Iraq WMD, Case for War
What was the case for war? How was it justified?
Sunday, August 22, 2004
US deal wrecks Middle East peace
Guardian Unlimited %7C Special reports %7C US deal %27wrecks Middle East peace%27: US deal 'wrecks Middle East peace' | Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv | Monday August 23, 2004 | The Guardian
The US was yesterday accused by Palestinian leaders of destroying hopes for peace in the Middle East by giving its covert support to Israel's expansion of controversial settlements in the West Bank.
American officials are privately admitting they have abandoned their demands that Israel freeze settlement activity, and have given Jerusalem tacit permission to build thousands of new homes on the disputed land.
Palestinians fear that the expansion of settlements will make it impossible to establish a viable state on the land Israel took from Jordan in the 1967 war.
...
The US has effectively endorsed the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's view of the division of the West Bank. Mr Sharon believes Israel should pull out of Gaza and keep the large settlement blocks such as Ariel, Gush Etzion and Ma'ale Adumim.
The first indication of a shift in US policy happened in March when President George Bush and Mr Sharon exchanged letters. The Israeli leader said he planned to withdraw from settlements in Gaza and the northern West Bank and Mr Bush replied that the US recognised that the Israeli population centres (the large settlements) in the West Bank would remain Israeli and would not become part of a Palestinian state.
...
A western diplomat said yesterday: "The road map calls for a freeze in all settlement activity. End of story.
"The Israelis have never accepted that and the US has tacitly agreed that their position has validity and has shown that limited building is permissible."
According to another European diplomat, the change in US policy is a "huge shift".
"In these meetings the US has indicated areas where Israel cannot build. Israel has taken that to mean it is permissible to build in other areas. The US is effectively deciding how the West Bank will look in the future. It's a huge shift in policy," he added. ...
Guardian Unlimited %7C Special reports %7C US deal %27wrecks Middle East peace%27: US deal 'wrecks Middle East peace' | Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv | Monday August 23, 2004 | The Guardian
The US was yesterday accused by Palestinian leaders of destroying hopes for peace in the Middle East by giving its covert support to Israel's expansion of controversial settlements in the West Bank.
American officials are privately admitting they have abandoned their demands that Israel freeze settlement activity, and have given Jerusalem tacit permission to build thousands of new homes on the disputed land.
Palestinians fear that the expansion of settlements will make it impossible to establish a viable state on the land Israel took from Jordan in the 1967 war.
...
The US has effectively endorsed the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's view of the division of the West Bank. Mr Sharon believes Israel should pull out of Gaza and keep the large settlement blocks such as Ariel, Gush Etzion and Ma'ale Adumim.
The first indication of a shift in US policy happened in March when President George Bush and Mr Sharon exchanged letters. The Israeli leader said he planned to withdraw from settlements in Gaza and the northern West Bank and Mr Bush replied that the US recognised that the Israeli population centres (the large settlements) in the West Bank would remain Israeli and would not become part of a Palestinian state.
...
A western diplomat said yesterday: "The road map calls for a freeze in all settlement activity. End of story.
"The Israelis have never accepted that and the US has tacitly agreed that their position has validity and has shown that limited building is permissible."
According to another European diplomat, the change in US policy is a "huge shift".
"In these meetings the US has indicated areas where Israel cannot build. Israel has taken that to mean it is permissible to build in other areas. The US is effectively deciding how the West Bank will look in the future. It's a huge shift in policy," he added. ...
UK High court challenge over Iraqi civilian deaths
Guardian Unlimited %7C The Guardian %7C High court challenge over Iraqi civilian deaths: "High court challenge over Iraqi civilian deaths | Press Association
Wednesday July 28, 2004
The families of Iraqi civilians allegedly killed by British troops today launched a high court challenge to the government's refusal to order independent inquiries into the deaths.
If the families' applications for a judicial review succeed, it will open the way for landmark investigations into whether troops are guilty of unlawful killing.
Rabinder Singh QC, representing the Iraqis in six test cases, argued that European human rights laws - which protect the right to life and freedom from torture or inhumane and degrading treatment - applied to troops in Iraq, and that the government was obliged to investigate.
The six test cases include the "post-war" shootings of four Iraqi civilians, allegedly by soldiers from the Battle Group of the King's Regiment. The victims had been either at home, walking in the street or driving when they were shot.
...
The two other deaths, allegedly caused by soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, were those of an Iraqi police commissioner who was shot while on his way to a judge's house, and hotel worker Baha Mousa, 26, who was allegedly beaten to death while in custody.
Mr Singh said the six cases before the court - a further 30 such claims could follow - had been selected to clarify "important issues of principle" on human rights law.
He told Lord Justice Rix, sitting with Mr Justice Forbes: "They all concern the deaths of Iraqi civilians where, at the very least, there is reason to believe that those responsible for their deaths were British soldiers during the occupation of south-eastern Iraq ... in May 2003." ...
Guardian Unlimited %7C The Guardian %7C High court challenge over Iraqi civilian deaths: "High court challenge over Iraqi civilian deaths | Press Association
Wednesday July 28, 2004
The families of Iraqi civilians allegedly killed by British troops today launched a high court challenge to the government's refusal to order independent inquiries into the deaths.
If the families' applications for a judicial review succeed, it will open the way for landmark investigations into whether troops are guilty of unlawful killing.
Rabinder Singh QC, representing the Iraqis in six test cases, argued that European human rights laws - which protect the right to life and freedom from torture or inhumane and degrading treatment - applied to troops in Iraq, and that the government was obliged to investigate.
The six test cases include the "post-war" shootings of four Iraqi civilians, allegedly by soldiers from the Battle Group of the King's Regiment. The victims had been either at home, walking in the street or driving when they were shot.
...
The two other deaths, allegedly caused by soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, were those of an Iraqi police commissioner who was shot while on his way to a judge's house, and hotel worker Baha Mousa, 26, who was allegedly beaten to death while in custody.
Mr Singh said the six cases before the court - a further 30 such claims could follow - had been selected to clarify "important issues of principle" on human rights law.
He told Lord Justice Rix, sitting with Mr Justice Forbes: "They all concern the deaths of Iraqi civilians where, at the very least, there is reason to believe that those responsible for their deaths were British soldiers during the occupation of south-eastern Iraq ... in May 2003." ...
BBC NEWS %7C Americas %7C US general %27censured%27 for remarks
BBC NEWS %7C Americas %7C US general %27censured%27 for remarks: "US general 'censured' for remarks
A US general who provoked outcry by describing the "war on terror" as a Christian campaign against Satan broke Pentagon rules, an inquiry has found.
Top-ranking intelligence officer Lt Gen William Boykin made the remarks at several church gatherings last year.
The Pentagon report has yet to be officially released but leaked copies of it have been seen by the media.
It says Lt Gen Boykin violated rules by failing to show he was speaking in a personal, rather an official, capacity.
The deputy undersecretary of defence for intelligence generally wore his military uniform when he addressed the evangelical church audiences.
Apology
He was quoted as saying radical Islamists detested the US because "we're a Christian nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian... And the enemy is a guy named Satan".
BBC NEWS %7C Americas %7C US general %27censured%27 for remarks: "US general 'censured' for remarks
A US general who provoked outcry by describing the "war on terror" as a Christian campaign against Satan broke Pentagon rules, an inquiry has found.
Top-ranking intelligence officer Lt Gen William Boykin made the remarks at several church gatherings last year.
The Pentagon report has yet to be officially released but leaked copies of it have been seen by the media.
It says Lt Gen Boykin violated rules by failing to show he was speaking in a personal, rather an official, capacity.
The deputy undersecretary of defence for intelligence generally wore his military uniform when he addressed the evangelical church audiences.
Apology
He was quoted as saying radical Islamists detested the US because "we're a Christian nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian... And the enemy is a guy named Satan".
