Wednesday, June 2, 2010

TARGETED KILLINGS = WAR CRIMES?

*** We all know that many will never face accountability in this life. That's what the next one is for. MS ***

FROM: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100602/world/un_un_taking_out_terrorists

GENEVA - A U.N. human rights expert has urged governments to come clean on their methods for killing suspected terrorists and insurgents or risk war crimes prosecutions.

Philip Alston told countries to declare the rules they follow when carrying out "targeted killings," publish figures on civilian casualties and prove they have attempted non-lethal ways to capture or incapacitate suspects.

The independent U.N. investigator on extrajudicial killings says the use of lethal drones by intelligence agencies is particularly problematic because of the lack of oversight.

Alston said in a 29-page report published Wednesday that agencies such as the CIA are more likely to face war crimes charges than regular troops who are more familiar with rules of war.