Under international law, the Canadian government must arrest George W. Bush

© AP



Grave abuses took place at Guantánamo Bay and in secret CIA detention

© US DoD


12 October 2011

Amnesty International today urged Canadian authorities to arrest and either prosecute or extradite former US President George W. Bush for his role in torture, ahead of his expected visit to Canada on 20 October.

“Canada is required by its international obligations to arrest and prosecute former President Bush given his responsibility for crimes under international law including torture,” said Susan Lee, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

“As the US authorities have, so far, failed to bring former President Bush to justice, the international community must step in. A failure by Canada to take action during his visit would violate the UN Convention against Torture and demonstrate contempt for fundamental human rights.”

Amnesty International submitted a memorandum to the Canadian authorities on 21 September 2011 that makes a substantial case for the former president’s legal responsibility for a series of human rights violations.

The violations took place during the CIA's secret detention programme between 2002 and 2009 – and include torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading-treatment and enforced disappearances.

While President, George W. Bush authorized the use of a number of “enhanced interrogation techniques” against detainees held in the secret CIA program.

The former President later specifically admitted to authorizing the “waterboarding” of several individuals whose subjection to this torture technique has been confirmed.

Detainees were subjected to waterboarding and a range of other “enhanced interrogation techniques” – including being forced to stay for hours in painful positions and sleep deprivation – during the CIA’s secret detention program, set up under then-President Bush’s authorization.

The CIA Inspector General found that Zayn al Abidin Muhammed Husayn (known as Abu Zubaydah) and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed were subjected, between them, to at least 266 applications of waterboarding while in detention between 2002 and 2003.

Amnesty International’s submission also highlights further evidence of torture and other crimes under international law committed against detainees held under US military custody in Guantánamo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

“This is a crucial moment for Canada to demonstrate it is prepared to live up to its commitments and obligations with respect to human rights,” said Susan Lee.

“Canada has been a leader in efforts to strengthen the international justice system and must now demonstrate that when it comes to accountability for human rights violations, no one and no country is above international law.”

This is vary true G. Bush is the worlds largest racist Coward and I Don't that any part of the Canadian White government will do anything about this Especially when both the US and Canada are Two of the largest countries that are founded on terrorism but yet feel that they are allowed to invade other countries and tell them how to live!!!

Our Salvation Army could kick Canada's a$$ so good luck with that.

Not going to happen...George Bush will never be released into the Canadian custody....I agree good luck with that....good luck to the international law makers to get the United States to comply with any demands made by them....they have no authority in reality

Besides,he has Immunity under International Law!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2011/02/bush_not_at_risk_of_arrest_in.html




Under "INTERNATIONAL INDICTMENT RULES", an arrest warrant for Bush can ONLY be issued if there is "DANGER".... Belief, provable, that the individual/people in question could/would repeat the crime (s).......

There are three (3) circumstances under International Law of which 1 or more "must" be present....
1. DANGER that the crime could/would be repeated...
2. DANGER the person/people in question could/would become fugitives (s)...
3. DANGER The person/people would/could destroy or tamper with evidence...

You think Bush is not aware of this...he just doesn't want to get tangles up in the muck...especially just to give a speech in another country..the man is retired for Gods sake....

CONSTITUTIONALLY, Bush cannot hold office again......whats the problem?


Immunity from prosecution is a doctrine of international law that allows an accused to avoid prosecution for criminal offences. Immunities are of two types. The first is functional immunity, or immunity ratione materiae. This is an immunity granted to people who perform certain functions of state. The second is personal immunity, or immunity ratione personae. This is an immunity granted to certain officials because of the office they hold, rather than in relation to the act they have committed.

This type of immunity arises from customary international law and treaty law and confers immunities on those performing acts of state (usually a foreign official). Any person who in performing an act of state commits a criminal offence is immune from prosecution. This is so even after the person ceases to perform acts of state. Thus it is a type of immunity limited in the acts to which it attaches (acts of state) but will only end if the state itself ceases to exist. This type of immunity is based on respect for sovereign equality and state dignity.

The offices usually recognised as attracting this immunity are Head of State or Head of Government, senior cabinet members, Foreign Minister, and Minister for Defence: see the Arrest Warrant Case, Pinochet Case (R v Bow Street Magistrates; ex parte Pinochet Ugarte (No 3) 1 AC 147, House of Lords). Such officers are immune from prosecution for everything they do during their time in office. For example, an English court held that a warrant could not be issued for the arrest of Robert Mugabe on charges of international crimes on the basis that he was a presently serving Head of State at the time the proceedings were brought: Mugabe, reported at (2004) 53 ICLQ 789. Other examples are the attempts to prosecute Fidel Castro in Spain and Jiang Zemin in the USA.

OOps looks like they can't touch him even under international Law.

The US has not ceased to be the US. Under this treaty he cannot be touched unless the US ceases to exist. Period.Just time for a little reminder!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunity_from_prosecution_%28international_law%29

We all know it will never happen, but it does a body good to see the worlds people reminded that evil does exist, even if is does often go unchecked.

Cheney, and the Bush cabinet, are the ones who should be tried! Bush was too stupid to be anything but a puppet/follower

Not to mention the US pays 22% of the UN's funding. I mean if we decided to not be a part of it any more I don't think they would have the funding to meet much less prosecute our people lol. In fact the UN meets in the US. Where would they even organize. XD