"Emmanuel Gustin" wrote in message
...
"Kevin Brooks" wrote in message
...

Odd, in that the mention of "murder" was included in the case of one of
the
four defendants (a Sergeant Major, IIRC),

There was a conviction for murder of a Belgian peacekeeper;
AFAIK the murder was related to an arms smuggling ring set
up by UN peacekeepers (there were big scandals in Canada
and Italy after the Somalia mission as well). Nobody claims
that the UN mission in Somalia covered itself in glory; it was
an all-round disaster.

But you seem very willing to believe the most outrageous
accusations you can find. Courts, it may surprise you, have
to proceed by evidence. If a crime cannot be proven, they
have to acquit.

Odd, given that you have already made pronouncement of the US in a case
where the trials are just starting, then. And unlike the case of Belgium,
the US Army began investigating and pursuing criminal cases *before* the
press published photos (indeed, also unlike the belgian case, the Army was
the party that announced the problem in the first place).


home before you embark on any crusade against a US military
justice system that is just now beginning proceedings against
the MP's.

My objection is not against the US military justice system.
(That AFAIK has a fairly good reputation internationally.)
My objection is against an US government that has been
negligent in establishing the line between right and wrong,
and perhaps has even intentionally blurred it, but nevertheless
eagerly throws the first stone when its servants transgress,
without accepting its own responsibility.

I don't think you are right in this case.


Belgian ministers of defence tend to strictly belong to either
of two categories of politicians: Those who still have to
prove their ability, and those who have already proven that
they haven't any. (The current incumbent firmly belongs to
the latter category.) But even they take their responsibility
more seriously than Donald Rumsfeld.

That appears to be an unfounded accusation, IMO.

Brooks


--
Emmanuel Gustin
Emmanuel dot Gustin @t skynet dot be