Sovereignty: Hyperreal at hyperspeed

by

So much sooner than one would have expected, a potentially very real test of Iraq’s “soveriegnty” comes from a lawyer hired by Saddam’s wife.

Ziad al-Khasawneh, one of 20 Jordanian and foreign lawyers appointed by Saddam’s wife, Sajidah, said the United States has no legal basis to keep prisoners, including Saddam, now that it has transferred authority to an interim Iraqi government.

“International law dictates that in such a situation, the occupation authority must release all prisoners of war — including Mr. President Saddam — and let them choose to leave to any country they wish to go to and under the protection of the occupying power and the United Nations,” al-Khasawneh told The Associated Press.

“The United States would violate international law if it handed the president (Saddam) or other prisoners of war over to the interim Iraqi government.”

Saddam was granted prisoner of war status after his capture. Although he is alleged to have committed crimes against his own people, he has not been charged with any offense.

Iraq ||us|| Hard Place

7 thoughts on “Sovereignty: Hyperreal at hyperspeed”

  3. Edward, I wouldn’t worry about Saddam not being charged.
    Where to begin? The U. S. has plenty of grounds for trying Saddam. The Iraqis yet more. And, of course, if we want him to live to a ripe old age, there’s always the ICC.

  6. Ack! Please don’t use the word “hyperreal” so casually — I was all set to explain nonprincipal ultrafilters, Los’ Theorem, transfer, and the utility of infinitesimals in analysis! 😉

Comments are closed.