Bush Aims to Kill War Crimes Act
The US War Crimes Act of 1996 makes it a felony to commit grave violations of the Geneva Conventions. The Washington Post recently reported that the Bush administration is quietly circulating draft legislation to eliminate crucial parts of the War Crimes Act. Observers on The Hill say the Administration plans to slip it through Congress this fall while there still is a guaranteed Republican majority–perhaps as part of the military appropriations bill, the proposals for Guantánamo tribunals or a new catch-all “anti-terrorism” package. Why are they doing it, and how can they be stopped?
Upshot? This is part of his response to Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.
Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA’s executive director, said that “President Bush is looking to limit the War Crimes Act through legislation” now that the Supreme Court has embraced Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. In June, the court ruled that Bush’s plan to try Guantanamo Bay detainees in military tribunals violates Article 3.
So, if this passes, the US may commit war crimes with impunity, and the civilians such as himself and Rummie are protected from any liability. In addition, they and the CIA officials are protected from prosecution for past war crimes committed, such as waterboarding and extraordinary rendition.
An Aging Trans Woman 
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