>US anger at war crimes threat
>By Justin Webb
>BBC Washington correspondent
>
>
>The Bush administration has reacted angrily to suggestions
>that General Tommy Franks, the commander of the US-led war
>in Iraq, might be charged with war crimes.
>A Belgian lawyer says he is preparing a case that could see
>General Franks charged under a law which allows the
>prosecution of non-Belgian citizens for war crimes.
>
>The most famous such case was brought against the Israeli
>Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and caused deep strains in
>the relationship between Belgium and Israel.
It goes on...
"If this prosecution goes ahead, Bush administration officials are making it plain they will regard it as a major diplomatic incident - an example of political harassment.
A senior administration official warned that even the issuing of indictments would result in what he called "diplomatic consequences" for Belgium.
The State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said the Belgian authorities should act early to prevent such consequences."
What the US state department spokesperson does not seem to comprehend is that Belgium is a free country, with an independent judiciary. Apparantly the US state department resents these people their freedom and wants to punish them for it.
Clearly, the US is a grave threat to world freedom and democracy. Such blatant demands that European governments curtail the freedom and political democracy enjoyed their people, accompanied by naked threats of reprisal if they do not obey, are sickening.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <../attachments/20030430/993ac1c3/attachment.htm>