Colin Powell, Keep Out
The case for blocking Bush's war spinner at our border.
Powell: Slated for Vancouver speech.
Colin Powell, George Bush's former secretary of state and previously the general in charge of the slaughter of Iraqi troops in the first Gulf war, is scheduled to speak in Vancouver on June 12. Possibly setting a new standard for hypocrisy, the title of his talk is "Leadership in the 21st Century."
We shouldn't let him into the country, and here's why.
Powell has been dogged for years by accusations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and grave human rights abuses including torture.
There is enough evidence available to suggest that, at the very least, the federal government should investigate Powell for the alleged violations of international law. The government has made it clear where it stands on such crimes: "The policy of the Government of Canada is unequivocal. Canada will not be a safe haven for persons involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity or other reprehensible acts."
Lawyers Against the War
An international jurists group, Lawyers Against the War (LAW), are trying to stop Powell's entry into Canada. Given that Stephen Harper is prime minister and a dedicated supporter of the Bush administration and the Iraq war, the chances of success are slim.
But consider what the law says. Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 35(1) (a) states that a foreign national is inadmissible on grounds of violating human or international rights or for committing an act outside Canada that constitutes an offence referred to in sections 4 to 7 of the Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act. Also inadmissible are persons who are, or were, senior officials "in the service of a government that, in the opinion of the Minister, engages or has engaged in gross human rights violations..."
What constitutes crimes against humanity and war crimes?
According to LAW, "crimes against humanity" include murder, enforced disappearance, deportation, imprisonment, torture, imprisonment in violation of fundamental rules of international law, committed against any civilian population or any identifiable group. War crimes includes willful killing, torture and inhumane treatment, unlawful confinement, willfully depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person of fair trial rights, or intentionally launching an attack that will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians.
Spinning weapons, detainees
Powell, the general in charge of the first Gulf war, was also secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, and thus a key member of the Bush administration that planned and executed the illegal and brutal invasion of Iraq.
Not only did Powell lie to the United Nations about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction, he was a key member of the group within that administration that devised the notorious extra-legal system whereby the U.S. captured and imprisoned non-Americans, denied them any legal protection and subjected them to a wide range of gross human rights violations, including extraordinary rendition and torture.
In a Jan. 26, 2002 memo he suggested to President Bush that he either decide that the Geneva Convention did not apply to a "failed state" such as Afghanistan, or that it did apply, but not to anyone declared by the president to be Al Qaeda or Taliban members. Either option, said Powell, would "provide the same practical flexibility in how we treat detainees, including with respect to interrogation and length of the detention."
In May, 2004, the U.S. National Lawyers Guild called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Colin Powell and others for war crimes committed during the illegal war on Iraq. In 2003, Powell (along with several other U.S. officials) was the target of two criminal complaints under Belgium's 1993 universal-jurisdiction genocide law, for his actions in the second Gulf war. Under pressure from the U.S., Belgium repealed the law shortly after the charges were filed.
Powell's history of controversy
In 1991, an independent International War Crimes Tribunal headed by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, found Powell and others guilty of war crimes against Iraq in the first Gulf war, including indiscriminate killing of civilians, targeting of national infrastructure, and the wholesale slaughter of thousands of Iraqi troops (while withdrawing from Kuwait) for no military purpose.
During the Vietnam war Powell was assigned to investigate widespread charges that U.S. troops were brutalizing Vietnamese civilians. In claiming relations between troops and civilians were "excellent," and in particular for failing to mention the most notorious example, the My Lai massacre, Powell was later accused by some of a cover-up.
There are enough unanswered questions about Powell's culpability in illegal acts in both Gulf wars that the federal government should deny him entry into Canada. Indeed, the evidence is compelling enough that if Powell does arrive in Canada the government should follow Canada's war crimes legislation. Under that legislation, according to LAW, Canada is obliged to arrest him and either prosecute him for torture and other crimes, or extradite him to a jurisdiction that is willing to prosecute him.
If the Harper government is not prepared to take our war crimes legislation seriously, then it should do the honest thing and repeal them.
Related Tyee stories:
- Aiding Torture
Our top politicians may have violated international law. Why is that not an election issue? - Canada's Retreat from Laws of War
Why do we still collude with torturers? - Pull Welcome Mat for 'War Criminal' Bush?
Vancouver legal experts join movement to rule the U.S. president a violator of Geneva and U.N. conventions.
![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
ME2
10-06-2008
Just smoke.
In my opinion, this article serves no other purpose than providing a platform for yet another of Dobbin's anti-American rants. Yawn.
However much one might hope beating this dead horse might provoke it into action, the sure fact is that NO government - no matter how liberal - is going to crack open this Pandora's Box in which an administration could be criminalised for colluding with a rogue government, which is what barring Powell could lead to for our governments.
Just ask Harper, Dion, or Layton if Powell is a good guy or a bad guy.
Bobby Peru
10-06-2008
Dumb and Dumber
Dobbin is off on another argument based on Anti-Americanism. Look, sometimes war is necessary to meet aggression. Would Dobbin rather have the Iraqis stay in Kuwait? Dobbin foolishly thinks war will end by just negotiation, holding hands and singing 'kumbaya'.
The reality is that heads of state have to make tough decisions to protect the state. And these decisions have o be above common morality.
demotto
11-06-2008
Bobby
First off you should check some history as to why exactly Iraqi`s were in Kuwait. You think the heads of state shouldn`t practice common morality ? I`m guessing thinking like that is the reason the RCMP can shoot people in the back of the head or tazer an innocent man to death with impunity.Maybe if just if their was a little more common morality in the people in the position of power there would be no shortage of food or health care in this world. There never seems to be too much money for better ways to kill us.
Fiat lux
11-06-2008
A lot of German and Japanese
A lot of German and Japanese generals have been executed for far less, many even for crimes they've never heard about, but were committed under their overall command.
Then we can read in their biographies on the so called "winning sides", proudly declaring: "orders were given that no prisoners are to be taken".
As a WW2 vet., I can tolerate all other ranks, but hate the guts of all lieutenants and generals and could care less what happens to them.
All armies, regardless of nationality, are built on and survive on secrecy, deceit, lies and legalized murder. The soldiers lie to the NCOs, the NCOs lie to the officers, the officers lie to the generals and the generals lie to the politicians and the public. This string of lies is called "intelligence" and "national defence"......
....while the politicians are selling off the country for peanuts, to the highest bidders of directorships.
Ed Deak.
Skywalker
11-06-2008
Dobbin is right.
Just like Henry Kissinger, Powell should stay home. There is nothing the war mongers need to tell us about leadership in the 21st century. They forfeited that right and Powell did when he started parroting the Bush claim of WMD's.
It didn't say what enlightened group of Vancouverites had invited him here.
Bobb999
11-06-2008
C'mon in Colin!
How about we DO waive him into Canada.
Then make a citizens arrest, and hold him as a war crimes suspect, until the Hague draws up a case against him, and is ready to have us hand him over to the International Court!
That'll teach 'im.
mopled
11-06-2008
I just wish
there was a way to prevent these war criminals from giving speeches and picking up glorious fees. The lecture circuit is part of the pay-off. What Mr. Dobbin doesn't tell us is who is picking up the tab for Powell the Pusillanimous to tell us all about "Leadership". Ultimately,it is taxpayers, when taxfree money is funneled to these bozos.
DPL
11-06-2008
as mentioned above Powell
as mentioned above Powell mislead the UN. some folks said he didn't know. If he didn't how did he have the job? He is doing the circuit making money and ciizens of his counntry are still dying for the errors made by him and his ex boss Bush
verso
11-06-2008
...
This has been advertised for at least a couple months, I think they're having trouble selling tickets.
Josh71
11-06-2008
A war criminal indeed
He's directly repsonsible for millions of Iraqi's death and displacement.
Write to the irresponsible organizer (DSJ Communications) and sponsors (Vancouver Sun and CKNW) and explain to them that a person who has committed various crimes against humanity is not welcome to this town.
Josh71
11-06-2008
It's reported that only 8 tickets
have been sold.
It's not confirmed but seems very reasonable to me. After all, who in the right mind will seek leadership advices from a known war criminal?
He blatently lied to the world community and caused the sufferings of millions!
Shame on DSJ Communications for cozing up to this despicable man.
Luke Skywalker
11-06-2008
Quote:We shouldn't let him
Shades of two Vermont towns:
the items sought to have police arrest Bush and Cheney if they ever visit Brattleboro or nearby Marlboro or to extradite them for prosecution elsewhere - if they’re not impeached first.
Sounds similar to some of the Allies' conduct in Europe during WW2.
monty
11-06-2008
Send this to Immigration at the Airport and CBSA
This event is a production of 3-- 21 and 22 year old students from U Vic. They are spending a bundle on advertising. They may be naive and not have a clue of Powell's history.
Suggest you send this article to John Cummins, MP, Delta/Richmond, Canada Border Services at Peace Arch and Canada Immigration at the YVR. And the RCMP???
No idea of whom is providing the financial backing for these kids--perhaps there's another story there. Cheers.
brian gough
11-06-2008
Towing the line
Its just common place,like bushies ex-press secretary who has just written a book claiming this latest IRAQ war was based on fabrication (duh,really,what a shock,who knew)
There are a lot of similarities with the BUSH bunch with our own BC LIBERALS.
I am sick and tired of people collecting paychecks, then after the facts come out these followers claim we were only towing the line.
Everyone knows BUSHIES war has to do with oil
The similarity with BC LIBERALS is--Selling rivers,privitizing BCs assets,destroying wild salmon,removing enviromental protections,corruption,gag laws,election gordy-mandering,the buying of justice in BC(or should I say,paying to make sure there is no justice in BC)
These line towers will have to look at their grandchildren in the eye and say,I could of spoke up,I could of walked away,I could of did my part for humanity but I wanted my PAYCHECK.
"There is none so blind as those who refuse to see"
BC Dude
11-06-2008
Josh71 2hrs ago: “Write to
Josh71 2hrs ago:
“Write to the irresponsible organizer (DSJ Communications) and sponsors (Vancouver Sun and CKNW) and explain to them that a person who has committed various crimes against humanity is not welcome to this town”.
Carl Rove was invited here with the blessings and $ from Fraser Institute. No surprise there! Does any of OUR taxpayer money go to FI and if so Why?
I was there out side when C Rove did his BS speech and I was ashamed at the very small turn out at the protest as there were more cops than protesters, shame on us.
This time we have got to show up en-mass to show OUR total disgust at allowing these War Criminals into OUR CANADA!
We, Us are already guilty of being complacent in allowing these grievous Acts of torture on another of OUR species whether innocent or guilty. The SPP already says WE WILL BE NEXT for joining blogs like this to voice OUR Democratic Right to Freedom of Speech! Do WE still have time?
BC Dude
11-06-2008
1. A nation can survive its
1. A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murder is less to fear: Cicero Marcus Tullius
Bobb999
11-06-2008
John Bolton was nearly nabbed!
A lot of people in Britain were incensed earlier this month, when John Bolton, another of Bush's Iraq war architects, was scheduled to attend the annual Hay Literary Festival.
Journalist George Monbiot proposed making a citizens arrest on Bolton for war crimes, and ended up making an effort to carry out the arrest himself.
More a statement, in Monbiot's case, than a serious attempt at apprehending Powell (Monbiot's plan was foiled by security), still, such actions make a useful statement, and deservedly embarrass the wicked receiving undeserved accolades and deference at prestigious events!
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2284450,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/03/usforeignpolicy.usa
Bobb999
11-06-2008
Typo
Oops...This line from my prior post:
"More a statement, in Monbiot's case, than a serious attempt at apprehending Powell...",
should read "BOLTON", not "Powell".
sdgreen
11-06-2008
Really Now
My sense on General Colin Powell is that he was lead down the garden path by the Cheney operatives. Powell clearly is a moderate and subsequently resigned as Secretary of State. Defence Secretary Rumsfeld along with Cheney are the ones to hang.
Powell I think was disgusted with the whole issue. President George Bush I think was/is a puppet of Cheney and company.
We should hear from Powell, no doubt he is intellegent and that is why he left the Bush Administration.
Skywalker
11-06-2008
sdgreen
You may be right but does that show leadership and should we be listening to him because of it? I think not. Stay home Colin!
ME2
11-06-2008
On Quislings
Thanks for that excellent quote, BC Dude. Things haven't changed much in 2,000 years, eh?
However, public acceptance of such practice has without notice or much examination, been achieved by the Neocons as they sell us the "Market" philosophy promoted by Friedman and the Chigago boys, via "globalisation".
No longer is the traditional obligation of the negotiator in international affairs primarily to his/her country. Today the obligation is entirely to the "shareholder", unless the negotiations are too public to hide their intent - though it seems they are increasingly sucessful even in openly brazening this out these days.
In the days of my youth, these insidious workings against the Canadian citizen's national interests would have been identified as such, and the perpetrators correctly branded as Quislings and economic Fifth Columnists.
Perhaps because of the neutered NDP, nobody listens to Maude Barlow and the Council of Canadians these days, and with Tommy Douglas gone, even the NDP has long forgotten his story about us selling out the family farm and becoming sharecroppers on it.
OH well.
And BTW, it's "toeing the line" not "towing" it. :-)