http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/27/who-knew-what-and-when-about-habibs-torture/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:29:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/27/who-knew-what-and-when-about-habibs-torture/#comment-15823 James O'Neill Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15823 There is a deeper issue here. It is the issue of accountability for the actions and inactions of the previous government. Howard was complicit in the decision to go to war in Iraq when he knew or ought to have known that it was illegal. Ditto Afghanistan. He knew or ought to have known of the war crimes being committed in both of those countries. He and his cabinet ought to be held accountable. And I mean accountable in the Hague where he can put forward the defences we have heard these past five years and be judged on the evidence. A failure to hold the last government accountable will likely lead to a number of undesirable consequences, foremost among them being a belief by the present government that they can carry on in the same way without fear of retribution. There is a deeper issue here. It is the issue of accountability for the actions and inactions of the previous government. Howard was complicit in the decision to go to war in Iraq when he knew or ought to have known that it was illegal. Ditto Afghanistan. He knew or ought to have known of the war crimes being committed in both of those countries. He and his cabinet ought to be held accountable. And I mean accountable in the Hague where he can put forward the defences we have heard these past five years and be judged on the evidence. A failure to hold the last government accountable will likely lead to a number of undesirable consequences, foremost among them being a belief by the present government that they can carry on in the same way without fear of retribution.

]]> http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/05/27/who-knew-what-and-when-about-habibs-torture/#comment-15824 Kevin Charles Herbert Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15824 James O'Neill is right. The coward Howard & his dim witted cronies must be made accountable for this outrage against both Australia & an Australian citizen. Failure to do so will set a precedent for the Federal Government to abuse the political process & the rule of law again. Howard is a gutless, self-serving functionary. I'm embarassed to think that he led the Australian government for a decade...all on the back of the undying support of the equally gutless, self-interested mortgage belt 'new rich'......poor fellows, my country. James O’Neill is right. The coward Howard & his dim witted cronies must be made accountable for this outrage against both Australia & an Australian citizen. Failure to do so will set a precedent for the Federal Government to abuse the political process & the rule of law again. Howard is a gutless, self-serving functionary. I’m embarassed to think that he led the Australian government for a decade…all on the back of the undying support of the equally gutless, self-interested mortgage belt ‘new rich’……poor fellows, my country.

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