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Britain

British judge calls US, UK world vigilantes

2008-11-19

One of Britain's most authoritative judicial figures has declared that the US and the UK have acted like 'world vigilantes' in their war against Iraq.

"It was not plain that Iraq had failed to comply in a manner justifying resort to force and there were no strong factual grounds or hard evidence to show that it had," said Lord Bingham.

Other than the seventeen failed UN resolutions, you mean ...

The retired senior law lord stated that the military attack on Iraq in 2003 was a serious violation of international law and urged British ministers to respect the international legal system. "The current ministerial code, binding on British ministers, requires them as an overarching duty to comply with the law, including international law and treaty obligations," The Guardian quoted Bingham as saying.

His remarks come as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are calling for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surounding the invasion. The British government has opposed the idea, saying such an inquiry would be harmful while 4,000 British troops are deployed in Iraq.

Posted by:Fred

#17 M'Lord, perhaps it has slipped past un-noticed, but you do NOT rule over the Colonials, they rebelled a few centuries ago, and are no longer a part if Britian.

Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-11-19 16:12

#16 Gee, I wonder if that mentality would color his judgment in cases against his wage-payers?

Posted by: Uleresing Barnsmell6116 2008-11-19 16:09

#15 Piss off, Chauncy.

Posted by: mojo 2008-11-19 15:15

#14 There's a little bit of true vigilantism closer to home in a way.

"The Battle of Athens (sometimes called the McMinn County War) was a rebellion led by citizens in Athens and Etowah, Tennessee, United States, against the local government in August 1946. The citizens, including some World War II veterans, accused the local officials of political corruption and voter intimidation. The event is sometimes cited by firearms ownership advocates as an example of the value of the Second Amendment to bring fair elections."

Battle of Athens

Posted by: Silentbrick 2008-11-19 12:47

#13 Vigilantes get a bad rep because in most cases in the modern world there is a clear overriding authority and the vigelante goes around that. But what if that authority refuses to act or doesn't have the ability to act, or is actively protecting the bad person?

I'd be curious to see what Sir Bingham was saying about the sanctions and no-fly zone prior to the war. I bet he felt they were inhumane and must be ended. Most liberals did that logical flip in 2003ish.

Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-11-19 12:20

#12 My personal fav vigilante.

Posted by: Besoeker 2008-11-19 09:12

#11 Vigilantes at their best: Shichinin no samurai...unless of course you are rooting for the bandits..

Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-11-19 09:07

#10 I don't really think he has thought through his use of the word 'vigilante'. In the original sense, they were chiefly residents of frontier towns where the local law-abiding citizenry were sick and tired of being robbed, murdered, cheated, extorted and otherwise preyed upon by the criminal element. Either the law was nonexistent, ineffectual,or run by the criminal element themselves...

Damn, I've just described the UN.

But anyway, the original vigilantes were fairly tightly organized, and a response to an unbearable situation by law-respecting citizens who were pushed beyond endurance. The good judge keeps using that word "vigilante", but I don't think he has a clue as to what it really means.

Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2008-11-19 08:48

#9 Elizabeth would have him nailed by his privates to the Tower door. Maybe one day soon England will actually be a country again, instead of a whipped dog.

Posted by: Silentbrick 2008-11-19 08:34

#8 go powder your wig

Posted by: chris 2008-11-19 07:56

#7 Is his Lordship auditioning for a role with the prosecution for the coming war crimes trials?

Posted by: Creque Fillmore6903 2008-11-19 07:48

#6 Any questions why our founding fathers decided long ago that we needn't be Prisoners of Mother England?

Posted by: Besoeker 2008-11-19 07:39

#5 Let's put this guys towering intellect on the Horn of Africa piracy prroblem. He'll have it solved over lunch at Harrods.

Posted by: ed 2008-11-19 07:37

#4 Thanks for your views about Western behavior. What are your views about Saddam's behavior in the meanwhile? Iran's?

That's why war was invented.

Posted by: gorb 2008-11-19 02:51

#3 The retired senior law lord stated that the military attack on Iraq in 2003 was a serious violation of international law and urged British ministers to respect the international legal system.

Ignoring that the US went to the UN for authorization. International Law = we make this up as we go along. So, how's that vaunted 'international legal system' handling Darfur?

Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-11-19 02:12

#2 Nevermind attacking Serbia, that was permissible?

Posted by: newc 2008-11-19 01:47

#1 Other than your failure in Iraq, ENGLAND, "lord", and the many thousands of years of blood on your hands, I would seriously advise Brits against judging their contemporary Brother.

You work for soros too?

Posted by: newc 2008-11-19 01:44

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