First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

Al Jazeera’s readers sound off on Mark Levine’s opinion article First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

non-american asian Malaysia	16/07/2008

First al-bahsir, next … Bush?

Have a poll (excluding Americans) and I’ll bet you my last cent that 999 to 1000 will say that Bush is GUILTY of you know what.

James O. H. United States	16/07/2008

Bush Wet Dream

Removing a brutal dictator and giving millions the opportunity at democracy is a war crime????????? The reason Paul does not see such stories in the western newspapers is that they stick to the facts!!!!!!!!!

Peter Afghanistan	16/07/2008

War Crimes- George W. Bush

Yes, he is even more guilty than al-Bashir. George W. and Dick Cheney belong in jail as the entire world knows unless you are one of his henchmen profiting from the war.

Kevin United States	16/07/2008

Bush:Bashir – an accurate analogy?

For your analogy to be accurate, Bush would have to have the same “absolute” control over the militias and the insurgency in Iraq that you say he has over the US miltary. I would like to see evidence to support this claim.

Piet Miller Netherlands	16/07/2008

Whatever

Interesting blame game, but: Who is going to stop the hidious crimes in Darfur? that’s the ONLY question here.

Nik United States	16/07/2008

I hope so!

They are all crooks here… There was no al-Qaeda base in Rraq… no WMDs… sure, Hussein was a bad guy sure, people of Iraq were oppressed but “liberating Iraq” should have been up to its people, not a foreign nation.

Nik United States	16/07/2008

Bush vs Hussein

More people have died in Iraq since its “liberation” (illegal war aimed at controlling an oil-rich region) than during Hussein’s rule.

Mahmud United Kingdom	16/07/2008

First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

The difference is that unlike Omar al-Bashir’s militiamen, Bush did not instruct his army to systematically murder civilians.

Steve United States	16/07/2008

Guilty

Bush may not be in the same league with Hitler and al-Bashir, but he certainly is guilty of war crimes due to his breaking international laws and our own US federal laws.

Steve United States	16/07/2008

It is not just the rest of the world

I’m an American citizen and I would vote for Bush to be arrested for war crimes.

Mohamed Alkilani Libya	16/07/2008

Wrong address

If there is one leader who should be brought to justice it must be president George Bush of the USA. Next in line Blair the ex British leader . Their crimes are well documented with video confessions and thousands of witnesses .

Matthew Scott Brooks United States	16/07/2008

Ignorance

The writer of this article obviously has “zero” understanding of the way the military is utilized in the United States of America! It is words like these that get citizens to mis-understand our country and how it works.

Matthew Scott Brooks United States	16/07/2008

Ignorance

If we the people want things to be different in our country, then we the people need to educate ourselves more about our leaders and make better decisions when voting…

John France	16/07/2008



John K. Hey James O.H. you watch to much “FOX noise” Western news papers are owned by the U.S. government. All you get in what they want you to get. America is going down the tubes. I am an American and was proud of it.I just had to move.

R DEES United States	16/07/2008

First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

FIGHTING EVIL IS ALWAYS MESSY OR HAVEN’T YOU CHECKED OUT HISTORY? EVIL PREVAILS WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING-ASK THE CAMBODIANS UNDER POL POT.

Sam United Kingdom	16/07/2008

War crimes

Bush is a definete criminal along with Blair. They need to be bought to justice for crimes against humanity. But unfortunalty I cant see that happening. They have gone against UN resolutions and commited unbeleivbale suuffering to millions.

Clyde Thailand	16/07/2008

Bush and US Congress

Are you supporting the criminal charges against the 400+ Congressmen who voted to authorize the financing of the war ? Are they not co-conspirators in your estimation ?

Nathan United States	16/07/2008



The human rights situation in Iraq began with Iraqis and the continuing abuses are the acts of Iraqis too. If we’d gone into Sudan, all the liberals would be crying about that too. Don’t blame the U.S. for your problems. Allez en France!

King United States	16/07/2008



All of you need to re-educate yourself on Iraq war. I see bunch of biased comments. The truth is that President Bush freed Iraq from tyranny of Sadam so they can have a voice and the freedom to choose the future of their country.

Paul United Kingdom	16/07/2008

Article: First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

Hi, Great Article and certainly one you will never read in any Western Newspapers. You have got to keep this sort of questioning going…it has to reach the main stream and be taken seriously. You are absolutely right George Bush is 100% guilty of War crimes and must be seen to be punished for it. It is disgusting that he can get away with it as he has and continues too. Good work guys!! Regards, Paul

Arzaukidin Iraq	16/07/2008

Only for Show

It would seem that Bush has nothing to worry about because neither the USA or Iraq are parties to the ICC Treaty. In the case of al-Bashir it would seem that the ICC charges, or conviction for that matter, is only for show since the ICC has no enforcement capabilities.

Prabh Bhattal Canada	16/07/2008

Mark Levine accusing Bush of being as responsible as al-Bashir is absurd.

Mark Levine accusing Bush of being same in responsibility of killings to al-Bashir is absurd. Of course i disagree with the president of the United States and his decisions. But Bashir was responsible for genocide…while Bush although was stupid…cannot be in the same boat. It’s like comparing Bush to Hitler…Bush’s actions killed millions but he didn’t order the killing of people..he ordered the war..wheras Bashir and Hitler ordered genocides. Bush is stupid but he is no al-Bashir.

Niloufar Iran	16/07/2008

war criminals

Bashir, Bush, Bin Laden, Blair, Brown are all butchers that should be tried for war crimes. Excellent article Mark!

Nicholas United States	16/07/2008

Bush and al-Bashir

While I agree with Prabh about the accusation that Bush and al-Bashir are not comparable in their atrocities, particularly since Bush operates within a large framework of power hungry (read petrol) militarily impulsive and interventionist neoliberals whereas al-Bashir is merely a legitimatized warlord, Professor Levine’s article does well to shake up our condemnation of all atrocities but our own. Thank you for sharing your convictions Mark!

Grant United States	16/07/2008



“It was clear to most Iraqis that the chaos being reaped by the US in their country was in fact deliberately sown by the US in order to create a situation that would make any US withdrawal almost impossible to pull off.” How about ANY facts to back up your ridiculous rhetoric?? I am glad my kids don’t attend your University if this kind of thoughtlss diatribe passes for education there.

Steve Canada	16/07/2008

Bush / Al Bashir War Crimes

I would encourage my Canadian government to arrest both George W. Bush and Omar Al-Bashir, the war criminals, if either were to visit Canada. Are you reading this Prime Minister Stephen Harper?

FreeMind Australia	16/07/2008

Article: First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

Paul you are correct, this needs to be taken very seriously, the people of the world REALLY need to push for this to happen to Bush, it goes a lot further then most would think. This is from the inside.

William Florez United States	16/07/2008

First al-Bashir, next …Bush?

The article is 100% correct, but here in the USA we can not speak nothing about Bush, he links support our troops is like support him too. After all we control the world.

Bryan United States	16/07/2008

Gaaad! Al Jazeera at it again…

Bush did not unilaterally declare war in Iraq. He did so with the broad approval of Congress the “peoples” body. A fact convienently overlooked in this story. At the same time, most of the world, including France, silently supported the decision.

Wayne Singapore	16/07/2008

How many other leaders ???

how many other leaders through out the world can also be indicted accroding to the authors chain of thought ??? Arab leaders who support suicidal bombers, African leaders who support Zimbabwe, Asian leaders who will not denounce Burma, European leaders who sell arms or do business with countries with very poor human rights.

B. Scott Canada	16/07/2008

Rationalizations be damned

Bush is the commander in chief, he signed the order to start a preemptive war, the number of men, women and children is mass murder sadly he won’t personally be held to account, but is already on record as one of the world’s alltime butchers, that’s how history will regard him.

J Richards United Kingdom	16/07/2008

First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

The War Crimes division of the Counter Terrorism branch, Scotland Yard are investigating allegations of 14 criminal offences committed by Tony Blair, Lord Goldsmith and others under the International Criminal Court Act 2001, which came into effect under English common law, just 2 days before 9/11.

Paul M Ukraine	16/07/2008

Bush as war criminal

James and Prabh seem to be lost in the semantics regarding the dialogue on war crimes. A reasonable person deliberating the present set of facts against the judgment criterion could come to no other conclusion except to indict Bush as a war criminal – the same as Pol Pot, as al-Bashir or any other such person. The fact that Bush has so far escaped punishment only suggests the UN and ICC are weak institutions with little consensus among member states. Might makes right, so Bush stays free.

Matthew Brooks United States	16/07/2008

Ignorance

We the people voted for those who represent us and make decisions for us, so ultimately we the people are responsible for our military actions. So if you want to point a finger, look in the mirror!

Matthew Scott Brooks United States	16/07/2008

Ignorance

If you don’t vote then you’ve got nothing to complain about. Get your lazy duff up off that couch and go vote for what you want! I am sad when I read this garbage. I am sad for all our people who follow these ignorant words!

Kelly Sakahilu Zambia	16/07/2008

Bush Trial by the ICC

I 100% support the move to have the current USA president to be tried by the ICCwhen his term of office comes to an end for the human rights disaster in Iraq.

Dave United States	16/07/2008

First al-Bashir, next … Bush?

I agree with this article. I’m an American and I proudly speak out against the perpetrator of one of our nations darkest moments. This “free country” I live in has become corrupt and detached of all that it once was. It’s true that mainstream media will not cover this but there are plenty of small press and independent sources that will likely pick up on this if it’s pushed. I hope once Obama is in office we won’t have discussions like this.

Chris United States	16/07/2008

Bush=War Criminal

Not only is Bush a war criminal, he is not much elevated above a common criminal. When he took office the USA had a one trillion dollar surplus, now it is seven trillion in debt and the economy is on the verge of total collapse. How many tens of thousands of people does one have to kill before war crimes charges are levied? Perhaps he will pardon himself before leaving office.

joseph United States	16/07/2008



the world court is a joke if they really want any credibility, George Bush ” the war criminal ” should be brought to justice first, and then Bashir

fujimon United States	16/07/2008

Let the Iraqis decide

Mark….you can draw parallels from the indictment but I ultimately think the Iraqi people need to be given the gavel on this one. They have endured the hardship and will find sunlight or darkness in the new era. Step off the soapbox and give the microphone to the Iraqi people on this one.

Reza Khan Morocco	16/07/2008

Ineresting comparison.

This is all happening as we all play with words like: democracy, peace, allies and so on. Bashir probably does not use them. “We will defend our allies in the region”, just few short years ago Iraq was a US ally in war against Iran. WOW.

Fladnag Afghanistan	16/07/2008



The American people never elected Bush. Two elections have been stolen expect a third later this year.

T.Foster Great Britain (UK)	16/07/2008

Arrest Bush?

Thank you Mr.Levine for an excellent article.Ron Paul,the former candidate for the presidency,has been saying much the same thing for a long,long time.Bush and many others have acted unconstitutionally,broken the US laws and should have been arraigned long ago. Bush,Blair,Merkel,the whole bangshoot should be arrested and tried for their crimes.It is truly time that the people took their own destinies into their own hands and make their own decisions.PEOPLE not SHEEPLE!

Joe United States	16/07/2008

A Little Off

Trying to compare President Bush’s war practices and Bashir’s is a little off target. Don’t get me wrong, there were definitely flaws in Bush’s actions, but he is not an absolute power by any means. On the other hand Bashir is the absolute power in his country and he rules by force. I understand your argument, but feel the causal connection you are making can not be supported.

Jake Church United States	16/07/2008

I disagree

While an intersting opinion, I think that you assume that the American people are powerless. In reality, if the actions we were and are making are truely detested by 99.9% of the population, then our congress and senate would not be divided, and would have demanded a couple years ago that we desist the conflict. That is not the case.

Arthur Kettner United States	16/07/2008

America accountability

Bush is out of control as much of the american political system is. The more voices that speak up the more chance we will be able to hold Bush and his cronies responsible for the illegal and aggressive action they have taken. Get a ground swell going and tell your leaders to hold the Bush regime accountable.

wjd138 United States	16/07/2008

First al-Bashir, next Bush?

I think the American citizens have forgotten that they backed the president when he decided to wage war! This being the “USA” under a government made by the people, for the people, cannot make such decisions without the majority. Maybe the “Americans” should blame themselves for their anger and misjudgment instead of pointing the finger towards one person (President Bush)!

Nathan United States	16/07/2008

ICC

Wow, what an objective and informative article! Seriously…you’re a professor? Obviously you’re not a U.S. Constitutional historian or scholar, because in referring to the “constitutionally[sic]-appointed Congress” you apparently forget that the President is also “Constitutionally-appointed” as the “commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.”

Sean United States	16/07/2008

Another sad analogy

Bush is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths? How many did Saddam perpetrate? Give credit where credit is due. These insurgents are smart. They know how to make their deaths look like civilian deaths. How many citizens would be saved if insurgents stopped using residential areas as hideouts? I am not blind to the mistakes Bush has made, but I am not ready to compare him to al-Bashir. To do that is to align yourself with and act as an extremist.

USA citizen United States	16/07/2008

Bush is a Criminal

Bush a war criminal? Yes, of course it is obvious. I am ashamed that a country as great and free as the USA has allowed evil people like Bush to take over our system and our country

Source: Al Jazeera