Why Didn't Canadian Press Report This?

[maplesyrup]

President George Bush Charged in Provincial Court

A Vancouver lawyer has filed torture-related criminal charges against U.S. President George W. Bush in Vancouver Provincial Court. Gail Davidson, cochair of an international legal group called Lawyers Against the War, told the Straight that she charged Bush on November 30 with seven counts of counselling, aiding, and abetting the commission of torture in connection with the actions of U.S. armed forces at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and at a U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay. If the case goes to trial and Bush is found guilty, he would be liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years.

"I went about it in a very organized and solemn way," Davidson said. "It wasn't every day that someone was going to walk in and try to lay a charge against a visiting president."

A justice of the peace accepted the charges, which means there will be a hearing to decide whether or not Bush will be required to appear. Davidson said that within eight days of her laying the charges, the Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, must give his consent for the case to continue.

Davidson said she worked closely with Osgoode Hall law professor Michael Mandel, cochair of LAW, in preparing the case against Bush. She added that after the news was reported in the U.S., she received some hostile e-mail, as well as "rude" treatment from some American media outlets.

The same day that Davidson's charges were approved, the New York Times reported that it had obtained a memo from the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross accusing the U.S. military of using tactics "tantamount to torture" on prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. The next morning, mainstream Canadian newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, the National Post, and the two local CanWest-owned dailies did not report that the U.S. president had been charged in Vancouver.

Do you need any other confirmation that Canada's mainstream medai is a tool for the use of elites, bo matter what country they reside in?

[Argus]

A Vancouver lawyer has filed torture-related criminal charges against U.S. President George W. Bush in Vancouver Provincial Court.

Any idiot or crank can file anything with a justice of the peace. But this nonsense is going nowhere, and everyone knows it. Do you think the media don't? All kinds of nutty motions get filed with JPs every day. We're not interested.

[anarchist]

The reason the Canadian press did not report on this issue is because the mainstream media in Canada is all controlled by Canwest nothing but a self intrest corporation. Canwest is a proprieter of major television and newspaper intrests. Canwest's media empire reaches 94% of english speaking canadians. They censor and fire journalist for not expressing their views. They have biased views from the middle east to Goerge Bush. So dont be at all surprised if they are not publishing important information.

[Tawasakm]

So dont be at all surprised if they are not publishing important information.

Yes but is this particular story of importance or interest? To me it seems only a matter of interest. The charge isn't going to go anywhere anyway is it? Now if charges were raised in the International Court that would be important and news worthy. But of course that won't happen since the US is exempt from war crimes. That is also newsworthy. But a charge laid in court with no kind of jurisdiction at all over the President of another nation? It just can't go anywhere. So while it would be interesting to follow I don't see how it can be important to follow.

[Guest eureka]

It is not so simple. If the charge is accepted by the Courts, and there is every reason to think it might be since a prima facie case can be made, then Bush would become a wanted man in Canada.

He would face arrest and imprisonment for up to 14 years if he set foot in Canada again.

That might mean the cavalry or the Marines and we would have to go to the bother of chasing them out again.

[Stoker]

He would face arrest and imprisonment for up to 14 years if he set foot in Canada again.

Whatever happend with innocent until proven guilty?

[August1991]

The reason the Canadian press did not report on this issue is because the mainstream media in Canada is all controlled by Canwest nothing but a self intrest corporation.

But now this "issue" is available on the Internet, the world market of information.

Anyone who wants to know, can know.

But maybe the "issue" doesn't have legs, as they say.

[Tawasakm]

Eureka, you suggest that this action could lead to the President of the United States of America being arrested in Canada? That would seem insane. Your casual dismissal of the consequences:

That might mean the cavalry or the Marines and we would have to go to the bother of chasing them out again.

...seems a little underated.

[Choke]

Argus is right.

[Slavik44]

So will this be more succesfull then belgium's war crime suit against Bush? I mean really, to bad Greg didn't have a humor section on this site then maybe there would be a proper location for this.

[Guest eureka]

Tawas!

I do not casually dismiss it. What you point to as a casual dismissal is a pointer to all kinds of questions - mostly about the US; International Law and Morality; and to the world order.

The suggestion in another post that this is humorous shows just how shallow some are. This is at the heart o questions of justice; individual and national. There is not much question that Bush is guilty of the crimes yet he cannot be brought to justice. Why/

Is this a larger example of the reality in law that the one with the most money gets the best justice.

[caesar]

So will this be more succesfull then belgium's war crime suit against Bush? I mean really, to bad Greg didn't have a humor section on this site then maybe there would be a proper location for this.

There is nothing funny about it. Belgium backed down because of threat to with draw from NATO (if memory is right). This would make more of a statement than any reality that Bush would actually serve time. There was a very successful international indictment against Bush SR., Cheney, Rumsfield, and others after the Gulf War started by a former attorney general / assistant attorney general (Johnson - Kennedy). They, too, served no time in prison but it provides a permanent record of objections to these actions. Better than sucking it in and letting future generations think we were all ignorant and vicious. It makes a statement to other nationalities affected; that we are not all in accord with the unjustified attacks on them.

[Choke]

It's an attempt to rewrite history with the victors becoming the villians...that very seldom works. How many people remember the objections people had to being conquered by Rome? How many people care?

This legal action is an exercise in mental masturbation.

[Argus]

It is not so simple. If the charge is accepted by the Courts, and there is every reason to think it might be since a prima facie case can be made, then Bush would become a wanted man in Canada.

I note in passing these indignant, self-righteous lawyers have never tried to file cases against, oh, say, the presidents of China, or Russia or North Korea, or for that matter, Sadaam or the mad mullahs of Iran.

No, this is extremely simple. This isn't even IN the courts. You're talking about something filed with a justice of the peace, who is not a judge nor a lawyer nor does he have legal training. It's of no more imortance than a ridiculous nuisance suit - less, really, because not only does this have to be accepted by a real judge, but has to be allowed by the solicitor general. Guess what the odds are of that happening.

It's a cheap publicity stunt by anti-American bigots and it got the attention it deserved - roughly zero.

[Guest eureka]

I would think that the amjority of the world's population would support the indictment of Bush. The number would possibly be in line with the number who opposed the criminal assault on of Iraq.

All this mass oh concerned humanity is "indignant and self-righteous" by your estimation.

Can you explain how you think their not pressing cases against the Presidents of other nations has any relevance to the US aggression. This nation, as well as others, officially opposed the transgressions of those regimes and openly condemned them.

We have no official policy on Bush and no diplomatic protest.

A J.P. does have legal traing: the training reqired for the job. That includes deciding whether this action has the indications of merit. Clearly it does.

A judge will then have to decide whether to hear the action. That will be a thankless task. If there is merit, if a prima facie case is made, then it must be heard or politically disposed of.

As one anti-American bigot (by your standards); that is, one who thinks that Bush must pay the piper for his hubris, I would, in spite of the diplomatic difficulties, like to see this go ahead.

It is a sad day when we confirm that the penalty for war crimes really is reserved for those who have lost or are too weak to fight.

[Tawasakm]

I would think that the amjority of the world's population would support the indictment of Bush.

If that is to happen and have an effect then I think that, realistically, it needs to come from within the US not outside of it.

[MapleBear]

He would face arrest and imprisonment for up to 14 years if he set foot in Canada again.

Whatever happend with innocent until proven guilty?

George W. Bush put that silly notion to rest.

But there's nothing silly about this lawsuit. After all, many millions of Canadians would obviously support it. Hell, millions of AMERICANS would support it. It has very strong symbolic value, and it could go somewhere.

It's kind of like my Jail4Bush website - of little impact as long as the media and the masses ignore it. But all it needs is a little publicity, and it could become a major headache for George Bush, Inc.

[Argus]

I would think that the amjority of the world's population would support the indictment of Bush. The number would possibly be in line with the number who opposed the criminal assault on of Iraq.

All this mass oh concerned humanity is "indignant and self-righteous" by your estimation.

And more; including ignorant phonys. Most of them would be just as happy with their neighbour being executed for having a different religious belief, or belonging to a different culture, or taking part in some kind of sexual activity they disapprove of. Most of the world is made up of fairly unsophisticated and violently inclined people.

Can you explain how you think their not pressing cases against the Presidents of other nations has any relevance to the US aggression.

The point is that they have absolutely not care or concern about human rights violations throughout the world. They simply hate the American government.

As one anti-American bigot (by your standards); that is, one who thinks that Bush must pay the piper for his hubris, I would, in spite of the diplomatic difficulties, like to see this go ahead.

I presume you have decided then, that at least YOUR job won't be impacted by American displeasure. So you are bravely willing to have this country risk other people's livelihoods in pursuit of your self righteous desire to have us express your noble indignation.

[Choke]

You guys might find this amusing:

http://www.world-cnn.com

[Guest eureka]

The point is not that at all. The point is that a Bush, backed by a nuclear arsenal can be an international scofflaw. Smaller nation leaders have to be careful to stay within their national boundaries.

I amquite taken by your atetement that the majority of the world's population, including in the US; Canada; Britain; Germany; France and........ are all ignorant phonys.

You, on the other hand, together with the minority of right wing bullies, are bravely standing against majority opinion. They, most of the educated in the world, are "indignant and self-righteous." You are what? .Not indignant at atrocities and crimes against humanity. Roghteous but not self-righteous.

[caesar]

I presume you have decided then, that at least YOUR job won't be impacted by American displeasure. So you are bravely willing to have this country risk other people's livelihoods in pursuit of your self righteous desire to have us express your noble indignation.

Heaven forbid YOU lose a job over thousands of Iraqis and young American soldiers losing their lives, limbs or sanity over unjust American aggression. You want everyone to just be quiet and let the USA governmenta attack any country unless it affects YOU. That's how many react in the early years of Hitler

[Argus]

I presume you have decided then, that at least YOUR job won't be impacted by American displeasure. So you are bravely willing to have this country risk other people's livelihoods in pursuit of your self righteous desire to have us express your noble indignation.

Heaven forbid YOU lose a job over thousands of Iraqis and young American soldiers losing their lives, limbs or sanity over unjust American aggression. You want everyone to just be quiet and let the USA governmenta attack any country unless it affects YOU. That's how many react in the early years of Hitler

You are demanding we anger the Americans and risk economic retaliation which could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and cause economic chaos, even depression in this country so - so you can feel a sense of smug satisfaction that we have "indicted" the US president as a war criminal.

I think you acknolwedge this would serve little point and do no good at all, nor would it sway the US or help a single Iraqi.

But to you it's worth it because - well, because your self righteous indignation knows no bounds. Who cares if hundreds of thousands of Canadians lose their jobs? Not you, apparently. Let me guess - you're retired and are confident your pension won't be touched, right?

[PocketRocket]

I am a bit unclear on this.

So, a couple questions....

Does a domestic lawyer in Canada have the legal right to prosecute international war-crimes law???

Stipulated he/she does, then does Bush become legally responsible for the crime when there is real, credible evidence that he knew nothing of the acts in AbuGaraib and Guantanamo Bay, and when he did find out, he prosecuted the perpetrators???

All that aside, my gut feeling on this is, as someone mentioned earlier, it's a publicity grab.

No way some lawyer in Vancouver, who no one has ever heard of, is going to get Bush into court, or even be taken seriously.

I mean seriously, what are we going to do, extradite him???

[caesar]

Stipulated he/she does, then does Bush become legally responsible for the crime when there is real, credible evidence that he knew nothing of the acts in AbuGaraib and Guantanamo Bay, and when he did find out, he prosecuted the perpetrators???

You mean the few scapegoats; they did the same with Vietnam. Those kids being prosecuted were following orders. Yeah sure mm hmm and Nixon claimed " I am not a crook" I suppose you believed him too.

what a giggle.

[caesar]

You are demanding we anger the Americans and risk economic retaliation which could cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and cause economic chaos, even depression in this country so - so you can feel a sense of smug satisfaction that we have "indicted" the US president as a war criminal.

Whi in the H cares if we anger the "Americans" by seeking justice. Nothing smug about it. That is what supposedly makes us civilized; abiding by laws. If GWB will not; he should be made an example of.

You want us to keep quiet and allow a country to do as they wish contrary to agreed on international laws; and all for the Yankee dollar. Do you have no self respect.

They all ignored Hitler and allowed him to gain power so as not to anger him and have his attention turned in their direction. Do we need to get another lesson on not allowing a tyrant to grow in strength.

Besides trade relations with the USA sucks. There again they ignore signed international agreements. They are handing out Canadian Lumber comapanies money to subsidize their own lumber companies against WTO