Human Shields and Choice

[kandrathe]

Yes, I too am a little skeptical of an international criminal court ursurping the US Supreme Court. I think too many cases would be politically motivated, rather than a true quest for justice. As the world becomes a smaller place, I feel we will need to homogenize our individual nations justice systems into an agreed upon framework for international justice (and punishment).

One point I would like to clarify, however, is that I wouldn't hold a military person responsible for acts commited in the service of their nation. To order an air strike by mistake is tragic, but hardly criminal. In these cases, it is the entire US government who is responsible and I feel it is the US who should apologize and pay reparations to the victims families.

The incidents you cite where the pilots, or the sergeant in Somalia failed to follow SOP's are cases where their disobediance and perhaps negligence contributed to or caused the incident. In the case cited by Warblade;
11/21/02 Court martial begins in Korea for driver of armored vehicle
11/22/02 Tracked vehicle driver found not guilty in Korea
Seems to be an unfortunate traffic accident, and from the above descriptions they do seem guilty of negligence. There were also extenuating factors. I'm not sure why the court martial panel ruled as they did, and then again I don't have the entire court transcript to review all the testimony and evidence. I must admit that US soldiers running down Korean school girls with a 45 ton tracked vehicle is serious news material. It is just the kind that anti-US activists can use to further their cause.