Not on my watch

Remember when the previous President went into Bosnia because of all the mass graves (none of which were ever found) and put in power the oppressed? And how, after that, mass graves started appearing...containing the bodies of the alleged "oppressors"?
If you are going to engage in redistributing power, with that comes a responsibility to make sure those you put in power are not performing actions we would describe as evil. Execution squads have been deigned immoral by the international community.
On the bright side, the U.S. is trying to stop them. After all, the deed is done, like it or dislike it we ARE in Iraq structuring the power, and with that comes the responsibility to do it right. Included in that responsibility is educating people on what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. Death squads are always unacceptable and the U.S. and their allies need to send a powerful message to that effect.
Note, this is not a statement that I believe we are following the correct path by being there but it is an acknowledgment that you cannot undo what you haev done. Being the party in charge in Iraq means the responsibilities that come with that position, regardless of how you got there, never go away.
It is imperative that the U.S. does whatever it takes to end the "execution squads" right now. Not next year or next month or next week. now. Send a clear message that murder is not acceptable and will not be condoned, overlooked, pardoned, etc.
Of course, one could also make the argument the U.S. has some miscarriages of justice themselves that need to be resolved right now. Guantamano Bay comes to mind. One would certainly think there would be enough evidence by now to charge some crimes or else it is way past time to see some people go free.

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/article_1130458.php/U.S._catches_Iraqi_%60death_squad%60_in_action

1 comment:

Riot Kitty said...

There were several mass graves found in Bosnia. I used to work with a photographer who went there and came back with pictures.