Ad Terras Per Aspera

CBJ over at Mayflower Hill has written an entry about the Iraqi War Crimes Tribunal who, I hope, will properly deal with Ali Hassan al-Majid (‘Chemical Ali’, the right-hand man of Saddam). Ali’s crime, among other things, is killing innocent Iraqi Kurds using gas attacks during the 80s.

I agree that the tribunal needs much more press, because war crimes tribunals are important events where we deal with the worst humanity has to offer. When someone mentions the Iraqi War Crimes Tribunal people instantly think of the Nuremburg ones because they both share one important trait: one group of people genocided another group of people because they thought they were better. It was wrong then, and it is wrong now.

I think Ali and anyone like him should be punished for the rest of their lives in the worst possible manner imaginable; however, it is arguable which exactly is the worst. I also think Saddam should be punished similarly for abusing his people when they looked to him for help. However, I want them to be punished under the extent of international law, and to also be given fair trials.

The reason there is now a war crimes tribunal in Iraq, in my opinion, is because of various pushing from President Bush. It is now ‘popular’ to try former members of the Iraqi government, not because it is right, but it is good to use for political power. Bush does not care about the Kurds, or any other Iraqi people; he only cares about his own little political empire which is slowly eroding away and is using this to shore up his walls from the onslaught of the tides of public unrest.

However, this does not mean the Iraqi War Crimes Tribunal is without merit, it just means that it’s merit is also similarly being eroded. It is not the action itself which gives something merit, it is the reason it was enacted. Just like Bush invaded Iraq for all the wrong reasons, the war crimes tribunal is also being held for the wrong reasons. Politics have no place in a war crimes tribunal; they serve opposite goals.

What I am afraid of is that Ali will be convicted by this tribunal, and let go because of the improper conduct of the tribunal; if this happens, we may not be able to try him again, and we will be letting this opportunity pass right through our fingers.