It IS a war crime. Unlike the word "genocide" there's no ambiguity whatever in what the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Convention define as a war crime. I would say prosecutors already have a terrific case against the whole lot of them.
Good buddy Bibi wanted it, and look at the other big beneficiary, Putin, who is now making billions a day on his unsanctioned oil.
I know mine is usually a minority opinion, but I don't think Trump feels any fear about the Epstein Files, just some annoyance. He's been too rich and too powerful all his life to fear the testimony of a then-young victim, especially one who he already paid/scared off.
Neither the US nor Israel are signatories to the ICC. The US reaction to the ICC indictment of Netanyahu for war crimes was to sanction the judges. Biden called the ruling “ridiculous” and the indicted war criminal has been given a bipartisan welcome in the US several times since then. The man that would have been arrested even setting foot in countries around the world came here to address Congress (Netanyahu has addressed Congress more than any other foreign leader in US history).
Genocide does have a clear definition given by the Rome Statue of the ICC - which again is not recognized by the US or Israel.
Virtually every relevant human rights org, including several you list below in another comment, affirmed Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, along with the UN, several Israeli organizations, and scholars of genocide around the world, as well as political leaders in the US and across the globe. The legal genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel is still pending in the ICJ.
It’s interesting that Rubin uses the term here (correctly, imo) while she has never used it to describe Israel’s genocide in Gaza, even though that case is very clear. Even her frequent guest, Jeremy Ben-Ami of J Street, admitted that “I have … been persuaded rationally by legal and scholarly arguments that international courts will one day find that Israel has broken the international genocide convention".
These events are of course related. The US and Israel suffered no consequences whatsoever for the actions in Gaza. When the perpetrators of that massive abomination got away with it scot-free (which of course has not ended), that opened the door for more catastrophe.
We may not be signatories to the ICC, but we are to the Geneva Conventions. And war crimes are very clearly delineated there -- and have been -- for decades.
The US and Israel have never given a f**k about the Geneva Conventions either. There are UN proceeding and human rights group cases regarding both Israel and the US's violations of the Geneva Conventions going back decades.
Both countries hold the UN in the same complete disdain of course. The US has vetoed several dozen resolutions against Israel over the past 50+ years.
After re-reading this piece it is really something else that practically every word Rubin says here, while correct in this context, could be easily applied to Israel's genocide in Gaza (along with its constant assaults on the West Bank and other countries, primarily Lebanon and now Iran).
But Rubin did not say any of these things regarding that ongoing atrocity, which clearly paved the way for this escalation of aggression by the US/Israel alliance.
When she writes:
"Those with influence — from the military to members of Congress to the media to Trump Cabinet members — need to understand there will be a day of reckoning. When moral, if not legal accountability, is meted out, they will have to answer the questions so many enablers of fascist regimes have confronted:
How could you do nothing?"
This can be 100% applied to Gaza. The US Congress, to the media, to Cabinet members under both Trump and Biden... not only 'did nothing' they were active participants and remain so to this day, with bipartisan approval (luckily , this is finally shifting).
That statement could also be applied to Rubin herself, whose criticism of the slaughter in Gaza was a best tepid and conditioned, at worst nonexistent.
Rubin writes:
"..indiscriminate bombardment or threatened bombardment of civilians to obtain military advantage almost certainly meets the definition of terrorism under the Geneva Conventions Additional Protocol I Art. 51(2), which reads: “Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited,” and the DOD Law of War Manual, § 5.2.2: “Measures of intimidation or terrorism against the civilian population are prohibited, including acts or threats of violence, the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population.”
This again applies 100% to Gaza and the US/Israel's reign of terror on that region, which killed possibly 100,000 Palestinians when all are counted, and counting more every single day despite the 'ceasefire' But Rubin has never said anything close to this regarding that abomination.
"Trump’s threatened conduct is indistinguishable from the war crimes (e.g., obliterating a country, striking civilian power plants) for which we have robustly condemned Russia in its aggressive war against Ukraine."
Yes, many have....and many of those same people have clearly and glaringly NOT said the same about the genocide in Gaza, or worse, actively supported that catastrophe.
'Conducting such operations that go well beyond legitimate military targets... would dwarf any past international law violations from prior wars, such as IRAQ or Vietnam"
Again, wild to hear Rubin, a massive fan and supporter of the Iraq War, who has never once accounted for her support, say this.
It just goes on like this.
It's great that Rubin is vocally against this war...it's too bad she didn't have the same passion about Gaza, or Iraq... maybe if more people had been, the BFF alliance wouldn't have seen a green light for more carnage.
Our government has been hijacked by the MAGApublican Party. Obedience comes first. Even when congress (no caps intentional) was in session, they did nothing to stop the maniac from poking sticks into a hornet's nest (Iran). Trump should be committed.
Anyone in government who is in a position to stop this insanity and doesn't try--is complicit and an accessory after the fact. Abdication of one's due responsibility is also a crime.
All these columns being published today, from Jen, Paul Krugman, Tim Snyder, Garrett Graff, The Bulwark team, etc. fill me a profound sense of sadness and loss. I'm far past anger. It's more like mourning.
I agree that all of the posts today are frightening and maddening. Marc Elias, today, reminded us again of all that the courts and his firm are doing to hold the line/push back; and he reminds us not to be overwhelmed or give up. I admit that sometimes I feel defeated, that we are already doomed; but he says, to me persuasively, that that's just what DJT and his followers want! So I won't give it to them!
Make your voice heard NOW. In less than 5 minutes you can let your Senators and Representative hear you will not stand for US involvement in war crimes. It is easy - http://www.5calls.org
A couple of hundred (give or take a few) current and former staff at human rights groups (Refugees International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam International, Amnesty International and others) today signed onto an open letter to the Speaker of the House and Minority Leader, the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, and the Secretary of State, with cc's to numerous Congressional offices and national security organizations reminding “those engaged in military operations of their obligation to refuse to any unlawful order” with respect to war crimes, such as the threatened bombing of civilian infrastructure.
We also committed ourselves to supporting legal accountability “for anyone who orders, carries out or is otherwise complicit in these abhorrent threats by President Trump.” We know this isn't going to stop Trump, but it does warn those underneath him (whom he will invariably ignore and "forget" to pardon) when they face war crimes trials later on.
Yet they are all out of town on break. Tell them to get their rear ends in gear and DO SOMETHING. Let them know! Our voices matter -- a lot. You can tell this by how hard the administration is working to silence our voices.
Our voices matter. When we all take action, these folks listen. Call now. Don't scream. Express horror, urgency, demand they get to DC and stop this maniac.
Due to the awful SCOTUS, Trump may be immune from his illegal acts in the US, but not immune from the International Criminal Court. Let them put out a warrant for his arrest … with a bounty.
I said during his first term that if anyone would drag the world into Armageddon, it would be Trump. And here we are, on what feels very much like the brink of a world war never imagined. I surely hope and pray Trump backs down or is removed from office, preferably the latter. Meanwhile, the vice president who would replace him is preoccupied campaigning for the dictator in Hungary. These traitors have got to go!
Could someone file for an injunction, which might help to eliminate any “grey area” about whether an order is lawful? The Senators’ video seems eerily prescient now.
This is the time for members of the military to heed what was said in that video. Inquiries at a conscientious objector non-profit are up 1000 percent.
When the Members of Congress were children, their parents taught them the codes of American life. That’s why they ran for Office -to uphold the values of the Whole of US. How can they remember their parents while sitting silently in the face of the actions of the present Office Holder in Chief? I feel their parents would be enraged by their cowardice.
No one will stop this but Americans. They should be in the streets right now in massive numbers, shouting "Hell, No!" Congress has shown itself to be useless and cowardly. I hold out hope that members of the military will understand their duty and refuse illegal orders. But whatever happens, Trump must be removed from office - now.
From Jess Craven's newsletter: Let’s call Senate Majority Leader John Thune at (202) 224-2321 or (605) 225-8823 or (605) 334-9596 AND House Speaker Mike Johnson at (202) 225-4000 or (318) 840-0309 or (337) 423-4232 and say:
Hi, I’m calling the Majority Leader / Speaker to demand that they get back to DC immediately and reconvene Congress. Donald Trump is committing war crimes and threatening the genocide of the Iranian people and Congress is nowhere to be found. It’s insanity. Get back to DC and do something. Preferably impeachment. He’s a dangerous lunatic; he cannot remain in power. Thanks.
Timothy Snyder has just called it genocide, too. Thank you Jen for the integrity of your truthful tireless efforts.
It IS a war crime. Unlike the word "genocide" there's no ambiguity whatever in what the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Convention define as a war crime. I would say prosecutors already have a terrific case against the whole lot of them.
We can only hope that at some point, based even on the constant threats, that this group will be called up before an international court!
Genocide is not the solution to having started an illegal and unnecessary war.
Was this all to avoid releasing the Epstein files?
The 34xfelon is totally bonkers. And his sycophants need to go too.
Good buddy Bibi wanted it, and look at the other big beneficiary, Putin, who is now making billions a day on his unsanctioned oil.
I know mine is usually a minority opinion, but I don't think Trump feels any fear about the Epstein Files, just some annoyance. He's been too rich and too powerful all his life to fear the testimony of a then-young victim, especially one who he already paid/scared off.
Lock them up! Lock them up!
Neither the US nor Israel are signatories to the ICC. The US reaction to the ICC indictment of Netanyahu for war crimes was to sanction the judges. Biden called the ruling “ridiculous” and the indicted war criminal has been given a bipartisan welcome in the US several times since then. The man that would have been arrested even setting foot in countries around the world came here to address Congress (Netanyahu has addressed Congress more than any other foreign leader in US history).
Genocide does have a clear definition given by the Rome Statue of the ICC - which again is not recognized by the US or Israel.
Virtually every relevant human rights org, including several you list below in another comment, affirmed Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, along with the UN, several Israeli organizations, and scholars of genocide around the world, as well as political leaders in the US and across the globe. The legal genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel is still pending in the ICJ.
It’s interesting that Rubin uses the term here (correctly, imo) while she has never used it to describe Israel’s genocide in Gaza, even though that case is very clear. Even her frequent guest, Jeremy Ben-Ami of J Street, admitted that “I have … been persuaded rationally by legal and scholarly arguments that international courts will one day find that Israel has broken the international genocide convention".
These events are of course related. The US and Israel suffered no consequences whatsoever for the actions in Gaza. When the perpetrators of that massive abomination got away with it scot-free (which of course has not ended), that opened the door for more catastrophe.
We may not be signatories to the ICC, but we are to the Geneva Conventions. And war crimes are very clearly delineated there -- and have been -- for decades.
The US and Israel have never given a f**k about the Geneva Conventions either. There are UN proceeding and human rights group cases regarding both Israel and the US's violations of the Geneva Conventions going back decades.
Both countries hold the UN in the same complete disdain of course. The US has vetoed several dozen resolutions against Israel over the past 50+ years.
How can one not think of Napoleon III riding off - in a carriage because his piles prevented him sitting a horse - to teach the Kaiser a leçon
We have long wished to put Trump up on one of our savvy Canadian Horses, for they, too, would prevent him sitting a horse.
After re-reading this piece it is really something else that practically every word Rubin says here, while correct in this context, could be easily applied to Israel's genocide in Gaza (along with its constant assaults on the West Bank and other countries, primarily Lebanon and now Iran).
But Rubin did not say any of these things regarding that ongoing atrocity, which clearly paved the way for this escalation of aggression by the US/Israel alliance.
When she writes:
"Those with influence — from the military to members of Congress to the media to Trump Cabinet members — need to understand there will be a day of reckoning. When moral, if not legal accountability, is meted out, they will have to answer the questions so many enablers of fascist regimes have confronted:
How could you do nothing?"
This can be 100% applied to Gaza. The US Congress, to the media, to Cabinet members under both Trump and Biden... not only 'did nothing' they were active participants and remain so to this day, with bipartisan approval (luckily , this is finally shifting).
That statement could also be applied to Rubin herself, whose criticism of the slaughter in Gaza was a best tepid and conditioned, at worst nonexistent.
Rubin writes:
"..indiscriminate bombardment or threatened bombardment of civilians to obtain military advantage almost certainly meets the definition of terrorism under the Geneva Conventions Additional Protocol I Art. 51(2), which reads: “Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited,” and the DOD Law of War Manual, § 5.2.2: “Measures of intimidation or terrorism against the civilian population are prohibited, including acts or threats of violence, the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population.”
This again applies 100% to Gaza and the US/Israel's reign of terror on that region, which killed possibly 100,000 Palestinians when all are counted, and counting more every single day despite the 'ceasefire' But Rubin has never said anything close to this regarding that abomination.
"Trump’s threatened conduct is indistinguishable from the war crimes (e.g., obliterating a country, striking civilian power plants) for which we have robustly condemned Russia in its aggressive war against Ukraine."
Yes, many have....and many of those same people have clearly and glaringly NOT said the same about the genocide in Gaza, or worse, actively supported that catastrophe.
'Conducting such operations that go well beyond legitimate military targets... would dwarf any past international law violations from prior wars, such as IRAQ or Vietnam"
Again, wild to hear Rubin, a massive fan and supporter of the Iraq War, who has never once accounted for her support, say this.
It just goes on like this.
It's great that Rubin is vocally against this war...it's too bad she didn't have the same passion about Gaza, or Iraq... maybe if more people had been, the BFF alliance wouldn't have seen a green light for more carnage.
The civilization that he is destroying is the USA. All that made this nation great is being destroyed and the ideals left in the dust.
...which is why putin wanted him elected.
Is it time to pick a color for our revolution? I humbly propose Pantone 294
Where is our government? Has Trump deliberately picked a time when Congress is not in session?
they do nothing when they are in session - HE DOES NOT CARE!
Congress could get its fannies back to D.C. Johnson and Thune choose not to call them into session.
Thank you! There is a report that House Democrats are coming back. Let’s see the Democrats in the Senate, as well. Let them call out Republicans.
Johnson is always ALL IN with Trump. His legacy is tarnished beyond measure. History will not treat him kindly, but meanwhile, here we are.
Our government has been hijacked by the MAGApublican Party. Obedience comes first. Even when congress (no caps intentional) was in session, they did nothing to stop the maniac from poking sticks into a hornet's nest (Iran). Trump should be committed.
I would agree with that.
Think Chung Hee Park.
When are they ACTUALLY present in session?
Scheduled return is April 13.
Even then they will not be fully present to what is happening in America.
Will the military follow illegal orders? Will someone be brave enough to arrest this crazed man?
Please, God, make it happen!!!!
I hope the military act according to the constitution.
One can hope, but the fact that they have gone along with illegal attacks on boats in the Caribbean makes me worry
There was no good reason given for the attack on Iran either, yet the attacks continue.
I'm worried too.
This is much bigger.
I'm visiting family in New Zealand and hope to return to the States next week with a bit more sanity in DC.
Anyone in government who is in a position to stop this insanity and doesn't try--is complicit and an accessory after the fact. Abdication of one's due responsibility is also a crime.
That would be all of the Republicans.
All these columns being published today, from Jen, Paul Krugman, Tim Snyder, Garrett Graff, The Bulwark team, etc. fill me a profound sense of sadness and loss. I'm far past anger. It's more like mourning.
I agree that all of the posts today are frightening and maddening. Marc Elias, today, reminded us again of all that the courts and his firm are doing to hold the line/push back; and he reminds us not to be overwhelmed or give up. I admit that sometimes I feel defeated, that we are already doomed; but he says, to me persuasively, that that's just what DJT and his followers want! So I won't give it to them!
I'm definitely not giving in. It's just that usually I am angry about what I see Trump and his flying monkeys doing but this is just sad.
Make your voice heard NOW. In less than 5 minutes you can let your Senators and Representative hear you will not stand for US involvement in war crimes. It is easy - http://www.5calls.org
A couple of hundred (give or take a few) current and former staff at human rights groups (Refugees International, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam International, Amnesty International and others) today signed onto an open letter to the Speaker of the House and Minority Leader, the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, and the Secretary of State, with cc's to numerous Congressional offices and national security organizations reminding “those engaged in military operations of their obligation to refuse to any unlawful order” with respect to war crimes, such as the threatened bombing of civilian infrastructure.
We also committed ourselves to supporting legal accountability “for anyone who orders, carries out or is otherwise complicit in these abhorrent threats by President Trump.” We know this isn't going to stop Trump, but it does warn those underneath him (whom he will invariably ignore and "forget" to pardon) when they face war crimes trials later on.
my senator's and representative is against the mafia don but it is not enough ......
Yet they are all out of town on break. Tell them to get their rear ends in gear and DO SOMETHING. Let them know! Our voices matter -- a lot. You can tell this by how hard the administration is working to silence our voices.
Scream at the 19 year old-old interns answering their phones. They will get the message. Though who knows to what effect.
Our voices matter. When we all take action, these folks listen. Call now. Don't scream. Express horror, urgency, demand they get to DC and stop this maniac.
what do the esteemed trumpian supreme court judges call this insanity? they are directly responsible for him to act with impunity
Due to the awful SCOTUS, Trump may be immune from his illegal acts in the US, but not immune from the International Criminal Court. Let them put out a warrant for his arrest … with a bounty.
NOW!
I said during his first term that if anyone would drag the world into Armageddon, it would be Trump. And here we are, on what feels very much like the brink of a world war never imagined. I surely hope and pray Trump backs down or is removed from office, preferably the latter. Meanwhile, the vice president who would replace him is preoccupied campaigning for the dictator in Hungary. These traitors have got to go!
And what should/can we do now as individuals to prevent this insanity? Like a cornered rat, Trump is well on his way to taking us all down.
Could someone file for an injunction, which might help to eliminate any “grey area” about whether an order is lawful? The Senators’ video seems eerily prescient now.
This is the time for members of the military to heed what was said in that video. Inquiries at a conscientious objector non-profit are up 1000 percent.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/conscientious-objector-nonprofit-sees-1000-increase-in-calls-since-start-of-iran-conflict/ar-AA1ZEWnJ
Iranian terrorist cells should just do their jobs. I can't believe I'm saying this against an American, but this man is out of control.
When the Members of Congress were children, their parents taught them the codes of American life. That’s why they ran for Office -to uphold the values of the Whole of US. How can they remember their parents while sitting silently in the face of the actions of the present Office Holder in Chief? I feel their parents would be enraged by their cowardice.
I sent a messsge to our Republican Senator Daines telling him briefly what you just pointed out. I doubt he cares.
No one will stop this but Americans. They should be in the streets right now in massive numbers, shouting "Hell, No!" Congress has shown itself to be useless and cowardly. I hold out hope that members of the military will understand their duty and refuse illegal orders. But whatever happens, Trump must be removed from office - now.
From Jess Craven's newsletter: Let’s call Senate Majority Leader John Thune at (202) 224-2321 or (605) 225-8823 or (605) 334-9596 AND House Speaker Mike Johnson at (202) 225-4000 or (318) 840-0309 or (337) 423-4232 and say:
Hi, I’m calling the Majority Leader / Speaker to demand that they get back to DC immediately and reconvene Congress. Donald Trump is committing war crimes and threatening the genocide of the Iranian people and Congress is nowhere to be found. It’s insanity. Get back to DC and do something. Preferably impeachment. He’s a dangerous lunatic; he cannot remain in power. Thanks.