Thursday, June 24, 2004

 

The Bushies Have Twisted The Law Into A Pretzel That We're All Choking On Now

First this, from the Washington Post:

U.S. Immunity in Iraq Will Go Beyond June 30

The Bush administration has decided to take the unusual step of bestowing on its own troops and personnel immunity from prosecution by Iraqi courts for killing Iraqis or destroying local property after the occupation ends and political power is transferred to an interim Iraqi government, U.S. officials said.

The administration plans to accomplish that step -- which would bypass the most contentious remaining issue before the transfer of power -- by extending an order that has been in place during the year-long occupation of Iraq. Order 17 gives all foreign personnel in the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority immunity from "local criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction and from any form of arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their parent states."

Sure; why the hell not? This administration has been off in the legal Twilight Zone since Scalia stopped the vote count. Why not declare yourself immune from the Geneva Conventions? And why not bestow upon yourself an immunity that only the "sovereign" power can give?

Next week, they'll repeal the laws of gravity, too . . . (That should help with battling the insurgents!)

posted by Michael 9:49 PM