US Measure Ensures Gadhafi Mercs Immune From War Crimes Prosecution
US Demanded Immunity of People From Non-ICC Nations as Condition for Support
The UN Security Council unanimously passed broad sanctions on the nearly ousted Gadhafi regime in Libya, but in a bizarre twist the council also granted broad immunity from war crimes prosecution for the mercenaries responsible for many of the bloodiest massacres against the pro-democracy protesters.
The sanctions call on the ICC to investigate top Libyan officials for their roles in crimes against humanity at the Hague, but the US insisted that an additional clause be inserted that would forbid the ICC from prosecution of people from non-ICC member nations.
The move appears to have centered on long-standing US hostility to the ICC, and the Bush Administration’s concerns that it could be used to prosecute US soldiers and officials over war crimes.
It is particularly bizarre in this case, however, because there is no indication any US citizen is involved at all in the Libyan massacres, and the US apparently threatened to kill the entire resolution if the immunity clause wasn’t inserted.
Now that the clause is in place and publicized, it will be doubly concerning to see how the mercenaries react in their violent crackdowns, knowing that the US has their back with blanket immunity for whatever crimes they commit.
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mickperry
February 27th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
Truly bizarre. Could it be that US backed Iraqi soldiers firing live ammunition into protesting crowds might also have something to do with this?
Andrewp111
February 27th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
It doesn't matter in this case anyway. Those mercenaries are almost certain to die fighting. If they surrender, they will be killed, probably in very gruesome ways by angry mobs. They have no choice but to fight to the death.
guest
February 27th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
this ruling has only to do with war crimes committed in association with the Libyan situation, so no, not directly anyways. Perhaps they are worried about a precedent being set.
Nonetheless, that grinning idiot in the picture has just helped to exacerbate the massacres that will no doubt take place as the mercs see the end coming to the regime and feel they have nothing to lose and now they have a UN Resolution protecting them. Of course, nothing's stopping the anti government forces from exacting their own brand of justice once they take Tripoli.
Hacklheber
February 28th, 2011 at 1:34 am
Weren't there Georgian mercenaries in the club?
Wootie Berster
February 28th, 2011 at 3:05 am
Ukrainian mercs flying the planes that strafed and bombed protesters.
Boston Joe
February 28th, 2011 at 3:40 am
There should be no ICC involvement in Libya at all and and and war crimes should be handled by the Libyan people. Rather than strengthening the ICC this new multi-colonial bureaucracy should be elimated altogether.
geo1671
February 28th, 2011 at 5:58 am
Any bets,that some of the mercenaries are from Is'real and USA/UK ? Ask Raymond Davis,he knows!
John_Muhammad
February 28th, 2011 at 6:09 am
Obama Plan for Hope and Change:
A. Open mouth
B. Insert foot
C. Lolz
thedissenter
February 28th, 2011 at 9:04 am
Wonder if Blackwater provided the mercenaries. The Libyans should be told this so that they administer their own brand of swift justice and all the mercenaries. Nothing is too good for them.
thedissenter
February 28th, 2011 at 9:04 am
HA HA! More like: open mouth, lie.
guest
February 28th, 2011 at 9:21 am
As usual, the US stink is all over another genocide. They want the OIL and another NATO base now in North Africa next door to Egypt to control oil and the people of both those nations.
I hope the Libyan Opposition surround all oil fields and production facilities. They need to get into Tripoli and KILL THE MERCS!!!
egret
February 28th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
My guess: Some mercs were hired by multinationals controlled by U.S. citizens. Our corporate overlords are the only ones with enough clout to force the government into a boneheaded play like this.
Doug
February 28th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Jason's post is based upon an early, and mistaken, reading of the resolution.
See Glenn Greenwald's update for a more accurate understanding:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald…
stu
March 1st, 2011 at 1:44 pm
they could lay down their arms and head to the port and get a boat out of there too
fucker
March 1st, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Blair, Bush, Cheny, Obama and the rest of fuck with, should be prosecuted for war crime against humanity by starting the war on basis claim and killing millions of innocent people for bunch of fucking paper/money.