[quote]President Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday ordered Russia’s secret services to find and kill those who kidnapped and killed four Russian Embassy employees in Iraq, the Kremlin announced in a statement. The Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday that the kidnapped employees had been killed. The confirmation was made after the release of a short video on an Islamic Web site that showed the beheading of one man, the shooting of another and the body of a third.
“The president gave instructions to the Russian special services to take all measures for finding and destroying the criminals who committed this atrocity,” the Kremlin said, the official Russian Information Agency reported. Neither news agencies nor state television quoted Mr. Putin making the remark.[/quote]
But what about the terrorists right to a fair trial? What about their rights to make their case? To consult with a lawyer? What about their human rights? What about international law? Will the killings be conducted in a humane manner? Will the killers ensure that they do not damage or inappropriately “touch” any Korans? Will the victims be allowed to pray to Mecca before they are shot? These are SERIOUS questions that deserve a SERIOUS response. Russia is an important country and that is why I am holding it to such high standards. Otherwise, it certainly cannot expect that terrorists in the future will respect the sanctity of diplomatic norms. Oh? They have not? Did not? Will not? But STILL Russia as a European country MUST BE HELD to the highest standards of international law. Human rights are for EVERYONE, not just those who abide by the norms or international conduct.
[quote=“fred smith”][quote]President Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday ordered Russia’s secret services to find and kill those who kidnapped and killed four Russian Embassy employees in Iraq, the Kremlin announced in a statement. The Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday that the kidnapped employees had been killed. The confirmation was made after the release of a short video on an Islamic Web site that showed the beheading of one man, the shooting of another and the body of a third.
“The president gave instructions to the Russian special services to take all measures for finding and destroying the criminals who committed this atrocity,” the Kremlin said, the official Russian Information Agency reported. Neither news agencies nor state television quoted Mr. Putin making the remark.[/quote]
But what about the terrorists right to a fair trial? What about their rights to make their case? To consult with a lawyer? What about their human rights? What about international law? Will the killings be conducted in a humane manner? Will the killers ensure that they do not damage or inappropriately “touch” any Korans? Will the victims be allowed to pray to Mecca before they are shot? These are SERIOUS questions that deserve a SERIOUS response. Russia is an important country and that is why I am holding it to such high standards. Otherwise, it certainly cannot expect that terrorists in the future will respect the sanctity of diplomatic norms. Oh? They have not? Did not? Will not? But STILL Russia as a European country MUST BE HELD to the highest standards of international law. Human rights are for EVERYONE, not just those who abide by the norms or international conduct.[/quote]
Putin is a thug and his government has blatantly violated international law for years. That’s nothing new. I agree that it would be nice to see them conform to higher standards. But that doesn’t excuse the Shrub administration from also violating international law. Didn’t your mother tell you, Fred, two wrongs don’t make a right?
[quote]The Supreme Court today delivered a sweeping rebuke to the Bush administration, ruling that it exceeded its authority by creating tribunals for terror suspects that fell short of the legal protections that Congress has traditionally required in military courts.
As a result, the court said in a 5-to-3 ruling, the tribunals violated both American military law and the military’s obligations under the Geneva Conventions.
The court ruled two years ago that Congress had not given the executive branch a “blank check” in the war on terror. But today’s ruling, written by Justice John Paul Stevens, was the first to address the standards that should apply to suspects held in what has become a prolonged struggle.
It was also the most significant rebuff to date to President Bush’s effort to expand presidential power in the course of waging that struggle. . . [/quote] nytimes.com/2006/06/29/washi … r=homepage
