud. It is falsely based, these are illegal wars that US should not be involved in them. And we should get out and bring our troops home. End of discussion.”

Read the approximate transcription of the interview with Mike Harris at Press TV.

Follow us on Facebook

Read more »

Robert Bales To Be Charged With 17 Counts Of Murder In Afghan Shooting Massacre

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will be charged with 17 counts of murder, assault and a string of other offenses in the massacre of Afghan villagers as they slept, a U.S. official said.

The 38-year-old soldier and father of two who lives in Lake Tapps, Wash., is charged with going on a shooting rampage in two villages near his Southern Afghanistan military post in the early hours of March 11, gunning down nine Afghan children and eight adults and burning some of the victims' bodies.

Read more: Huffington Post

Read more »

Robert Bales, Afghan Killing Suspect, Has not been Charged even after a week of his gruesome act

Sgt Bales - has not been charged so far

With formal charges looming against his client within days, the lawyer for an Army sergeant suspected in the horrific nighttime slaughter of 16 Afghan villagers flew to Kansas and was preparing for his first face-to-face meeting with the 10-year veteran.

John Henry Browne of Seattle said he planned to meet Monday with Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who is being held in an isolated cell at Fort Leavenworth's military prison.

Bales, 38, hasn't been charged in the March 11 shootings, which have endangered relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan and threaten to upend U.S. policy over the decade-old war. But formal charges are expected to be filed within a week and if the case goes to court the trial will be held in the United States, said a legal expert with the U.S. military familiar with the investigation.

Read more: The Huffington Post

Read more »

Karzai condemns U.S. abuse video

[ via Times Colonist ] 12 Jan

The Afghan government and the Taliban condemned Thursday a video purporting to show U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of insurgents, but the Islamists backed negotiations to end their 10-year war.

President Hamid Karzai said in a statement that "the government of Afghanistan is deeply disturbed" of what it called "desecrating dead bodies of three Afghans."

The video - which conjure up previous abuses committed by U.S. troops during the decade-long war - could spark deep anger and resentment in Afghanistan and the wider Muslim world.

Read more: Times Colonist

Please join us on Facebook

Read more »

Conduct Unbecoming: US marines accused of war crimes - urinating on dead bodies

[ via The Guardian ] 12 Jan

US forces in Afghanistan are facing fresh accusations of war crimes after film emerged of American marines urinating on dead bodies and laughing.

The US military command in Kabul, which was severely embarrassed last year by revelations that Americans soldiers were running a "kill squad" murdering Afghan civilians, said it will investigate the undated video but that if proves to be authentic then desecration of corpses would be regarded as a serious crime.

In the graphic short video, four soldiers in combat gear and carrying weapons are seen acting in unison as they urinate on three bloodied corpses. One of the soldiers sighs with relief, another says "yeah" and a third laughs. One remarks: "Have a great day, buddy". Another says: "Golden, like a shower".

Read more: The Guardian

Please join us on Facebook

Read more »

ICC says Muammar Gaddafi killing may be war crime

[ via BBC Africa ] 16 Dec

The death of Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi "creates suspicions" of war crimes, says the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said the ICC was raising the concern with Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC). 

Col Gaddafi was killed on 20 October after being caught by rebels in his home town of Sirte. NTC officials initially said he died in crossfire, but promised to investigate following Western pressure.

"I think the way in which Mr Gaddafi was killed creates suspicions of... war crimes," Mr Moreno-Ocampo told reporters.

Read more »