Occupying force! Liberation force! Occupying force! Liberation force! Occupying force! Liberation...

[khaosworks]

Annan Labels Coalition 'Occupying Force'
By JONATHAN FOWLER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

GENEVA -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called Thursday on the U.S.-led coalition to respect international law as the "occupying power" in Iraq, drawing immediate ire from U.S. officials.

"I hope the coalition will set an example by making clear that they intend to act strictly within the rules" governing occupations, Annan told the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

The United States responded that it had not been established whether the coalition that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime was an occupying power under international law but that coalition forces were nevertheless abiding by international conventions.

"We've not only made that clear by our words - we've made it clear from day one of this conflict through our actions," U.S. envoy Kevin Moley told reporters. "We find it - at best - odd that the secretary-general chose to bring this to our attention."

Annan cited the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1907 Hague Convention, accords that set down the responsibilities of occupiers - ranging from maintaining public order to collecting taxes.

"We're simply saying that the issue of an occupying power has not yet been dealt with," Moley said.

"We'll come to that and we'll presumably come to that quickly," he said, adding that in the meantime, the coalition was conforming with international accords.

Last week, Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, deputy operations director at U.S. Central Command, said the United States did not currently consider itself an occupying power in Iraq. Rather, he said the coalition was a "liberating force" - a category that does not exist in the Geneva or Hague conventions.

Yes, it's a "liberating force". And it's not propaganda mouthpieces, but "embedded media". It's not civilian casualties, but "collateral damage". It's not can't-aim-for-shit-bastards, it's "friendly fire."

Moley also said he was angered that Annan cited "the decision to go to war without specific authorization by the UN Security Council."

"This is an egregious misstatement of the facts of our going to war in Iraq," the U.S. envoy said.

Um, okay. You made the decision to go to war. Check. You did not have specific authorization by the UN Security Council. Check. How is that a misstatement, Kevin?

Comments

[pickledginger.livejournal.com]

Well, I do believe he was telling the truth when he said he was angry that Annan mentioned it ... so that's one.

Yeah, "liberating" force. Liberating 'em to death.

"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose,
nothing, that's just what Georgie left me ..."