Non-U.S. Dopers: How much would sending Bush to the Hague help U.S. credibility?

[js_africanus]

Suppose that the WMD claims didn't pan out. (As if that was't a bullshit excue anyway.) Suppose further that the American people decided to send Bush, Rummy, et. al. to the Hague to face whatever war crime charges that the int'l. community felt was appropriate for the invasion of Iraq.

Question: How much would that help America's credibility in the world?

Question: What sort of punishment, if any, do you feel would be appropriate?

[astorian]

Good question, Africanus!

While we're at it, how much qould it help our credibility if Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy went to the Hague and testified on our behalf?

(My scenario is about as realistic as africanus'!)

[Planet of the Shapes]

Damn Astorian beat me to it. He was just too quick..

[Zenster]

While I find Shrub's level of deceit and constitutional vandalism nigh well revolting, more than anything, he is guilty of outright stupidity. I don't see where he has intentionally orchestrated war crimes. While some indecencies have occurred in Iraq and elsewhere, I don't particularly regard them as prosecutable in the world court.

What he really needs is a good spanking in the next election. A unanimous rejection of his ham fisted politics would be an excellent message for America to send the outside world. Exiling him back to Texas with a glaring "one term wonder" tattooed upon his brow (just like daddy), would be fairly adequate punishment. For that I shall hope.

[gex gex]

Well, I'd imagine that should Bush be convicted, he'd no longer be President. Surely being a convicted war-criminal is grounds for impeachment of a President.

In which case, the U.S. would have a new president. I think this would markedly help your credibility.

[Chefguy]

We should have a standing policy that we warn any country prior to sending these dinkwads over. In west Africa, Bush is quoted as saying "The slave trade didn't end with slavery and segregation". Huh?

[js_africanus]

Originally posted by Chefguy
In west Africa, Bush is quoted as saying "The slave trade didn't end with slavery and segregation". Huh?

IIRC, there is still an active slave market for people to work in the market for cocoa (whatever plants chocolate comes from).

There's also an active slave industry in the Sudan. A few years ago there was a christian group redeeming slaves for $35 per person. There was an elementary school here in the States that had freed a couple thousand through its fundraising efforts.

Plus, IIRC, the sex industry in many places uses slave labor and/or indentured servants.

Then again, you could just be pointing out that the sentence you quoted seems a little, um, poorly phrased. In which case, sorry for pointing out that stuff that you already know.