Rights Watchers: Discussing Human Rights Crises With Ken Roth and Reed Brody

What Lessons Should We Draw from Karadzic’s Arrest?

Forums » Rights Watchers » What Lessons Should We Draw from Karadzic’s Arrest?

You must be logged in to contribute. Log in | Register

Forums » washingtonpost.com forums » Rights Watchers » What Lessons Should We Draw from Karadzic’s Arrest?

What Lessons Should We Draw from Karadzic’s Arrest?

posted at 7/24/2008 11:40 AM EDT

*Moderator*

Ken_Roth

First post: 6/12/2007
Last post: 7/10/2009
Total posts: 65

The arrest of Radovan Karadzic (http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/07/21/bosher19421.htm), the former president of the Republika Srpska, marks a major blow to impunity for the most egregious crimes committed in the Balkans. Yet it has hardly been without controversy. When Karadzic and other authors of mass atrocities in Bosnia were originally indicted, some argued that the charges would be an obstacle to peace – a similar claim made today in the case of the International Criminal Court’s recent indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/07/14/sudan19335.htm). Similarly, the European Union’s insistence that Serbia surrender indicted war crimes suspects before negotiations could begin in earnest on Serbia joining the EU – a key pressure that led Serbia to arrest Karadzic – had been opposed by a growing number of EU members, who preferred unconditional engagement to engagement upon a foundation of the rule of law. What lessons should be drawn from the quest to bring Karadzic and his alleged co-conspirators to justice?

Report Abuse Discussion Policy

Lesson They Won't Learn

posted at 7/28/2008 3:09 PM EDT

ZZim

First post: 1/22/2008
Last post: 11/24/2009
Total posts: 1903

Seems to me that a "growing number of EU members" were expressing a rpeference for an ineffective strategy. We saw them do that a few years ago when we decided to adopt an effective strrategy against Saddam. The the majority in the EU opposed it and we've proven them wrong.

They aren't going to learn their lesson though. Somehow they'll make up a rationale for why, although the hardline strategy worked, their softer approach would have worked better if it had just been given a little more time. Part of their story line will be that the hardline approach actually hindered things while unrelated factors were what really brought Karadzic to justice.

Report Abuse Discussion Policy

Look Out War Criminals

posted at 7/28/2008 3:42 PM EDT

doctort

First post: 6/17/2008
Last post: 6/25/2009
Total posts: 7

Hi-
One of the important lessons from the decade-old attempt to get this murdering dog is that there isn't a statute of limitations for these slime. This means that W, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Woo, and our other native-born killers have to look over their shoulders for the rest of their miserable lives. Justice may not be done immediately after they are hurled from power, but its wheels, though they grind slowly, grind exceedingly fine. When any of these pus-packets travel to a civilized country, they will be subject to arrest. I hope I meet one in my travels abroad, I will be glad to do my part as a good World Citizen, for the thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands Iraqis who died so that Bush could have a war and make a name for himself.

Report Abuse Discussion Policy

Saddam???

posted at 8/2/2008 1:54 AM EDT

carlos5

First post: 6/6/2008
Last post: 8/2/2008
Total posts: 4

There is a certain temerity in some US citizens, relating Saddam to this criminal, after the debacle and murderous camping the US has led in Iraq is incredible to me. That whole macho attitude that the Americans know how to handle these situations around the world because you know how to bomb people and that Europeans are dumb and cowards is an insult to all your soldiers that died fighting the Germans and the Italians in WWII.

In the other hand, this doesn’t establish anything we didn’t knew in the first place; small, powerless countries with tiny dictators and mass murderers can be brought to justice. Yes we can bring the dictator of Papa New Guinea (this is just to name a small country) to international court, but what about the marines that have participated in massacres in Iraq, or the Chinese military directors of the invasion and colonization of Tibet… we cannot bring the fat cats to justice, only the skinny ones that have derailed from the orders of their masters.

Report Abuse Discussion Policy

Bush Watch Out: You Are Next

posted at 8/12/2008 1:44 PM EDT

fgominho

First post: 7/28/2008
Last post: 10/1/2008
Total posts: 6

Bush, "the Idiot in Chief," better watch out his step when travelling abroad after leaving office. He is liable to be apprehended and sent to the Hague to face charges on genocide and war crimes in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, just like Karadzic!

Report Abuse Discussion Policy

I'll say it again

posted at 10/12/2008 12:45 PM EDT

JamesPDBuchanan

First post: 10/3/2007
Last post: 2/7/2009
Total posts: 156

The day Bush stands trial for any perceived war crime will only come several hundred days after the fall of the United States.

For fgominho is living in a dream world if he thinks Bush will be abducted any time after he's gone. Bush will be protected by the Secret Service for ten years after he leaves office.

Good luck to the wannabe prosecutors after that quarry. The consequences, even if successful, will be quite painful. He's an idiot, and a crook, but he's an American idiot and crook. Outsiders don't touch him, ever.

Report Abuse Discussion Policy

Re: I'll say it again

posted at 10/14/2008 2:28 PM EDT

sajidansari451

First post: 8/27/2008
Last post: 7/13/2009
Total posts: 68

Replying to:

Bush and those who killed millions of innocent civilians in Iraq (Twice),Indian-held Kashmir, Chechnya,Afghanistan,Pakistan, Palestine and 9/11, will die one day and there will be NO 'Secret Service' up there.And they will be dragged to hell, by chains in their necks on the Day of Judgement. So what if they are provided security by "Secret Service"and can't be touched by 'outsiders'in this world.

You guys should believe in that as it is "Written" in your un-amended Holy Books...!

Report Abuse Discussion Policy

Forums » Rights Watchers » What Lessons Should We Draw from Karadzic’s Arrest?

Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Rentals | Classifieds

SEARCH:

Search Archives

The Washington Post Company: Information and Other Post Co. Websites

Help | Contact Us

washingtonpost.com

Groups