U.S. Weighs War Crimes Charges for Syria

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/world/middleeast/20diplo.html

U.S. Weighs War Crimes Charges for Syria

By THOM SHANKER

Published: June 19, 2011

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, seeking new ways to force the Syrian

leadership to halt its violent crackdown on domestic dissent, is examining

whether war crimes charges can be brought against President Bashar al-Assad,

senior administration officials said.

The officials said the effort was part of a broader government campaign to

increase diplomatic and economic pressure on the Syrian leader as his security

forces continue to kill and wound protesters seeking democratic reforms.

One senior administration official disclosed that the United States was

examining whether Mr. Assad's actions constituted war crimes and whether it was

possible to seek international legal action against him, his government or

Syria's police forces and military.

The official said the United States was " looking into " whether " there are

grounds here for charges related to war crimes, and whether referrals on that

are appropriate. "

He warned that actions by the government in Damascus were " headed toward making

Syria a pariah state around the world. "

The official said the administration was also examining " additional economic

steps — and one, in particular, has to do with the oil and gas sector in Syria. "

There has been wide anticipation that Mr. Assad would address the issues of

internal dissent in a public address.

His crackdown has brought international condemnation of a leadership that has

ruled Syria for more than four decades. Diplomats have spoken of growing

pressure on Mr. Assad, who has taken steps that have, so far, proved largely

superficial, and Syrian officials have suggested that a more serious dialogue

may ensue with opposition figures.

In advance of any public comments by Mr. Assad on how to deal with dissenters,

another senior administration official said, " I think the Syrian people are

going to be focusing a lot less on words and a lot more on what is the action,

what are the changes that are on the ground. "

That official said the United States was " working unilaterally, regionally and

internationally in order to try to build a broad-based approach to how to

respond to the need to increase pressure on the regime. "

The two senior administration officials spoke on diplomatic ground rules of

anonymity during a briefing for reporters on Friday to discuss developments in

American policy toward Syria.

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More short sighted political action. If the US does this, it will be opening the door wide for the same treatment. Already there are those sniffing around to charge the US for various crimes in the international courts but haven't yet because the US is still powerful and has influence. Once that slips, look for all manner of charges to be filed and in growing numbers. If Obama does this, expect them to come sooner and more vigorously.

In a message dated 6/19/2011 8:10:19 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

U.S. Weighs War Crimes Charges for Syria