Where Does the Buck Stop?

"Liberty and democracy become unholy when their hands are dyed red with innocent blood."
Mahatma Gandhi

A short time ago I wrote about the massacre at Haditha, in Iraq, last November. The events of that massacre, and the subsequent cover-up by the military commanders in the field, are now being investigated by the military. The President, the commander in chief of all US armed forces, has promised that those responsible for the massacre, and the cover-up, will be brought to justice. Good for him. But, apart from the trigger-happy grunts and their chicken-shit commanders, where exactly does responsibility lie?

Harry S. Truman, the man who dropped the first nuclear bombs on the unwary civilian populations of two major cities, had a little wooden sign on his desk in the Oval Office. It said quite simply, and in bold lettering: The Buck Stops Here

As determind as he was to bring the Japanese to their knees, and to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Soviets (and thereby starting an arms race that still accounts for the vast majority of government spending in the USA), he never shirked responsibility for his actions. In one fell swoop he ended one world war and laid the foundations for the next. Then he walked away and assumed his place in history...for better or for worse.

But back to the current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Today the US military has announced that they are also investigating an additional massacre in the city of Ishaqi in March. The filmed evidence seems to contradict the official account of the action filed by the US military. The official report stated that a house came under fire after they had responded to a tip off that an Al Qaieda operative was visiting there. The report stated that the house collapsed during the ensuing firefight, killing four people, including a woman and a child.

But an Iraqi police report states that 11 people, including 5 children and 4 women, were rounded up and shot inside the house. The film, believed by all authorities to be genuine, clearly shows that all the victims died from gunshot wounds.

In Afghanistan there have been angry riots and civil disturbances caused by the perceived arrogance and casual violence of the occupying troops and the small armies of mercenaries that abound there.

The prime ministers of both Iraq and Afghanistan have voiced their anger strongly at the Americans and the British, accusing them of having no respect for their peoples, or a proper regard for the rights, or indeed the lives, of ordinary civilians. They are both demanding that justice be done to those who wantingly disrespect and often murder their people.

George has promised that this would be done. And the military is sending front line troops to "ethics" lessons. There now...all better.

The mere fact that the US has completely disregarded all current treaties concerning the conduct of war, and the treatment of prisoners, should give a clue as to what sort of justice George Bush might provide.

The fact that, in May 2002, the US announced that it would "unsign" the
Rome Treaty establishing the International Criminal Court, might lead one to suspect that the administration was already preparing for the possibility that atrocities and crimes would be committed. Also, it is well known that the Internation Criminal Court is no great respecter of titles: A prime minister, a general, even a president could be called to answer for their actions or, just as likely, for their inactions. The USA, the administration said, was concerned that US nationals might find themselves subjected to politically motivated international justice. Hence no spectre of a war crime tribunal for the Americans...ever.

But, again, where does responsibility lie? It was the attitudes and mindsets of the administration that set the scene for the abuses at Abu Gharib and Guantanimo Bay. It was also the attitudes and mindsets of the administration that released from international justice all potential American war criminals and their supporters. No officers have been charged, let alone convicted, of any of the wrongdoings that occurred on their watch.

It appears the "The Buck" stops well short of Georges' desk...or anyone else with a desk in the current chain of command.