Foreign Policy Blogs

Human Rights

The Theory of Righteousness; An Ethical Analysis of Atrocities and War

The Theory of Righteousness; An Ethical Analysis of Atrocities and War

The Nuremburg Defense was invoked to justify the Jewish Holocaust at the hands of Hitler's regime. In essence, this defense says that following orders from ones superiors absolves the accused of responsibility. The Nuremburg Tribunal deemed this inadequate defense, stating that the defense of superior orders does not trump morality. However, arguing on the behalf […]

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May Day…AKA Illegal Immigrant Rights Day!

May Day…AKA Illegal Immigrant Rights Day!

(c) Jen G. Bowen Spring is in the air, and so is the urge to get out and demonstratethis is not only the season of flowers and weekends in the park, it's the perfect time to make your voice heard for the cause you believe in. Yesterday, May 1, 2007, was "May Day', and while […]

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First Arrest Warrants Issued by the ICC Regarding Darfur

First Arrest Warrants Issued by the ICC Regarding Darfur

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued its first ever arrest warrants against officials allegedly involved in crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The arrest warrants were issued for humanitarian affairs minister, Ahmen Haround, and Janjaweed militia leader, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman (a/k/a Ali Kushayb). As the former minister of the interior, the […]

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"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." — Edmund Burke

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." — Edmund Burke

Don't let this coffin be filled with the body of yet another innocent child!

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Supreme Court Denies Appeals from Guantanamo Cases, Allows Texas Challenge to Presidential Authority

Supreme Court Denies Appeals from Guantanamo Cases, Allows Texas Challenge to Presidential Authority

The Supreme Court of the United States rejected the appeals of Salim Hamdan, Usamma bin Laden's driver and bodyguard, and Omar Khadr, a Canadian charged with killing an American soldier in Afghanistan.  The Hamdan case resulted in a landmark ruling that declared unconstitutional the former system to prosecute detainee's captured by the United States in […]

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The Children of Sudan

The Children of Sudan

On Sunday, April 29, 2007, in 35 cities around the world, including London, Rome, Melbourne and DC, demonstrations where held to bring awareness to the victims of the conflict that is raging in Sudan's, Darfur region. The Global Day for Darfur was organized by various human rights and humanitarian groups, such as Amnesty International. For […]

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German Courts Reject War Crimes Charges against Donald Rumsfeld

German Courts Reject War Crimes Charges against Donald Rumsfeld

German courts have rejected charges against former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld.  The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), a New York based non-profit legal organization, has accused Rumsfeld, as well as Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and former director of The Central Intelligence Agency George Tenet, of "torture and other war crimes committed in Iraq, Afghanistan, […]

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Call the White House Today for Darfur

Call the White House Today for Darfur

Today as Global Days for Darfur wind down, the situation in the country rages one, and that's why we need your help. “Take Action Today!” Join others and call the White House comment line at 202-456-1414, and “tell the president that time has run out for the people of Darfur and that you urge the […]

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Don't Forget the Children of Sudan!

Don't Forget the Children of Sudan!

April 23rd – April 30, 2007

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Millions of Children Needlessly Dying from Preventable Disease

Millions of Children Needlessly Dying from Preventable Disease

Would you sit there and not take your child to the doctor for a vaccine that you knew would save them from disease? Could you sit by and watch your child suffer from illness when all you had to do was get them some $5 worth of medicine? We all know the answer is no! […]

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Guernica; The Civilian Toll of Modern Warfare

Guernica; The Civilian Toll of Modern Warfare

At 4:40 pm on April 26th, 1937, the most advanced aircraft from Adolf Hitler's "Condor Legion" approached the Basque town of Guernica. It was a Monday afternoon and the markets were packed with shoppers and peasants. The church bell suddenly rang out, signifying the approach of enemy aircraft. For the next three hours, Guernica was […]

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The Use of Children to Commit Crimes and Acts of War

The Use of Children to Commit Crimes and Acts of War

I have been painfully aware of the horrid use of children in war and to commit horrendous acts during a time of war. Children are used as soldiers in a time when genocide, rape, and so many other unspeakable acts are committed. For a child to witness such acts is a crime in its self, […]

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Dutch Businessman Appeals War Crimes Charge of Supplying Iraq with WMD

Dutch Businessman Appeals War Crimes Charge of Supplying Iraq with WMD

Prosecutors at The Hague Appeals Court today presented official documents by Sadam Hussein's regime praising the Dutch businessman, Frans van Anraat, for supplying "rare, banned chemical substances" to Iraq "at a reasonable price", and for "expos[ing] himself to extremely dangerous consequences."  Van Anraat's case is before the appeals court on genocide charges.  He was found […]

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Human Slavery Today Versus Yesterday Continued…

Human Slavery Today Versus Yesterday Continued…

People are often driven into slavery by sever poverty, sometimes this is based on a general belief that the child sold will bring money back into the family, or that they will have an honest attempt to escape the poverty of the family and community. Other times people are driven into slavery by economic or […]

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Canadian, Omar Khadr, charged with war crimes at Gitmo

Canadian, Omar Khadr, charged with war crimes at Gitmo

Omar Ahmed Khadr, a 20 year old Canadian, was formally charged with war crimes by the US at the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Khadr faces a murder charge for the death of Sgt. 1st Class, Christopher Speer, with a hand grenade in 2002.  Khadr also faces charges of attempted murder, conspiring with al […]

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