Confirming that the United States still regards the phrase “war on terror” to mean “license for continuing and willful insanity”, a lawyer representing the U.S. in a high profile case in England has indicated that the U.S. view is that the covert abduction of foreign nationals in order to bring them to America to face justice is absolutely fine, and indeed appears to be some sort of historical birthright accorded to Americans.
Of particular note is that this apparently centuries-old right to kidnap foreign citizens in their own country does not relate exclusively to suspects in terrorism offences, but in fact applies to anyone charged with a criminal offence in the United States. Furthermore, it apparently continues to exist despite the existence of perfectly functional regimes for extradition, and without any regard to the laws of the countries in which the relevant kidnappings are to take place.
Ordinarily, a government sponsored taskforce crossing into another country with the express purpose of violating that country’s laws and kidnapping its citizens is regarded as an act of war, or at least the basis for a serious international incident. Fortunately if you are the world’s only superpower you don’t need to worry about such things. It is safe to assume that a corresponding right for foreigners to travel to the U.S. to kidnap Americans and take them abroad for trial is not recognised by the Bush Administration.
0 Responses to “kidnapping, bounty hunting completely fine by U.S.”