US officials are once again fuming tonight after an Iraqi court finally ordered the release of Ali Mussa Daqduq, who US officials insist is a “Hezbollah commander’ but has been repeatedly acquitted in Iraqi courts. Daqduq has returned home to Lebanon.
The US claims Daqduq was behind a 2007 attack on US forces, but in July of this year an Iraqi court finally refused US demands for another “review,” noting Daqduq had already been acquitted twice. The US demanded that they continue to hold him anyhow, insisting he is a danger to US regional interests.
The State Department condemned the release, saying the US would use “all legal means” to see Daqduq returned to detention at some point. The US considered seeking extradition of Daqduq, but the fact that they had no intention of ever charging him or giving him a trial made his a prickly issue, and eventually they figured pressing Iraq to keep him was good enough.
Sen. John McCain (R – AZ) termed the Iraqi government’s release of a man acquitted of all charges an “outrage” and demanded that the US retaliate against Iraq to punish them for having ended his open-ended detention simply because they could prove him guilty of anything.
How dare they!!!
It used to be a colony wouldn't dare offend it's colonial master. Iraq is not turning out to be a very good colony after all, who woulda thought that? It's almost as if the whole invasion/occupation was a colossal waste of time and money!
The US using legal means? Well, that sure is a novelty.
If rogue states start to be mindful of legal means, one does not know whether one is to rejoice or to quake with fear; or to burst into raucous ;laughter.
The US using legal means? Well, that sure is a novelty.
United States the land where a US citizen with Political clout commits crimes against Humanity and they will not prosecute, but believes that persons acquited should be held captive. That is what is wrong with America today, it has lost its legal values, it has become itself what it accused the British of doing in the late 1700s!
Well said!
"…saying the US would use “all legal means”… Hmmm. Given that the US's interpretation of what is legal is skewed – torture, rendition and just plain old making someone disappear – isn't that what we drilled into the heads of our children in the 50s and 60s when describing the Soviet Union? It takes a brass pair for the US government to lay claim to using legal means.
And as far as McCain is concerned, I used to have a modicum of respect – but lately he's become a angry, cranky old codger who really, really needs to have his mother spank him – or maybe he could just retire and go back to Arizona.
Good for Iraq. They need to tell State (and McCain – another cancerous bit of bile choking our national soul) – to fold their demands 'til they're all corners and stick 'em up their collective arses.
Uh, huh. Chuck it to the 'adding more fuel to the fire' thing.
Good for the US if they can use “all legal means” to see Daqduq returned to detention at some point. Using legal means would be a first and a sure sign of progress. ~hark, hark~
Consider this:
"A federal judge dropped charges Thursday against five former Blackwater security contractors in connection with the September 2007 shooting deaths of unarmed Iraqis in Baghdad.
The ruling makes it almost certain that the security guards, Blackwater management, and the US State Department officials that employed the guards will face no consequences for gunning down 17 innocent Iraqis and wounding 20 others on September 16, 2007, in Bagdad’s Nisour Square."
Did Senator John McCain consider this an "outrage" ?
Love those purple fingers ! Freedom is on the march. Democracy ! Just say NO to Uncle Sham.