studiolegaleinternazionale

Diary

INTERVIEW WITH Correio Braziliense: 1 February 2010:; 1-- First of all, why did you decide to ask an inquiry opening against Tony Blair? In what ways do you believe he is guilty for carrying the Iraq invasion? REPLY: It was important that an enquiry of some sort had to be held and since 2007 I have pressed the government but more so since an affidavit from Taha Yassin Ramadan came to light proving that all the ex Iraqi regime were interrogated in an unlawful manner and some tortured. That is what started things off then of course I took the decision to indict Tony Blair for ofences contrary to the Geneva Convention Act and I will ask for his arrest shortly. The Attorney General is reviewing my filed criminal charges. I attach a copy of the indictment and case summary.; 2-- Tony Blair defended the decision of going to war, According to him, he and Bush new Saddam was a risk and that the calculus of risk changed after September 11. How do you see the fact Blair justified the invasion citing September 11 attacks? REPLY: Blair is a good actor and good at mendacity. There is and can be NO justification for attacking Iraq. 27 lawyers at the Foreign Office said attacking Iraq was illegal. Lord Goldsmith said it was illegal then changed his mind. I have had his advice for a long time and I never released it in the hope he would be truthful, he has chosen not do as Blair has chosen to adopt mendacity as the norm.; 3-- According to him, there was no way of leading with Saddam by diplomatically ways. At the same time, told he would not have acted against Iraq if he thought Saddam's government had not weapons of mass destruction. Blair told the fear of repressive states linking up with terrorist groups justifies action against Iraq. What is your opinion about that? REPLY: I was in Iraq in 1998 and knew Saddam Hussein personally before the illegal attack. I never even saw a gameboy Nintendo in Iraq never mind weapons of mass destruction. They had none. Richard Butler knew, I talked with him in 1998 as did Hans Blix. But Blair wanted regime change for oil not for protecting the Iraqi people. More people have died as a result of post occupation activities than before. There is limited running water, sewer system destroyed, no electricity, no gas, and worse still LIMITED petrol for cars….and every day bombings…Blair is responsible with Bush and he will face justice.; 4-- From all the hearing of Blair, what kind of his speeches (words) most surprised you and why? REPLY: His speech in 2003 that if Saddam and his sons left the country the UK / US would give them safe passage and not attack Iraq. He would have killed them, as were murdered the sons of Saddam and that was when he confirmed that it was about regime change.; 5-- While Saddam Hussein was in the jail, did he talk to you about Blair decision to go to the war? Did he mention Blair's name? If yes, what did he tell you? Also, do you believe Saddam's execution was a killing perpetrated also by Blair? REPLY: No the name Blair/Bush only came up in by the way. He regarded them as ‘boys’ not men. Remember Saddam is the longest ruler ever in Iraq whilst Blair/Bush only lasted eight years…the execution/murder of Saddam we all knew, he knew he had to die. Who is responsible? We are all responsible because we all, including me, could have done more from long before but chose to believe that our political leaders would never do anything as what happened in Iraq.; 6-- In your point of view, what would be the results of this inquiry? Does exist some chance of Blair suffer some kind of punishment? What punishment, in your point of view? REPLY: Blair has no conscience. His punishment is obscurity. Jail or execution is too good for him.; 7-- Analizing Iraq's invasion, what were the counsequences of the war, in your opinion? REPLY: The consequences of occupying Iraq have caused and continue to cause a flow of blood in the Euphrates and Tigris river and it has been the principle cause of the financial meltdown of banks worldwide. The US have spent 3 Trillion dollars on Iraq. Do you know how much that is? If I gave you $100 MILLION dollars a day it would take 86 years for you to spend 3 trillion. The banks liquidity and financial meltdown are the consequences, collateral damage to all in the world via the banking system.; File: click to download
I MOURN THE DEATH OF JEROME DAVID SALINGER: 29 January 2010:; Well I guess it was inevitable because at some stage we all have to die. J D Salinger though I thought would never die. In 1974 I had the pleasure of meeting him in New York. I was as snotty nosed kid and he a famous author that had written 'The catcher in the Rye.'I actually had the audacity to ask him for the film rights to the book! Yes, to ask J D Salinger for the film rights to his book! I had the nerve. Well, the answer was as expected and the film has never been made because he guarded such like Fort Knox. I kept up a short correspondence with him until I think 1980 or something when it was obvious that Mr Salinger was never going to give the film rights. Now the better question in anyone's mind is this: assuming Mr Salinger had said YES, what would a snotty nosed kid of (then) 19 would have done with the rights? I knew it would be asked. Well, that year I had been to Universal Pictures in Los Angeles and asked (I can't remember his name but I know he had blonde hair and was polite)a producer if they would make the film if I obtained the rights and would they let me (a snotty nosed kid of nineteen) write the script? The answer was amazingly YES and it is what led me to asking Mr Salinger. Oh well, nice memories. HOWEVER, now Mr Salinger is dead the rights to the book will be part of the estate owned by his two children. I wonder if I dare repeat history????? Maybe I will ask Margeret Salinger his daughter? It would be a blockbuster of a film....; ps. the complete story is in my autobiography which I hope will be out this year...
IRAQ: THE GRAVE OF MR AL MAJID (CHEMICAL ALI): 28 January 2010:; The grave of Ali Hassan al-Majeed in Awja village near Tikrit, north of Baghdad. Mr Ali Hassan al-Majeed, known as "Chemical Ali" for his supposed use of poison gas against minority Kurds, was buried late on Tuesday near his cousin, former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. For my part may he rest in peace finally as certainly it was his wish to die. His execution remains to me unlawful and a disgrace as to how it was carried out.
IRAQ: US UNIVERSITY IN BAGHDAD: 27 January 2010:; Some kind of normality has to prevail and even in Iraq despite a terrible situation students graduate and here Chris Hill the US Ambassador with student from the American University in Baghdad. Some small normality.
IRAQ: SNOW SNOW SNOW: 27 January 2010:; Its not so often but now and again its snows...just 200 km north of Baghdad it is snowing and children as in all other countries play in the snow....makes a nice change.
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS(7): 26 January 2010:
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS(6): 26 January 2010:
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS(5): 26 January 2010:
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS(4): 26 January 2010:
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS(3): 26 January 2010:
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS(2): 26 January 2010:
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS(1): 26 January 2010:
IRAQ: PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS: 26 January 2010:; It was expected and here it is....bombs bombs bombs....
US SUPREME COURT CLEARS WAY FOR NORIEGA EXTRADITION TO FRANCE: 25 January 2010:
US SUPLEARS WAY FOR NORIEGA EXTRADITION TO FRANCE: 25 January 2010:; The US Supreme Court has in effect refused to hear the appeal of General Noriega effectively clearing the way for his return via extradition to France.; Late last year President Sarkozy confirmed to me in writing (CLICK ON FILE BELOW) that he would only consider General Noriega pardon when his conviction became definitive. Whilst I do not consider the President has properly applied the Constitution it nevertheless acts in the favour of General Noriega.; France cannot really afford a trial and the US Supreme Court has washed its hands of the matter leaving Noriega in the hands of the French.; He will thus be returned now to France where he is to be granted prisoner of war status, a place in a proper prison fit for a prisoner of war, and invariable released on bond with the two years plus that he has spent in US Custody counting towards any sentence if of course the French can obtain a conviction.; I have some wonderful correspondence from the General all in Spanish. For my part Sarkozy is best advised to grant a pardon as soon as General Noriega is on French soil. The old adage of course (as in Polanski) that an accused must be in the jurisdiction to avail himself to any benefits is correctly apoplied.; File: click to download