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--></style><title>Re: [lbo-talk] Gen Franks: War
Criminal?</title></head><body>
<div>At 4:27 AM +0200 30/4/03, Kevin Robert Dean wrote:</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>US anger at war crimes threat<br>
By Justin Webb<br>
BBC Washington correspondent <br>
<br>
<br>
The Bush administration has reacted angrily to suggestions<br>
that General Tommy Franks, the commander of the US-led war<br>
in Iraq, might be charged with war crimes.<br>
A Belgian lawyer says he is preparing a case that could see<br>
General Franks charged under a law which allows the<br>
prosecution of non-Belgian citizens for war crimes.<br>
<br>
The most famous such case was brought against the Israeli<br>
Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, and caused deep strains in</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>the relationship between Belgium and
Israel.</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div>It goes on...</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote><font face="Lucida Grande" size="-3"
color="#000000">"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.</font></blockquote>
<blockquote><font face="Lucida Grande" size="-3"
color="#000000"><br></font></blockquote>
<blockquote><font face="Lucida Grande" size="-3" color="#000000">A
senior administration official warned that even the issuing of
indictments would result in what he called "diplomatic
consequences" for Belgium.</font></blockquote>
<blockquote><font face="Lucida Grande" size="-3"
color="#000000"><br></font></blockquote>
<blockquote><font face="Lucida Grande" size="-3" color="#000000">The
State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said the Belgian
authorities should act early to prevent such
consequences."</font></blockquote>
<blockquote><font face="Lucida Grande" size="-3"
color="#000000"><br></font></blockquote>
<div>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.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>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.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Bill Bartlett</div>
<div>Bracknell Tas</div>
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