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of the UN Charter should give us reason to pause. It expressly prohibits
the threat or use of force by one state against another. One argument that
proponents for drone attacks use is that since the attacks are being carried
out on militants and insurgents, and mostly in regions where the rule of
law has broken down, the phrase “state” doesn’t apply and therefore
nullifies this section of the Charter. But this argument is dubious at best. If
it were Iran, China, or Russia engaging in this type of behavior closer to
US shores, say in Central or South America, there is no doubt that the US
government would be in an uproar over the legality, and morality, of their
use.
Compounding all of this is the controversial policy known as “the
double tap.” This involves striking an initial target and then following up,
in quick succession, with repeated attacks on the same site as people arrive
to give aid to the original victims. There are reports that innocent
bystanders and non-combatants have been intentionally killed as a result.
There are also reports that funerals have been deliberately hit by targeted
drone strikes as well. In almost any other circumstances these events
would be recognized for what they are. War crimes of the highest order.
But somehow, for the US, they only raise “contentious legal questions” to
quote the New York Times.
16 civilians (including 9 children) were murdered in cold blood in
Afghanistan. For that, Sgt. Bales is facing the possible loss of his life.
America’s drone policy alone has reportedly killed between 474 and 881
civilians in the region, including 176 children. For this, no one is on trial.
But to even talk of war crimes in Afghanistan is a farce. The whole
war, in addition to being undeclared and unfunded, can be considered as a
war crime. That is, if one chooses to respect the principles put forth at the
International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and the founding charter of
the UN. To talk about the individual atrocities committed by one lonely
Sergeant (if that, indeed, is the case. 2 US soldiers are testifying for the
Government under immunity) while ignoring the war crimes committed
by a Nation, screams of hypocrisy and a double standard of justice.
After 11 years of fighting, the US has now been in Afghanistan
longer than the Soviet Union. 2,000 soldiers have died in combat, with