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-- absence without leave;
-- desertion; or
-- refusal to be mobilized.
Continued refusal can mean discipline or court-martial, and repeat offenders face re-imprisonment, in violation of Article 14, paragraph 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stating:
"No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he (or she) has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country."
Of course, international laws, including the UN Charter, Geneva and Hague Conventions, and Nuremberg Principles prohibit premeditated aggressive wars (and participation in them), defining crimes of war and against humanity, exempting no nation ever, under all conditions without exceptions.
Under Nuremberg's Principle VI, "crimes against peace" were defined as:
-- "planning, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;" also participation in a plan or conspiracy to commit these violations;
War crimes included, but were not limited to:
-- "murder....ill-treatment of prisoners of war....killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity."
Crimes against humanity included:
-- "murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts done against any civilian population, or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime."
Throughout their history, Israel and America committed grievous crimes of war and against humanity, yet neither country has been held accountable under international law so they repeatedly commit them with impunity. So far, that is, until their eventual day of reckoning because things that can't go on forever won't.
Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to the Lendman News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening.
