Lies, the Bethlehem Doctrine, and the illegal murder of Soleimani

By CRAIG MURRAY*

 

Protest against the second war on Iraq, Windsor, October 25, 2003.

In one of the series of blatant lies the USA has told to justify the assassination of Soleimani, Mike Pompeo said that Soleimani was killed because he was planning “Imminent attacks” on US citizens. It is a careful choice of word. Pompeo is specifically referring to the Bethlehem Doctrine of Pre-Emptive Self Defence.

Developed by Daniel Bethlehem when Legal Adviser to first Netanyahu’s government and then Blair’s, the Bethlehem Doctrine is that states have a right of “pre-emptive self-defence” against “imminent” attack. That is something most people, and most international law experts and judges, would accept. Including me.

Report from Germany: An assassination and its consequences

Conflict over Iran escalates. Iraqi parliament demands the withdrawal of the German Bundeswehr

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN/BERLIN (german-foreign-policy.com) – Following the USA’s assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and other high-ranking Iraqi and Iranian military personnel, demands are being raised in Baghdad to expel the foreign troops, including the Bundeswehr. The Anti-IS Coalition troops, stationed in Iraq, must leave the country, the Iraqi parliament ruled yesterday. The German government insists on keeping German troops in Iraq to be able to maintain its options for gaining influence in that country. Berlin had earlier already rejected calls to end its deployment for security reasons. Camp Taji near Baghdad, where 27 German soldiers are currently stationed, had already come under missile fire in June. The camp could become a possible target for retaliatory strikes by Iran or pro-Iranian militias. Whereas the German government euphemizes the assassination of Soleimani as “a line of action undertaken by the United States”, the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group officially called it a “violation of international law.” A government advisor spoke of “state terrorism.”

US air strike on Iraq: Denounce US lawless killings and wars and demand Canadian Forces be brought home immediately

– Statement of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), January 4, 2020 –

The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) condemns the U.S. imperialist regime’s killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian armed forces, Abud Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leading member of the Iraqi armed forces, and eight other officials. The U.S. military carried out its lawless assassinations with drone missile strikes at the Baghdad civilian airport on January 3.

The war on innocence: Palestinian children in Israeli military court

By RAMZY BAROUD*

The process in which Palestinian children are callously arrested –
infographic prepared by the moqawama website to visualize the scene | Click to enlarge

On July 29, 4-year-old Muhammad Rabi’ Elayyan was reportedly summoned for interrogation by the Israeli police in occupied Jerusalem.

The hooliganism of the US imperialists knows no bounds

Canadians pay utmost attention to developing anti-imperialist solidarity

By NICK LIN

Working people across Canada continue to pay attention to the unfolding events internationally that require them to take a stand to uphold the international rule of law and organize actions in solidarity with the peoples of the world who have courageously set independent paths for themselves, for which they are increasingly being targeted by U.S. imperialism. Canadians must not accept U.S. dictate in world affairs which seeks to overturn the principles and norms of international relations. These have been expressly codified so as to maintain peaceful relations between countries and to find diplomatic means to settle disputes between countries.

Canadian Network on Cuba calls on Ottawa to reopen visa office in Cuba

Canada and the International Rule of Law

By ISAAC SANEY, Spokesperson

The Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) is deeply concerned by Ottawa’s abrupt decision to shut down the section of its Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) Office in Havana through which visas were processed for Cuban citizens wishing to visit Canada and those seeking work or study permits. This measure follows the 50 per cent reduction of the staff of Canada’s embassy in Cuba which took place in January of this year. Cubans now have to make their applications through a visa application centre in a third country (the nearest being Mexico). Those having to submit their biometrics (photo and fingerprints), a requirement instituted in 2018 that will apply to most, will have to travel to a centre outside of Cuba to record this information.

US sanctions violate human rights and international code of conduct

Illegal economic sanctions as collective punishment

UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

An independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council [of the United Nations] has expressed deep concern at the recent imposition of unilateral coercive measures on Cuba, Venezuela and Iran by the United States, saying the use of economic sanctions for political purposes violates human rights and the norms of international behaviour. Such action may precipitate man-made humanitarian catastrophes of unprecedented proportions.