Let’s just go ahead and change the name of the country from the United States of America to the United War Machine. Let’s be real. The one thing that really unites this increasingly third-rate country is that we like war. We like war a lot. It doesn’t even have to be our war. Let someone else go to war and we’ll happily supply them the bombs, guns, planes, tanks, bullets, and in some cases even personnel necessary to fight their war. We just can’t imagine the planet without a couple of wars going on. Imagine how much it would tank our economy if we didn’t have any reason to build the implements of war!
One of the many hundreds of problems with war is that the people engaged in it seem to think that there are no rules. Take Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for example. His response to some of the horrible things Israeli troops have done since October 7 has been, “That’s just part of war.” The problem is, he’s wrong. There are humanitarian rules to war and everyone’s being very good at breaking them.
Who attempts to take the rule breakers to task? The International Criminal Court. The court was originally created after WWII to try Nazi officials for the unspeakable crimes they had committed during that war. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the court is responsible for holding everyone accountable for war violations. The goal is to prevent the kind of atrocities experienced in WWII from ever happening again. Sounds like a good thing, right?
Sure, we think it is up until our best friend has a warrant out on their head. Earlier this week, the court applied for arrest warrants for a number of people related to the Hamas/Israel war in Gaza. The way the ICC works is that, unlike warrants here that only need the signature of a friendly judge, prosecutors must first gather a substantial amount of evidence that violations have occurred, a whole freaking panel of judges has to approve the application, or else the warrants are rejected. There is little chance for error. The rules are unfathomably tight. Here are a couple of critical accusations made in the application:
On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my Office, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Yahya SINWAR (Head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (“Hamas”) in the Gaza Strip), Mohammed Diab Ibrahim AL-MASRI, more commonly known as DEIF (Commander-in-Chief of the military wing of Hamas, known as the Al-Qassam Brigades), and Ismail HANIYEH (Head of Hamas Political Bureau) bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Israel and the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from at least 7 October 2023:
Extermination as a crime against humanity, contrary to article 7(1)(b) of the Rome Statute;
Murder as a crime against humanity, contrary to article 7(1)(a), and as a war crime, contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i);
Taking hostages as a war crime, contrary to article 8(2)(c)(iii);
Rape and other acts of sexual violence as crimes against humanity, contrary to article 7(1)(g), and also as war crimes pursuant to article 8(2)(e)(vi) in the context of captivity;
Torture as a crime against humanity, contrary to article 7(1)(f), and also as a war crime, contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i), in the context of captivity;
Other inhumane acts as a crime against humanity, contrary to article 7(l)(k), in the context of captivity;
Cruel treatment as a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i), in the context of captivity; and
Outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime, contrary to article 8(2)(c)(ii), in the context of captivity.
My Office submits that the war crimes alleged in these applications were committed in the context of an international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, and a non-international armed conflict between Israel and Hamas running in parallel. We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Israel by Hamas and other armed groups pursuant to organisational policies. Some of these crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day.
That addresses the crimes committed by Hamas. You’d think everyone would be happy about that. But wait, the prosecutor had more to say, and this is the part that has US politicians miffed.
On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my Office, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin NETANYAHU, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav GALLANT, the Minister of Defence of Israel, bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from at least 8 October 2023:
Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare as a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Statute;
Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health contrary to article 8(2)(a)(iii), or cruel treatment as a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i);
Wilful killing contrary to article 8(2)(a)(i), or Murder as a war crime contrary to article 8(2)(c)(i);
Intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as a war crime contrary to articles 8(2)(b)(i), or 8(2)(e)(i);
Extermination and/or murder contrary to articles 7(1)(b) and 7(1)(a), including in the context of deaths caused by starvation, as a crime against humanity;
Persecution as a crime against humanity contrary to article 7(1)(h);
Other inhumane acts as crimes against humanity contrary to article 7(1)(k).
My Office submits that the war crimes alleged in these applications were committed in the context of an international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, and a non-international armed conflict between Israel and Hamas (together with other Palestinian Armed Groups) running in parallel. We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the Palestinian civilian population pursuant to State policy. These crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day.
These allegations are backed by substantial evidence and interviews with people involved, deep with corroborating witnesses on both sides. This isn’t a witch hunt. This is how a fairinvestigation transpires. After months of work with prosecutors looking at both Hamas and Israel, taking everything into consideration, came to the conclusion that these crimes were and continue to be committed. How is this not a no-brainer?
Yet, the US, regardless of political affiliation, has one hell of a blind spot when it comes to Israel. I fail to understand it at all. Yes, what happened to Jews during WWII was unprecedented, but it does not equate to a blank check for the future. And, if we’re being fair, Netanyahu was never the dominant choice for Prime Minister in the first place. Israel had to hold five elections within a four-year period before the old fart could cobble together enough of a coalition to form a government. This is not the same young “Bibi” Netanyahu that won the election for the first time in 1996. This is an old, authoritarian prick who wants to dominate simply because he thinks he has a right to dominate. He needs to go away and let someone more reasonable guide the people of Israel.
But no, he’s not going away and the US, being the country ever obsessed with war, is doing their best to prop him up. President Biden called the allegations “outrageous,” and then followed with, “Whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.”
US Secretary of State Blinken added, “Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and is still holding dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans.”
Okay, Mr. Blinken, as of May13, only 1,478 Israeli citizens have been killed compared to 35,562 Palestinian civilians, according to UNWRA. Uhm who, precisely, is carrying out a massacre? Are you fucking listening to the nonsense coming out of your mouth?
Oh, but it gets worse. GOP Senator and relentless asshole, Tom Cotton, wrote that “My colleagues and I look forward to make sure neither Khan, his associates nor their families will ever set foot again in the United States.”
Hey, jackass, guess who assisted in the ICC’s investigation: none other than Amal Clooney. You know George’s wife and one hell of a fucking attorney. Here’s what she had to say:
“More than four months ago, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asked me to assist him with evaluating evidence of suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and Gaza. I agreed and joined a panel of international legal experts to undertake this task. Together we have engaged in an extensive process of evidence review and legal analysis including at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Panel and its academic advisers are experts in international law, including international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Two Panel members are appointed as expert ‘Special Advisers’ by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Two Panel members are former judges at criminal tribunals in The Hague.
Despite our diverse personal backgrounds, our legal findings are unanimous. We have unanimously determined that the Court has jurisdiction over crimes committed in Palestine and by Palestinian nationals. We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including hostage-taking, murder and crimes of sexual violence. We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and extermination.
I served on this Panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives. The law that protects civilians in war was developed more than 100 years ago and it applies in every country in the world regardless of the reasons for a conflict. As a human rights lawyer, I will never accept that one child’s life has less value than another’s. I do not accept that any conflict should be beyond the reach of the law, nor that any perpetrator should be above the law. So I support the historic step that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has taken to bring justice to victims of atrocities in Israel and Palestine.
Today, my colleagues and I have published an op-ed and a detailed legal report of the Panel’s findings. My approach is not to provide a running commentary of my work but to let the work speak for itself. I hope that witnesses will cooperate with the ongoing investigation. And I hope that justice will prevail in a region that has already suffered too much.”
Amal Clooney Barrister and Co-Founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice
Shut the fuck up, Tom.
Here’s the thing, neither the US nor Israel signed onto the Rome Statute under which the ICC was established. Why? Because both countries (and several others) are fucking scared of the concept of non-biased justice. No US politician wants to be held accountable for their actions (hence, the chaos over someone’s multiple indictments). All we want is the freedom to support war, no matter how horrible it is, wherever we want, whenever we want. We don’t want anyone telling us that the wars we’re supporting are unjust.
However, as bloated as our national ego is, we’re not the only ones on the planet. Earlier today, Norway, Ireland, and Spain recognized the State of Palestine. Other countries are considering the move, such as France, though they’re not quite ready to commit. This is a big deal. The rules of engagement change if Palestine is recognized internationally as its own country. As that begins to happen, UN rules start to apply making the continued aggression by Israel all the more illegal and could potentially open the door for UN troops to fight on behalf of Palestine against Israel.
Understand, there are a truckload of steps that have to take place before anything like that can happen and we can all hope that a permanent cease-fire can be negotiated before there’s any reason to insert UN troops in the region. However, the possibility is there and will grow closer with each country that decides to recognize Palestine.
And for every day that there is no cease-fire, who do we blame? Look in a fucking mirror. The US, the United War Machine, is the country standing right next to Israel encouraging them to keep up their illegal and inhumane tactics.
I haven’t recited the Pledge of Allegiance in several years. This is why. I cannot, in good conscience, pledge a damn thing to a country that actively courts and provides for the global extermination of our own species. That I was born here and live here does not obligate me to support such idiocy. Rather, my citizenship requires that I yell, scream, and do everything within my power to stop it. Legally.
The problem with this situation is that when the bullshit is spread so thick in every direction, who the hell am I supposed to vote for? None of the major candidates will stand up to Israel. None of them have a spine.
Let’s just go ahead and change the name of the country from the United States of America to the United War Machine. Let’s be real. The one thing that really unites this increasingly third-rate country is that we like war. We like war a lot. It doesn’t even have to be our war. Let someone else go to war and we’ll happily supply them the bombs, guns, planes, tanks, bullets, and in some cases even personnel necessary to fight their war. We just can’t imagine the planet without a couple of wars going on. Imagine how much it would tank our economy if we didn’t have any reason to build the implements of war!
One of the many hundreds of problems with war is that the people engaged in it seem to think that there are no rules. Take Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for example. His response to some of the horrible things Israeli troops have done since October 7 has been, “That’s just part of war.” The problem is, he’s wrong. There are humanitarian rules to war and everyone’s being very good at breaking them.
Who attempts to take the rule breakers to task? The International Criminal Court. The court was originally created after WWII to try Nazi officials for the unspeakable crimes they had committed during that war. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the court is responsible for holding everyone accountable for war violations. The goal is to prevent the kind of atrocities experienced in WWII from ever happening again. Sounds like a good thing, right?
Sure, we think it is up until our best friend has a warrant out on their head. Earlier this week, the court applied for arrest warrants for a number of people related to the Hamas/Israel war in Gaza. The way the ICC works is that, unlike warrants here that only need the signature of a friendly judge, prosecutors must first gather a substantial amount of evidence that violations have occurred, a whole freaking panel of judges has to approve the application, or else the warrants are rejected. There is little chance for error. The rules are unfathomably tight. Here are a couple of critical accusations made in the application:
On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my Office, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Yahya SINWAR (Head of the Islamic Resistance Movement (“Hamas”) in the Gaza Strip), Mohammed Diab Ibrahim AL-MASRI, more commonly known as DEIF (Commander-in-Chief of the military wing of Hamas, known as the Al-Qassam Brigades), and Ismail HANIYEH (Head of Hamas Political Bureau) bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Israel and the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from at least 7 October 2023:
My Office submits that the war crimes alleged in these applications were committed in the context of an international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, and a non-international armed conflict between Israel and Hamas running in parallel. We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Israel by Hamas and other armed groups pursuant to organisational policies. Some of these crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day.
That addresses the crimes committed by Hamas. You’d think everyone would be happy about that. But wait, the prosecutor had more to say, and this is the part that has US politicians miffed.
On the basis of evidence collected and examined by my Office, I have reasonable grounds to believe that Benjamin NETANYAHU, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav GALLANT, the Minister of Defence of Israel, bear criminal responsibility for the following war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the State of Palestine (in the Gaza strip) from at least 8 October 2023:
My Office submits that the war crimes alleged in these applications were committed in the context of an international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, and a non-international armed conflict between Israel and Hamas (together with other Palestinian Armed Groups) running in parallel. We submit that the crimes against humanity charged were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the Palestinian civilian population pursuant to State policy. These crimes, in our assessment, continue to this day.
These allegations are backed by substantial evidence and interviews with people involved, deep with corroborating witnesses on both sides. This isn’t a witch hunt. This is how a fair investigation transpires. After months of work with prosecutors looking at both Hamas and Israel, taking everything into consideration, came to the conclusion that these crimes were and continue to be committed. How is this not a no-brainer?
Yet, the US, regardless of political affiliation, has one hell of a blind spot when it comes to Israel. I fail to understand it at all. Yes, what happened to Jews during WWII was unprecedented, but it does not equate to a blank check for the future. And, if we’re being fair, Netanyahu was never the dominant choice for Prime Minister in the first place. Israel had to hold five elections within a four-year period before the old fart could cobble together enough of a coalition to form a government. This is not the same young “Bibi” Netanyahu that won the election for the first time in 1996. This is an old, authoritarian prick who wants to dominate simply because he thinks he has a right to dominate. He needs to go away and let someone more reasonable guide the people of Israel.
But no, he’s not going away and the US, being the country ever obsessed with war, is doing their best to prop him up. President Biden called the allegations “outrageous,” and then followed with, “Whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.”
US Secretary of State Blinken added, “Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that carried out the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and is still holding dozens of innocent people hostage, including Americans.”
Okay, Mr. Blinken, as of May13, only 1,478 Israeli citizens have been killed compared to 35,562 Palestinian civilians, according to UNWRA. Uhm who, precisely, is carrying out a massacre? Are you fucking listening to the nonsense coming out of your mouth?
Oh, but it gets worse. GOP Senator and relentless asshole, Tom Cotton, wrote that “My colleagues and I look forward to make sure neither Khan, his associates nor their families will ever set foot again in the United States.”
Hey, jackass, guess who assisted in the ICC’s investigation: none other than Amal Clooney. You know George’s wife and one hell of a fucking attorney. Here’s what she had to say:
“More than four months ago, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court asked me to assist him with evaluating evidence of suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and Gaza. I agreed and joined a panel of international legal experts to undertake this task. Together we have engaged in an extensive process of evidence review and legal analysis including at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Panel and its academic advisers are experts in international law, including international humanitarian law and international criminal law. Two Panel members are appointed as expert ‘Special Advisers’ by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Two Panel members are former judges at criminal tribunals in The Hague.
Despite our diverse personal backgrounds, our legal findings are unanimous. We have unanimously determined that the Court has jurisdiction over crimes committed in Palestine and by Palestinian nationals. We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including hostage-taking, murder and crimes of sexual violence. We unanimously conclude that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity including starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution and extermination.
I served on this Panel because I believe in the rule of law and the need to protect civilian lives. The law that protects civilians in war was developed more than 100 years ago and it applies in every country in the world regardless of the reasons for a conflict. As a human rights lawyer, I will never accept that one child’s life has less value than another’s. I do not accept that any conflict should be beyond the reach of the law, nor that any perpetrator should be above the law. So I support the historic step that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has taken to bring justice to victims of atrocities in Israel and Palestine.
Today, my colleagues and I have published an op-ed and a detailed legal report of the Panel’s findings. My approach is not to provide a running commentary of my work but to let the work speak for itself. I hope that witnesses will cooperate with the ongoing investigation. And I hope that justice will prevail in a region that has already suffered too much.”
Amal Clooney
Barrister and Co-Founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice
Shut the fuck up, Tom.
Here’s the thing, neither the US nor Israel signed onto the Rome Statute under which the ICC was established. Why? Because both countries (and several others) are fucking scared of the concept of non-biased justice. No US politician wants to be held accountable for their actions (hence, the chaos over someone’s multiple indictments). All we want is the freedom to support war, no matter how horrible it is, wherever we want, whenever we want. We don’t want anyone telling us that the wars we’re supporting are unjust.
However, as bloated as our national ego is, we’re not the only ones on the planet. Earlier today, Norway, Ireland, and Spain recognized the State of Palestine. Other countries are considering the move, such as France, though they’re not quite ready to commit. This is a big deal. The rules of engagement change if Palestine is recognized internationally as its own country. As that begins to happen, UN rules start to apply making the continued aggression by Israel all the more illegal and could potentially open the door for UN troops to fight on behalf of Palestine against Israel.
Understand, there are a truckload of steps that have to take place before anything like that can happen and we can all hope that a permanent cease-fire can be negotiated before there’s any reason to insert UN troops in the region. However, the possibility is there and will grow closer with each country that decides to recognize Palestine.
And for every day that there is no cease-fire, who do we blame? Look in a fucking mirror. The US, the United War Machine, is the country standing right next to Israel encouraging them to keep up their illegal and inhumane tactics.
I haven’t recited the Pledge of Allegiance in several years. This is why. I cannot, in good conscience, pledge a damn thing to a country that actively courts and provides for the global extermination of our own species. That I was born here and live here does not obligate me to support such idiocy. Rather, my citizenship requires that I yell, scream, and do everything within my power to stop it. Legally.
The problem with this situation is that when the bullshit is spread so thick in every direction, who the hell am I supposed to vote for? None of the major candidates will stand up to Israel. None of them have a spine.
Maybe you have an idea.
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