The JTA is running a news story today on Richard Goldstone, a judge and human rights expert in South Africa who said that international law does not justify this war.
"The use of military force is lawful only in two cases — dire self-defense, when the threat of attack is so imminent there is no time to wait for the United Nations to act, or when it is authorized by the Security Council. Goldstone said neither of these applies to the invasion of Iraq. 'The self-defense argument is very weak' and it was 'quite clear that the majority of Security Council members do not authorize the use of force.'"
He also commented on the military intervention in Kosovo, saying that while it was illegal, it was made legitimate because it was right to protect the Albanians.
This doesn't mean that Bush and Blair are war criminals, but they are operating in a grey area.
"He said international law has been moving in the direction of recognizing intervention in extreme situations for humanitarian reasons, 'but this is not the same as regime change.'"
--> In South Africa, Jewish rights expert calls U.S.-led war on Iraq "unlawful"
