Comments on: Special Relationship My Butt

By: peter

peter — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:44:34 +0000

When the same sort of thing happened five years ago, the US military held a “non-judicial hearing” and punished the pilots responsible.

Plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose.

By: Huw

Huw — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:34:18 +0000

I think if our president is going to ask them to help get Daddy’s revenge - in a war that is politically unpopular in both countries - the least he can do is give them a special deal. It would look magnanimous instead of petty.

It’s time we gave up some of our sovereignty - since we ask everyone else to do so - and invade the ones that won’t.

By: Fr. Ernesto

Fr. Ernesto — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:37:18 +0000

Sorry, but on this one I agree with the USA. A local British coroner has no authority in Iraq. The incidents are investigated by the joint authority, as the article pointed out.

Likewise, USA appeal courts (and Supreme) have ruled more than once that local USA courts do not automatically have authority over incidents that occur in a foreign country, even if a USA citizen is involved.

This is not Bush doctrine, it has existed essentially since the beginning of this country. A court (or inquest) can only act within the limits of its authority. This is also true in international law. In fact, the Pinochet incident with Spain caused such an uproar precisely because it was a local court claiming authority over events that took place in another country.

International courts do indeed have such authority, but even they are limited to their sphere of authority. For instance, an international court could not legally decide to take up Lindsey Lohan’s DUI conviction.

Sorry, coroners, but you are attempting to extend the limits of your local authority into an international venue.