US: international law as a hindrance to resolving world problems
Regional-USA, Politics, 5/9/2003

The US, in line with previous practice, continues to clearly indicate that international law is a hindrance to solving world problems, and that back door politics are a better way than straight and open talk.

These terms are seen by some as little more than tacit approval for the status quo, and the US lack of will and inability to confront and solve the major problems facing the world, as they conflict with US interests and the constraints the US faces due to its internal politics that hold it a prisoner to special and short sighted interests in foreign relations that the US seems incapable of extricate itself from, even if it wanted to.

Asked about the continuation of murders and assassinations by Israel of Palestinians, the US Department Of State spokesman, Richard Boucher, yesterday was unable to say that Israel is in violation of international law. He said "Our view is that whatever one may want to argue about international law, they make it more difficult to achieve peace," the following is the question and answer session:

QUESTION: Does the State Department have a position on whether the targeted killings violate international law?

BOUCHER: We have never expressed it in those terms. That's all I can say.

QUESTION: So you don't have an opinion on it?

BOUCHER: Again, we have never expressed it in those terms. Our view is that whatever one may want to argue about international law, they make it more difficult to achieve peace, they needlessly endanger and sometimes harm civilians, and don't contribute to the kind of progress that we want to see, that Israel wants to see, and the Palestinians want to see towards the creation of two states that can live side by side in peace.

QUESTION: With respect to these targeted killings, if the particular actual missile attack on this vehicle was to a Hamas activist, you have Hamas and Hezbollah and other groups under FTO, what would you propose that they do just short of this missile attack?

BOUCHER: I think we have said before that it is important that Israel has a right to defend itself and needs to be able to do that and in an effective manner, but that Israel needs to consider how it carries out its self-defense to make sure that it doesn't detract from the other goals that Israel wants, that we want, and that others want as well.

Previous Stories:
  The UN is a fundamentally flawed institution   (4/26/2003)
  The US against France; a defining moment for world politics or a wasted opportunity   (2/24/2003)
  International Red Cross: Geneva Conventions breached by Israeli transfer of Palestinians   (5/24/2002)
  Amnesty International: reprisals against persons and property are prohibited by 4th Geneva Convention   (5/11/2002)
  US continues obstruction of effective international law; multinational force concept made meaningless   (4/19/2002)
  US continues to block effective use of international law to expell Israel from Palestinian areas   (4/12/2002)
  Israeli settlements are a violation to fourth Geneva agreements, Swiss ambassador says   (12/19/2001)
  US congress opposes Geneva conference   (7/14/1999)
  Israel intensifies efforts to prevent convening of Geneva conference   (7/12/1999)
  UN committee calls on Israel to implement Geneva Convention on Palestinians   (6/15/1999)

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