Belgian War Crimes Law Undone by Its Global Reach: The essential problem with 'warcrimes' trials is that it is victors' justice: only the defeated parties can be hanged (as at Nuremburg). The victors can obviously never be punished, unless they themselves are defeated in turn by military force.

The real merit of warcrimes trials and why they should still be held and supported regardless of whether a person is convicted or not is in the documentation of the crimes. There is obviously no chance of Ariel Sharon, George Bush, Tony Blair or John Howard being convicted of warcrimes (at least while they remain in power) but a trial should still be held in order to document the crimes and make the case, ie to educate the public.

Belgian War Crimes Law Undone by Its Global Reach: The essential problem with 'warcrimes' trials is that it is victors' justice: only the defeated parties can be hanged (as at Nuremburg). The victors can obviously never be punished, unless they themselves are defeated in turn by military force.

The real merit of warcrimes trials and why they should still be held and supported regardless of whether a person is convicted or not is in the documentation of the crimes. There is obviously no chance of Ariel Sharon, George Bush, Tony Blair or John Howard being convicted of warcrimes (at least while they remain in power) but a trial should still be held in order to document the crimes and make the case, ie to educate the public.