War Crimes Act amendments to indemnify retroactively
{{date|August 10, 2006}}

Amendments to the [[wikipedia:War Crimes Act of 1996|War Crimes Act]], drafted by the [[wikipedia:George W. Bush administration|Bush administration]], will [[wikipedia:Ex post facto law|retroactively]] indemnify policymakers and government officials from criminal charges for authorizing abuse and torture of prisoners captured in the [[wikipedia:War on Terrorism|War on Terrorism]] campaign.

The [[wikipedia:White House|White House]] stated that these amendments "will apply to any conduct by any U.S. personnel, whether committed before or after the law is enacted."  The amendments are intended to be put before [[wikipedia:United States Congress|Congress]] after [[wikipedia:Labor Day (United States)|Labor Day]], said two anonymous sources claimed to be lawyers currently revising the Act.

According to Eugene Fidell, president of the [[wikipedia:National Institute of Military Justice|National Institute of Military Justice]], "I think what this bill can do is in effect immunize past crimes. That's why it's so dangerous."  Scott Horton, a fourth attorney examining the amendments, remarked, "The administration is trying to insulate policymakers under the War Crimes Act."

Currently, the War Crimes Act of 1996 includes the use of [[wikipedia:capital punishment|capital punishment]] should prisoners held in U.S. camps die from abuse while detained.

== Sources ==
{{wikipediapars|[[w:Ex post facto law|Ex post facto law]] and the [[w:War Crimes Act of 1996|War Crimes Act of 1996]]}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/27/AR2006072701908_pf.html
|title=Detainee Abuse Charges Feared
|author=R. Jeffrey Smith
|pub=Washington Post
|date=July 28, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-warcrimes10aug10,1,4466016.story?coll=la-news-a_section
|title=Amendments Sought in War Crimes Act
|author=Associated Press
|pub=Los Angeles Times
|date=August 10, 2006}}

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{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[category:Crime and law]]
[[category:United States]]
[[category:North America]]
[[Category:War crimes]]
[[Category:US War on Terror]]
Amendments to the War Crimes Act, drafted by the Bush administration, will retroactively indemnify policymakers and government officials from criminal charges for authorizing abuse and torture of prisoners captured in the War on Terrorism campaign.

The White House stated that these amendments "will apply to any conduct by any U.S. personnel, whether committed before or after the law is enacted."  The amendments are intended to be put before Congress after Labor Day, said two anonymous sources claimed to be lawyers currently revising the Act.

According to Eugene Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice, "I think what this bill can do is in effect immunize past crimes. That's why it's so dangerous."  Scott Horton, a fourth attorney examining the amendments, remarked, "The administration is trying to insulate policymakers under the War Crimes Act."

Currently, the War Crimes Act of 1996 includes the use of capital punishment should prisoners held in U.S. camps die from abuse while detained.

*

category:Crime and law
category:United States
category:North America
War crimes US War on Terror