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John Howard charged with war crimes
by nano Sunday, Jun 1 2008, 9:57pm
national / social/political / commentary

ABC news radio today reported that a group of Australian citizens, inclusive of academics, lawyers and other professionals, lodged a submission to the ICC to have former PM, John Howard, charged with war crimes for his participation in the illegal invasion of Iraq. Howard with cohorts Bush and Blair, formed the so-called ‘coalition of the willing;’ a rogue alliance that acted against the correct advice of the UN and in violation of numerous international conventions relating to pre-emptive warfare.

The illegal Iraq invasion and subsequent occupation has resulted in the 21st century’s first major holocaust. Conservative estimates number the civilian death toll at 750,000 – John Hopkins study – with up to 4 million displaced persons, notwithstanding that Iraq today is a ruined state! Responsibility for this outcome clearly falls on those who (illegally) initiated the original invasion and subsequent occupation.

Recent history records that each leader broadcast a monstrous lie to the international community in order to convince a reluctant public and justify an illegal invasion. Bush and his neo-cons incessantly touted the lie of WMD; Blair’s now infamous lie claimed that Saddam was able to mount a devastating (WMD) attack in ‘45 minutes;’ Howard’s contribution was to fabricate, utilising false intelligence, the story that Saddam had purchased ‘aluminium tubing’ to be utilised in the manufacture of nuclear weapons! I would add that Howard’s reprehensible lie was vigorously challenged by a former member of Australia’s active intelligence community – a single voice of protest reflects very badly on the remainder of Australia’s intelligence agencies, Mr Rudd!

Today the world is aware of the horrendous outcome of these now widely known lies. There is no question that Bush, Blair and Howard are war criminals, however, due process must be followed if legal authority and order is to be restored. We also note that in order to facilitate their perverse ambitions these individuals subverted and manipulated the legal codes in their own nations.

Every person, including all senior ministers involved in the facilitation and support of these three individuals/criminals share in their guilt and should therefore share in any punitive measure that may be applied.

We are heartened by the fact that Australia seems to be ‘coming to itself’ again. Other indications would suggest that perverse, conservative forces have been flatly opposed by the broader community; I refer to the recent flap and police intervention into an Art exhibition by leading Australian Artist, Bill Henson. The following quote is taken from an article in the SMH by David Marr;

“Images declared ‘absolutely revolting’ by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, at the height of the Bill Henson controversy have been cleared for general release.” [The regulator has applied a “G” rating to the controversial images.]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/06/01/1212258645397.html