Sunday, July 07, 2002

More ICC: Stephen Den Beste at USS Clueless provides a detailed rundown on the "specific" "crimes" that the International Criminal Court (sic) will handle. Read his analysis for full details, but my faves are the ones related to "personal dignity":

Article 8 (2) (b) (xxi)
War crime of outrages upon personal dignity

Elements

1. The perpetrator humiliated, degraded or otherwise violated the dignity of one or more persons.

2. The severity of the humiliation, degradation or other violation was of such degree as to be generally recognized as an outrage upon personal dignity.

3. The conduct took place in the context of and was associated with an international armed conflict.

4. The perpetrator was aware of factual circumstances that established the existence of an armed conflict.


Footnote: For this crime, "persons" can include dead persons. It is understood that the victim need not personally be aware of the existence of the humiliation or degradation or other violation. This element takes into account relevant aspects of the cultural background of the victim.


Sorry, ICC fans! No more "Yo Mama Osama" or "Osama and the 72 Virgin Pigs" jokes even if he is a grease spot in the mountains of Afghanistan. On the other hand, most of the ICC fans probably think the proper way to deal with Osama and his pals is to bend over and bleat like a goat, so they wouldn't know any good Osama jokes anyway.