Saturday, July 08, 2006
It seems like the Iraqi Prime Minister has finally grown a spine and is calling for an independent inquiry into the rape and murder of a 15-year old Iraqi girl and her family by US soldiers. But most certainly, such calls will be rejected as US is already opposed to outside trials of its soldiers as evident by their vehement opposition of the International Criminal Court.
So what legitimacy does US have in trying Saddam Hussein over his criminal acts against the Kurds and Shi'ites? If a man can be (and should be) held accountable for illegal acts against his own people, what about an unwelcomed invading army that tortured prisoners at Abu Ghraib, massacred civilians at Haditha, and raped underage girls (plus other atrocities that we will never hear about or be willing to accept)?
And why is this not front page news? We get the National Post and Globe & Mail at work everyday and no significant coverage yet. Why are op-ed columns not filled with letters demanding independent inquiries and questioning the morals of the US army? Why are we not horrified by this incident to the extent that it is headline news on FOX, ABC, NBC, CBC?? Why don't I see the so-called 'experts' in their expensive suits and fancy degrees discussing this incident? Where are the round table discussions that have become so common place when it comes to 'integration problems?'
These are not rhetorical questions meant to be forgotten once you leave this blog. Think about them long enough and your world view will change forever.
So what legitimacy does US have in trying Saddam Hussein over his criminal acts against the Kurds and Shi'ites? If a man can be (and should be) held accountable for illegal acts against his own people, what about an unwelcomed invading army that tortured prisoners at Abu Ghraib, massacred civilians at Haditha, and raped underage girls (plus other atrocities that we will never hear about or be willing to accept)?
And why is this not front page news? We get the National Post and Globe & Mail at work everyday and no significant coverage yet. Why are op-ed columns not filled with letters demanding independent inquiries and questioning the morals of the US army? Why are we not horrified by this incident to the extent that it is headline news on FOX, ABC, NBC, CBC?? Why don't I see the so-called 'experts' in their expensive suits and fancy degrees discussing this incident? Where are the round table discussions that have become so common place when it comes to 'integration problems?'
These are not rhetorical questions meant to be forgotten once you leave this blog. Think about them long enough and your world view will change forever.
Faraz Ahmed 8:22 p.m.