AP: Britain urges Geneva Conventions review

[Newsjock]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1144101012268&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News

TARIQ PANJA
ASSOCATED PRESS

LONDON — Britain's defence secretary called Monday for a review of the Geneva Conventions, saying international rules of war needed to be revamped to reflect the threats of global terrorism.

John Reid said the potential for groups or countries to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction should lead to a new debate about whether pre-emptive strikes should be allowed under the rules of war.

"The laws of the 20th century placed constraints on us all which enhanced peace and protected liberty," Reid told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute, a security and defence think-tank in London. "We must ask ourselves whether, as the new century begins, they will do the same."

He suggested the Geneva Conventions — which date to 1949 — may need to be revised.

more

[IndianaGreen]

1. Let's make genocide legal!

Let's bestow medals on war criminals!

Let's just turn this planet into the Orwellian nightmare that Bush and Blair envision!

[magellan]

2. Great idea

Let's make it so every country can attack another in pre-emptive self-defense. If it was an oops like Iraq, oh well, sorry all you dead and maimed people!

The human race is de-evolving, I swear it.

[Gloria]

3. This is total bullshit. Britain is sinking into the dregs right along

with the US

[demobrit]

12. This Guy dosn`t speak for the majority of British People

[baby_mouse]

14. It's fucking revolting. I'm ashamed. NT.

[Greeby]

4. Hey hey, John Reid nor his boss have any claim to representing Britain

:grr:

[wtmusic]

5. Yeah people are different than they were fifty years ago

How could they know anything about tyrants like Saddam? How could they have anticipated the wonderful plan we have for the world? That torture can fit in as *part* of that plan? Geneva, UN Charter...gotta go.

[Oversea Visitor]

6. Sorry

Blair you sign on International Law
Happy War Criminals charges can come dropping now at any time
Wah want to chnage law to get away
:rofl:
Like bush on spying hehe

[Solly Mack]

7. Oh - so it was bad for Germany to do it - but not bad for America to do it

so let's change the laws to protect America from the exact same crime as Hitler - (illegal invasion) and let's protect ourselves too....and free us from prosecution for Iraq and all future wars we plan to wage "pre-emptively"


Reid is admitting "pre-emption" is a violation of international law - and that means he is also admitting Bush violated international law in invading Iraq - and Britain is also guilty (as are the rest of the "coalition of the willing" governments for participating in an illegal invasion)

[GeorgeGist]

8. Legitimize pre-emptive strikes against ...

potential enemies.

What could possibly go wrong?

[sg_]

9. global terrorism?...

When al queda sets up big extermination camps to kill people by the hundreds/thousands at a time; Killing them just like cows, for example. Then i'll start getting worried.

I remember reading somewhere not so long ago, that al queda/(terrorism threat today) is nothing more than a pesky criminal nuisance compared to WW2, and the person who wrote that is correct. Talk about governments overreacting :crazy:

Id like to see someone put that point directly to some of them, if nobody has already.

[Bridget Burke]

11. What happened on 9/11 was a horrible crime.

And it should have been treated as such. However, Bush et al. used it as an excuse for starting wars. The "in this time of war" phrase covers a lot of abuse. Wreck the economy, wreck the Constitution, make Bushie a Popular Wartime Leader!

Of course, real investigation of 9/11 might have revealed some accomplices quite "inconvenient" for the current Regime.

[endarkenment]

10. We need to torture and detain indefinately

so we can't have these stinking treaty obligations getting in the way.

[baby_mouse]

13. Oh, for fuck's sake.

"Defense Minister asks Populace to "Rethink Assumptions" about Peace, Prosperity"
"British Intelligence Service Bored of International Image of 'Fair Players'"
"'Fuck you Peaceniks, I'm a Fucking Powerful Politican and I'm Going to Use your Asses to Blow Shit Up Because I Can', says Blair"
"'Arooga Arooga, Beep Beep, Buddabuddabuddabudda NeeeeeeeeeeOOOOOOOwwwwwwCRASH!' Says Bush"

How the hell did we end up with these *incredible* fools? Who the hell are they talking about, WHAT weapons of mass destruction, oh, yeah, OURS?