SPRING edition Vol. IV No. 2: PEACE WITH IRAN

Order your copies of the SPRING ISSUE before supplies run out...

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Lawyers, Relatives of Pakistan Drone Strike Victims Call for Arrest of Former CIA Legal Chief


From Democracy Now! July 18

Lawyers and relatives of victims of U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan are seeking the arrest of the CIA’s former legal chief on murder charges for approving attacks that have killed hundreds of people. The effort to seek an international arrest warrant for former CIA general counsel, John Rizzo, is being led by British human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, along with a number of Pakistani attorneys. Stafford Smith’s campaign group, Reprieve, estimates U.S. drone strikes have led to the deaths of some 2,500 Pakistani civilians since they began in 2004. The campaigners argue their case against Rizzo turns on the fact that the United States is not at war with Pakistan. Last week, two drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas killed 48 people. President Obama has thoroughly expanded the drone program. In 2009 alone, there were 118 attacks in Pakistan, compared to just one in 2004.

1 comments:

Peter said...

I really think that this is the right thing to do. There should be mercy because when there's no mercy there's no fear. Call Pakistan.

Guidelines for submissions to WCT

The ideal article for the quarterly print version of The War Crimes Times is 600-1200 words in length, crisply written, and of course relevant to our mission.

We also welcome high resolution photos, cartoons, poetry, and letters to the editor.

While original work is preferred, we'll accept the work of others with their permission.

Submissions are due on the 1st of the month that the paper is printed: March, June, September, and December.

Send to editor@WarCrimesTimes.org (Note: due to size constraints, all submissions may not be used in the print edition, but all will be considered for posting on this blog.)



War Crimes Times Statement of Purpose (revised 06/2011)


The War Crimes Times provides information to the general public, to law-makers, and to our justice-seeking allies on war crimes, war criminals, and on the true costs of war.


When national leaders initiate hostilities they create the conditions—the extreme use of force coupled with limited accountability—for the war crimes which invariably follow. War crimes are therefore an inherent part of war. The suffering caused and the enmity aroused by war crimes must be regarded as costs of war. Since these and other costs far exceed any benefits of war, we seek to end war as a tool of international policy.


Towards this goal, we believe that holding war criminals accountable will send a strong message to all current and future heads of state to very carefully weigh all the consequences of the decision to go to war. While we recognize that United States has long relied on unlawful military force to further its foreign policy goals, we are particularly concerned with the blatant and egregious violations of international law committed by the United States beginning with the Administration of George W. Bush and now continued and expanded under President Obama.


We endorse any efforts, including impeachment, which would bring war criminals of any administration to justice. The War Crimes Times has resolved to see that Bush, Cheney, Obama, and other government officials and military officers who have committed war crimes are prosecuted—no matter how long it takes.


There is no statute of limitations on war crimes.