While American politics are stuck in the muck of the never-ending Romney nominating process, international politics are heating up. Most notably, former Liberian "President" Charles Taylor was convicted by an international tribunal on 11 counts of war crimes for his heinous, inhuman acts during that country's civil war in the 1990's. According to the New York Times:
"The ruling, announced by Presiding Judge Richard Lussick of Samoa, said Mr. Taylor was guilty of involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, rape, slavery and the use of child soldiers. The court, however, said the prosecution failed to prove that Mr. Taylor had direct command responsibility for the atrocities in the indictment."
With this decision, the international court made it clear that a serving head of state is NOT immune from prosecution. The precedent set with this trial is important, and might give members of the Bush Crime Family reason to reconsider any foreign travel plans.
Meanwhile in London, Evil Empire Czar Rupert Murdoch has apologized for the illegal phone tapping perpetrated by his News of the World employees over the last few years. The apologies came as part of a judicial inquiry into the NewsCorp scandal. But he also clamied that he was kept in the dark by certain employees and suggested that he had no knowledge of the illegal activities. The LA Times reports:
"Three separate criminal investigations have been launched as a result of the hacking scandal, and dozens of journalists at two of Murdoch's papers -- the News of the World and the Sun -- have been arrested, although none has yet been charged."But in sometimes combative testimony, the chairman of News Corp. defended the two papers, scoffing at descriptions of them as purveyors of titillation and gossip. Both titles are well-known for their sensational, often intrusive stories about celebrities, politicians and other high-profile figures, but Murdoch sought to characterize them as nobler publications dedicated to promoting the public good.
"He expressed dismay that News International, the British arm of his company, had been obstructive during the investigation into phone hacking and other alleged wrongdoing at News of the World. He blamed misguided employees within the organization. 'There's no question in my mind that maybe even the editor, but certainly beyond that -- someone took charge of a cover-up -- which we were victim to and I regret,' Murdoch said. And he apologized to News of the World employees who now find themselves out of work. 'I'm guilty of not having paid enough attention to the News of the World,' he said. 'It was an omission by me, and all I can do is apologize to a lot of people, including all the innocent people in the News of the World who lost their jobs.'"
Doesn't sound like much of an apology to me, I wonder if the Royal Family is satisfied with it? After all, their privacy was violated by his minions. And what about the family of the late Milly Dowler? The murdered girl whose family was given false hope by the hacking of their missing daughter's cellphone? Think they were happy with the apology?
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