Stephen Rapp, are US war crimes legal?
Posted on January 6th, 2014

 Shenali D Waduge

The clich© ‘thick as thieves’ must have been coined with US in mind. Does the US Government and its officials actually believe they have done the world a favour by maiming, killing and making homeless over 20million people since Vietnam? The US Government seems to have a very haughty opinion that the entire world except for America are guilty even if proved innocent and the US thinks it can go bombing people and places to smithereens and get away with it too. Well they can and they have because there is no other country to stand up to challenge them and the UN is ….well just a paid entity doing what its sponsors ask them to do. But is this the way the world is to function. Does it mean that people and nations have to just sit silent and allow not the Americans but a handful of neo-cons to bomb nations into submission, plant their people in the form of UN troops and get their people to act as ‘negotiators’ while another lot plunders the nations installing their people? Can these officials coming to various nations on the pretext of investigating ‘alleged war crimes’ please tell us what the real agenda is about.  Stephen J. Rapp of Iowa is Ambassador-at-Large, heading the Office of Global Criminal Justice in the U.S. Department of State but surely he cannot ignore America’s crimes and it does look rather silly to be pointing fingers when the fingers pointing back are too many to count.

Why have none of US crimes against humanity ever been taken up for investigation?

Who gave US the right to apply indiscriminate bombing outside declared war situations and destroying civilian infrastructure and then claim civilian deaths as ‘collateral damage’?

 Indiscriminate bombings outside war theatres include: Japan (Nagasaki/Hiroshima 1945), China (1945-6), Korea (1950-3), Guatemala (1954, 1960, 1967-69), Indonesia (1958), Cuba (1959-61), Congo (1964), Peru (1965), Laos (1964-70), Vietnam (1961-1973), Cambodia (1969-70), Grenada (1983), Lebanon (1983-4), Libya (1986, 2011), El Salvador (1980s), Nicaragua (1980s), Iran (1987), Panama (1989), Iraq (1991-2001, 2003 ongoing), Kuwait (1991), Somalia (1993), Bosnia (1994-5), Sudan (1998 – ongoing) Afghanistan (1998-ongoing), Pakistan (1998-ongoing drones), Yugoslavia (1999), Bulgaria (1999), Macedonia (1991)

Who gave US the right to use chemical and biological weapons while refusing to sign Conventions against its development and use?

Who gave US the right to not only test but use these chemical and biological weapons WITHOUT informing civilian populations?

  • Biological agents used in the Gulf War were first tested on prisoners in Texas (1995)
  • In 1994 Senator John D. Rockefeller reveals that for at least 50 years the Department of Defense has used hundreds of thousands of military personnel in human experiments and for intentional exposure to dangerous substances.
  • In 1990 More than 1500 six-month old black and Hispanic babies in Los Angeles were given an “experimental” measles vaccine without informing their parents that had never been licensed for use in the United States.
  • CIA Project MK Ultra for Subproject 68 involved mind-altering to test methods to influence and control mind and extract information. The experiments were carried out on Canadians because CIA did not want to risk it on Americans. Victims forgot how to talk, forgot their parents and suffered amnesia.
  • Testing bio-weapon repercussions on the Army by spraying mustard gas and other skin burning, lung-ruining chemicals like Lewisite on soldiers without their knowledge. Lewisite penetrates clothing even rubber and when in contact with skin causes pain, itching, swelling and rash. Inhaling gas causes pain in lungs, sneezing, vomiting and pulmonary edema. Mustard gas is carcinogenic.
  • Warfare simulations carried out on American cities in mid 1950s – CIA released whooping cough virus on Tampa Bay, using boats, the Navy sprayed San Francisco with bacterial pathogens causing pneumonia on citizens, the army release millions of mosquitos in Savannah GA and Avon Park, Florida to spread yellow fever and dengue fever and left Americans suffering from fevers, typhoid, respiratory problems and stillborn children. Thereafter the army disguised as public health workers were charting out the illnesses.
  • Testing atomic bombs effects on humans (Manhattan Project) via plutonium injections. Even uranium injections have been given to unsuspecting patients under the same Project.
  • Agent Orange produced by Dow Chemical was used upon prisoners before being used in Vietnam War. The injecting of, exposure to, dioxidin is beyond monstrous.
  • In 1931 experiments were carried out in Puerto Rico sponsored by the Rockefeller Institute upon Puerto Rican citizens injecting them with cancers. Dr. Cornelius went on to become the head of US Atomic Energy Commission and Vice President of the American Cancer Society!
  • US also exposed Guatemalans to syphilis.

Who gave US the right to carry out capitalist based military interventions since 1945 installing puppet regimes and other such un-democratic campaigns?

The list of nations are many – China (1945-51), South Africa (1960s-1980s), France (1947), Bolivia (1964-75), Marshall Islands (1946-58) Australia (1972-75), Italy (1947-75) Iraq (1993, 2003), Greece (1947-49) Portugal (1974-76) Philippines (1945-53), East Time (1975-99), Korea (1945-53), Ecuador, Albania, Argentina, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, Germany, Angola, Iran, Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Middle East, Seychelles, Haiti, Suriname, Guyana, Chad, Grenada, Vietnam, Cambodia, Libya (1980s and now in 2011), Laos, Fiji, Thailand, Colombia, Chile, Greece – the list never seems to end…

It is not just military interventions, US thinks it can intervene in foreign elections and has even involved itself in rigging the outcome of foreign elections and even engineering sham demonstrations to ward off voters. The example of such has been in Philippines, Italy, Lebanon, Indonesia, Vietnam, Guyana, Japan, Nepal, Laos, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Bolivia, Chile, Portugual, Australia, Jamaica, El Salvador, Panama, Nicargua, Haiti, Bulgaria, Albania, Russia (1996), Mongolia (1996), Bosnia (1998) and even Iran by overthrowing a democratically elected leader Mossadegh.

The world is not challenging the US, so why is the US challenging the world? Why has US without any provocation undermined peace and human initiatives by routinely going on a wave of violence and using unimaginable methods to crush the enemy?

The US easily has the world’s worst record of human rights both visible and those that take place undercover, underground and through covert and over methods. While US enjoys placing Resolutions against other smaller countries it thinks itself pretty smart not to have any Resolution brought against America.

A good look at some of the Resolutions that US has vetoed through their representatives at the UN will reveal another side of the US.

US said

  • No to Aid to underdeveloped nations
  • No to promote developing nation exports
  • No to protecting developing nations in trade agreements
  • No to new international economic order for underdeveloped nations
  • No to right of nations to economic system of their own choice
  • No to cooperative models in developing nations
  • No to world charter to protect ecology
  • No to anti-apartheid convention
  • No to nuclear test ban treaty (several times)
  • No to international law to protect economic rights
  • No to economic assistance to Palestinians
  • No for the Law of the Sea Treaty
  • No for a Zone of Peace in the South Atlantic

Stephen Rapp may also like to take note that the US has repeatedly withheld its dues from the UN, twice left UNESCO, twice left the ILO, refused to renew the Antiballistic Missile Treaty, refused to sign the Kyoto Treaty on global warming, refused to back WHO’s ban on infant formula abuses, refused to sign the anti-biological weapons convention, refused to sign the Convention against the use of land mines, refused to participate in UN Conference against Racism held in Durban, refused to sign the UN Covenant on Economic and Social Rights and the US has also opposed the emerging new UN Covenant on the Rights to Peace and Development and Environmental Protection.

Stephan Rapp may also like to comment on secret renditions, the torture treatment on uncharged inmates at secret US prisons, the piling cases of ‘collateral damage’ as well as the many assassinations the US has carried out on World Leaders. 40 such foreign heads of state in the last 50 years have been killed by the US and Allies – Patrice Lumumba (Congo), Rafael Trujillo (Dominican Republic), Salvador Allende (Chile) to name a few.

When US is speaking of war crimes we hope Stephen Rapp takes into account that US is the world’s largest manufacturer of arms and if arms are being manufactured they need to be sold and to sell there needs to be conflicts and so the entire world is facing conflicts and dictators are being armed, foreign governments are being armed, militaries are being armed, terrorists are being armed, rebels are being armed –is it not a lovely set up for the arms industry.

US is the world’s largest provider of live land mines which kill people even in peace time.

US has over 1000 military bases across the world.

Arab Spring has meant arming different Islamic groups and getting them to kill each other while US descends as school monitor and plunders whatever riches that are embedded in these nations. Now Asia is in the next lens for another series of Springs… and it looks like Sri Lanka is the next target as geographically, politically and tradewise it is a very important choke point as well as crucial entry and exit point.

Spare us the speeches on war crimes and associated allegations for we have had about enough of these prepared speeches. Take a good look at what American instutitionalized policy is doing to nations of the world. Thankfully the American people are beginning to wake up but then the Government has been quick to set up the legal provisions to take action against the American citizens in a country that has to be the example of what a police state is all about – with cameras and NSA scandals wherever Americans go can America deny this allegation?

20 Responses to “Stephen Rapp, are US war crimes legal?”

  1. Marco Says:

    Well done Shenali for the above list and wish you well in the presentation to Stephen J Rapp.
    You should be enlisting the services of Lucien R to make a robust argument for our own short comings closer to home.

    Whilst on the subject of matters closer to home, i suppose it has slipped your mind that this week it’s 5 years since Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated in broad day light to close proximity to the HSZ.

    No, one is not requesting if any culprits have been apprehended (In Sri Lanka? – perish the thought!), merely why after 5 long years the post mortem report on his death has yet to be published?
    Go on Shenali- be brave and let us know by using your journalistic skills (sic) to report on matters closer to home.

  2. Charles Says:

    Strange that nobody in Sri Lanka has organised manifestations against USA. It is high time some one does it. Somewhere in Puttlam there is an exclusive American property into which nobody is allowed. They have hightec machinery to keepin check all communications in Soputh East Asia. What else they have is unknown ? With that and their American Corners in the North and South USA may be able to take over Sri Lanka any time.

  3. aloy Says:

    Marco,
    In the US two boys posted one indecent remarks about President Clinton and it seems within few hours the culprits were traced and punished. Lasantha was slandering the elected president of this country on a daily basis and he was an editor of a news paper. I think he was against the previous president also and must have been working on some peoples agenda. My opinion is that he got what he deserved. There are bigger issues to lament about now unless you too have an agenda to work on.

  4. Marco Says:

    Aloy,
    I’m not familiar with the case of the two US boys. Perhaps you would like to explain if these two US boys were gunned down in broad day light.
    Perhaps, you would like to explain when and where Lasantha was slandering the Presidents (Current and Past). Investigative Journalism draws a thin line into defamatory, slander and/or highlighting issues of national concerns on corruption, misdemeanors etc. If the past and current President felt there was injustice, there is a rule of law to bring such injustices in the Court of Law as opposed to what you are suggesting of what he deserved. (rather surprised you made that remark). What you stated is exactly whats happening in Sri Lanka. Forget the rules of law, gun culture rules and we have superb examples in the past few years yet to be resolved.
    There are no bigger issues to lament upon than the ones we have touched upon. We are being pilloried from pillar to post on Governance, Accountability and the Rule of Law.

    My Agenda- Oh thats a simple one, that every citizen in Sri Lanka wishes and wants. Peace and Civility to all citizens not the superfluous Military take over/coup nonsense we lament and debate about (Should it happen India would be there in our shores before you could say Parrippu!). I will gladly explain and reason why.

    I have no qualms of admitting that i voted twice for Mahinda Rajapakse and would probably vote again. But, i will have no qualms to highlighting and canvasing on issues on that are fundamental in democracy, governance, accountability and the rule of law. I make no secret that i was in Geneva in 2010 and if my work commitments permit will attend in March.

  5. douglas Says:

    Marco: You said “…… not the superfluous Military take over……” You missed one thing and I, with your permission add that too here: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNITARY SINHALA BUDDHIS COUNTRY.

    I picked it (Unitary Sinhala Buddhist Country) up from a proposal made in these columns along with the “Military Take Over.”, that being the second step.

    If you don’t permit it, I withdraw and apologize.

  6. Lorenzo Says:

    My dear Doglas,

    Please answer my 2 simple questions you have been avoiding.

    1. Do you want 13 amendment SCRAPPED TOTALLY? (And NOT replaced with any other)
    2. Do you want the violence, drug dealings, treason, TNA racism ENDED?

    Or you want it in multiple choice questions.

    e.g. question: What is your gender?

    1. Male
    2. Female
    3. Runnil W

  7. aloy Says:

    Marco,
    Your last sentence explains it all: ” I make no secret that I was in Geneva in 2010 and if my work commitments permit will attend in March.”
    We have seen lots of Tamils living in Europe arriving in Geneva to display placard denouncing SL army and raise war crimes. I can understand that it is your agenda too. From what you write here in this website am I to believe that you are an exceptional patriot to travel to Geneva with a view to cheer SL team using your own funds?.
    Stephen Rap is on a “War Crimes” mission; not about HR. You being a patriot decided to put your two cents worth about Lasantha in here to discredit SL ?.
    It is hard to believe that you being a Tamil living in Colombo 7 vote for MR twice. Could you explain why you contemplate voting for him again?.

  8. Nanda Says:

    Can any other patriot give some tips on the important question Charles raised her ?
    CIA hiding ground ? Surely someone in the Gov should have involvement.

  9. Lorenzo Says:

    Absolutely Aloy!

    Just imagine what would have happened if LW was around. He and his Sunday Leader will team up with Callum’s C4 and make HELL. People tend to forget things in 2 weeks and CANNOT simulate things in various scenarios.
    GOOD RIDDANCE!

    Now look at Sunday Leader. A poodle!

    We all know Micro is a pro-LTTE anti-SL. There is NO doubt whatsoever. But we need people like him to SPELL THINGS OUT so we know what the LTTE camp is up to. A LARGE LTTE contingent plans to make the PILGRIMAGE to Geneva this year too for Navi Pee-illey yoniworship. But Winter Olympics aftermath brings lots of people to Switzerland (from Russia). So the hotel rates are UP which will DETER MOST of them.

    Our friend DIDN’T vote for MR. He has lost recollection of things. Even if he did, that is NO LICENCE to discredit SL.

  10. Lorenzo Says:

    Re: what Charles says.

    It is Iranawilla. There is nothing new. Since 1991. Recently some construction machines had gone there for expansion. But nothing known.

    VOA is re-broadcast to Central and South Asia from here. The next is in Thailand.

    Free Asia radio and Radio Liberty also broadcast from here to China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Iran, Burma, etc. to create violence, Arab spring and uprisings in these countries.

    These countries may hate SL for hosting the station.

  11. aloy Says:

    Lorenzo,
    If that is the case why worry about Stephen Rapp. They will not impose sanctions on us even if we lose Geneva. What does it matter even if they impose sanctions?. GOSL can count on us just like during the war days.We (expatriates) will continue to send remittance here. This is the reason investors fall over each other to buy lands here. All lands which used to be car parks have been snapped up by the foreigners and are blocked up. No place even to park a car in Colombo. Today I had a time finding a place to park my car. I had to drive home from Fort area up to Townhall, park my car at home and take a three wheeler. Thank you Defence Secy for your foresight. I saw many others trying very hard to find places to park their vehicles on the stretch From Lake house to St. Josephs College.

  12. Lorenzo Says:

    13 day bride is crying again!

    It has been 5 years since Lasantha died married to his 13 day bride.

    Married – 27 December 2008
    Died – 8 January 2009.

    A marriage made in heaven!

  13. douglas Says:

    Lorenzo: My YES or No to those questions do not matter to Sri Lanka and the Nation.

    But I have some interesting information as regards your TWO PROPOSALS (1) A MILITARY TAKE OVER and (2) SRI LANKA TO BE A UNITARY SINHALA BUDDHIST COUNTRY. These need to be addressed URGENTLY than answering your petty questions.

    It is now learned that the “Authorities” in Sri Lanka are aware of the above two propositions coined up by the LTTE Diaspora and how the discussions are underway with the “Research Staff” attached to various “Law Enforcement” units of Governments hostile to us. In fact, some “Specialists” of the Diaspora are presently making detailed analysis of the Sri Lanka Defense Budget of 2014 and the relevant speeches made by the Opposition during the debate of those votes in Parliament. This tiny clue was available when your PROPOSALS were referred to some of our local “Research Personnel”.

    As I correctly guessed, this is another “BIG SECRETIVE AGENDA” lined up by the LTTE Diaspora to win the hearts and minds of the countries against our country. If I remember correct, in one of your comments, you said:”AT LEAST MR SHOULD PLAN A MILITARY TAKE OVER”. This was in December 2013. Then suddenly you said again in January 2014: “WE WANT TO KEEP SL AS A UNITARY SINHALA BUDDHIST COUNTRY”.

    All of these “COOKING ACCOUNTS” (well and truly involving MR.GR & BBS) are done in preparation for the sessions in Geneva in March this year. This is the newest and the latest “GILLMART” that is hatched in the international arena by the LTTE Diaspora to put the noose on our “War Heroes”.

    So we now know your VIP status in this Diaspora. Although I took a cynical approach to your above proposal and rated you to be just out of our Angoda Hospital, this whole matter looks much more serious and needs the attention of all true patriots and not the “PSEUDO ONES”. We will watch for more details in the days to come.

    Over to you Lorenzo.

  14. Lorenzo Says:

    Doglas,

    You don’t matter to SL but your PRO-LTTE and pro-RUNNIL opinions should not confuse the commentators.

    So do the right thing. Just answer the 2 simple questions.

  15. douglas Says:

    Lorenzo: I forgot to tell your “Marketing” strategy for the LTTE Diaspora:

    1. SYSTEM CHANGE

    2. MILITARY TAKE OVER

    3. TO KEEP SRI LANKA AS A UNITARY SINHALA BUDDHIST COUNTRY.

    Please don’t try to RUN AWAY. You are well truly cornered in Nandikada . Our War Heroes will catch you.

  16. Nanda Says:

    Doug,
    As fro a I am aware, there was a marketing strategy but not the 3 you mentioned.
    It was,
    1. Attack Christians
    2. Attack Muslims
    3. The current action being taken ( war crimes nonsense)
    4. Catch legal power ( did not work)
    3. Buy over land and business and more.

    What is “SYSTEM CHANGE” ?

  17. Lorenzo Says:

    Doglas,

    LOL!

    Wasn’t there a jester in every king’s court!! If I become king I appoint you as the Chief National Clown. We can all laugh the problems away.

    So the LTTE Diaspora want

    1. SYSTEM CHANGE (why should TEs change this corrupt, drug system? They LOVE it!!)

    2. MILITARY TAKE OVER (by what they call a genocidal army?)

    3. TO KEEP SRI LANKA AS A UNITARY SINHALA BUDDHIST COUNTRY. (why on earth should the LTTE Diaspora want to keep SL as such!! I thought they want to turn SL into a SECULAR, PART TAMIL, FEDERAL country?)

    Are you on marijuana Doglas which is now legal in some US states (may be soon in SL too)?

    Anyway you are again running away from 2 SIMPLE questions.

    (BTW what is Nandikada? I can send you to a place called Nanthikadal where your beloved Thalaivar had his brain and digestive system probed by expert medical officers for lets say DNA testing.)

  18. Marco Says:

    Aloy
    many thanks for your response. regrettably due to work commitments after the festive break and tax self assessment deadlines my leisure time has been rather limited.

    I noticed that you have focused on my last paragraph as opposed to my response to your original comment.
    I assume you wish not rebut my concerns on the subject matter.

    Be that as it may, it is rather presumptuous of you to accuse me of being one of the “tamil” war crimes cheer leaders in Geneva. Regrettably, if your mindset is such that- so be it. I have no wish to dissuade of that except to say my ultimate (employer) holding company is based via a Trust in Geneva.

    I admit i belong to and support a well known and creditable INGO that has carried out incredible amount of work since 2001.

    re- Lasantha -who and how has discredited Sri Lanka? To coin a phrase its “ongoing” and “ongoing” and “ongoing”

    Finally, I come from a Tamil/English and Sinhala parentage, you appear to have conveniently chosen to ignore my Sinhala roots. Regards to my political affiliations, its my choice, however i’m happy to confirm that MR is the best choice amongst the worst but he needs to act as a Statesman in the best interest of the country.

    I like to add more but simply not the time perhaps at a later date

    Good day

  19. Lorenzo Says:

    Parentage has NOTHING to do with a person.

    There are many Sinhalese who are WORSE than Tamils in discrediting SL.

    OTOH there are VERY FEW Tamils who love SL more than MOST Sinhalese. Yours truely is one example.

  20. aloy Says:

    Marco,
    Thanks for your reply. I wonder whether you recollect that I wanted to meet you since we live nearby to each other. However that was ignored. Why I made the request was that you appeared to be working on some important projects in SL and I too am interested in doing what ever I can for this country, perhaps byway of changing the mind set of the rulers who appear to have got caught in the globalization bug.
    What is the name of your INGO?. They usually work against the Sinhalas, and have an agenda to make this a non Buddhist country.

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