Rogue State

Swiss government blocks arms sales to U.S. over human rights concerns

"The Swiss government regularly comes in for criticism over the export of firearms. A blocked sale of weapon components to the United States has recently put the spotlight on little known aspects of the global arms trade. The government in January vetoed the deal for handgun parts worth more than CHF400,000 on the grounds that the handguns – assembled in the US for export to Saudi Arabia - could be used to violate human rights." Continue reading →

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Human rights court blocks extradition of U.K.-based terror suspect to U.S.

"Extraditing a UK-based terror suspect to an American 'supermax' high security prison would constitute 'inhuman or degrading treatment', the European court of human rights (ECHR) has ruled. The Strasbourg court barred the removal of Haroon Aswat, whose nationality is unknown, from Broadmoor psychiatric hospital to the US on account of his severe mental illness. Aswat, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, has been indicted in the US as a co-conspirator in a plan to establish a jihad training camp in Oregon. He was arrested in 2005 in Britain following a request from US authorities for extradition. His lawyers have resisted his removal since then in a series of appeals." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHuman rights court blocks extradition of U.K.-based terror suspect to U.S.

Documenting “Detainee Treatment [sic for ‘Torture’]“

"'The report of the blue ribbon Task Force on Detainee Treatment[sic for 'torture'] is the most comprehensive, bipartisan investigation into the detention and treatment [sic for 'torture'] of suspected terrorists yet published. The report's first 'finding' states, 'U.S. forces, in many instances, used interrogation techniques on detainees that constitute torture. American personnel conducted an even larger number of interrogations that involved 'cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.' Both categories of actions violate U.S. laws and international treaties. Such conduct was directly counter to values of the Constitution and our nation.' And remember, these are people who like Leviathan!" Continue reading →

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British prisoner: ‘People are dying’ in Guantanamo Bay from systemic torture

"Aamer has never been charged or faced trial. Moreover he was cleared for release by the Bush administration in June 2007, a decision that was re-affirmed three years later. The British government has lobbied Washington on his behalf, stating on Sunday: 'we want him released and returned to the UK as a matter of urgency'. The UK Foreign Office said it continued to monitor Aamer’s condition but stressed any decision to release him remained in the hands of the US government. In the meantime, the father of three continues to languish in a cell. He has never seen his youngest son, Faris, born while Aamer was in captivity, now living with family in London." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish prisoner: ‘People are dying’ in Guantanamo Bay from systemic torture

Gitmo inmate who was deemed no threat on hunger strikes and force feedings

"'Two times a day they tie me to a chair in my cell. My arms, legs and head are strapped down. I never know when they will come. Sometimes they come during the night, as late as 11 pm, when I’m sleeping. There are so many of us on hunger strike now that there aren’t enough qualified medical staff members to carry out the force-feedings… They are feeding people around the clock just to keep up. ' Like most of the striking inmates, he has never been charged with a crime or put on trial, and is not viewed as a threat to US national security." Continue reading →

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Nine Reasons Why Bombing Syria Is Not an Act of Justice

"If the U.S. unilaterally bombs Syria, it can’t possibly be an act of neutral justice in response to a chemical attack. Why not? Several reasons. (1) The U.S. has supported anti-Assad (anti-Syrian) rebel forces against Assad for several years. (2) The U.S. has not been a neutral presence in that region since 1919. [..] (3) The U.S. has selected immediate violence as a response without taking the time to pursue other remedies. (4) The U.S. is threatening to act on incomplete information. (5) The existing framework of international law doesn’t allow for unilateral bombing by the U.S. or any other state. (6) Any attack may kill and wound innocent Syrians. [..] " Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNine Reasons Why Bombing Syria Is Not an Act of Justice

Impeachment: Congress Fires Opening Shot Across Obama’s Bow.

"With these perhaps historic words the Congress has begun to claw back its Constitutional right to decide issues of war and peace. Significantly the letter comes from a Republican lawmaker, and it is clearly a tribute to the leadership of the libertarians in the Republican Party, most notably Ron Paul, Justin Amash and Rand Paul. But the situation is grave enough, possibly leading on to a World War, that 21 Democrats have challenged the President and their Party bosses to sign the statement. They are moving beyond partisanship as Ron Paul did in challenging George W. Bush on the war on Iraq." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingImpeachment: Congress Fires Opening Shot Across Obama’s Bow.

Obama’s Latest Arguments Do Not Hold Water

"Obama declares that the U.S. membership in the UN and solemn agreement to its Charter is irrelevant. He does not intend to abide by the agreement and thus international law. What messages does this declaration send? Obama is saying he’ll break or adhere to a compact on a selective basis as he pleases. Next week, he might support a UN action and the following week not. In this same speech, Obama says 'We cannot raise our children in a world where we will not follow through on the things we say, the accords we sign,…' He doesn’t seem to realize that his statement about going it alone regardless of the U.N. smashes that accord that the U.S. signed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama’s Latest Arguments Do Not Hold Water

Is the U.S. the World’s Moral Authority as Obama Thinks?

"A U.S. bombing of Syria is an aggression because it cannot be justified by claiming defense or national interests. The U.S. cannot claim that it is acting for the world or the world’s good, surely not when it is being warned outright by other nations that the results may well be catastrophic. The U.S. cannot claim it is enforcing a treaty because Syria has not agreed to a chemical weapons treaty. Furthermore, the existing agreement among states did not include a provision that declares non-signers as outlaws and then authorizes the U.S. to be the policeman. The U.S. is acting unilaterally and outside the bounds of international law." Continue reading →

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The US Uses Gas To Kill Civilians

"The US government itself has used similar weapons openly as recently as the FBI/ATF attack on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco Texas in the spring of 1993. While domestic and world reaction to the Davidian massacre ranged from shock to horror, in 1993 there were no bellicose calls for military attack on the US by other nations for this blatant violation of the rules of war, the Geneva Conventions, and legal due process. France, Britain, China and Russia did not propose UN authorization for military retaliation. Nor did the US government ever apologize but instead gave medals and honors to the government killers responsible for these horrific deaths." Continue reading →

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