US Vows Syrian Generals Will Face Trial

Ambassador Power Singles Out 12 Military Leaders

by Jason Ditz,

US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power today singled out a list of 12 Syrian military leaders, including ten generals and two colonels, who she said were responsible for leading attacks on civilians during the Syrian Civil War, and will “one day face justice.”

Power insisted the US are “documented their abuses” and that the military figures will one day be held accountable. Russian Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov criticized Power for not naming any militants in the list of people the US is out to get.

It’s not clear these comments are going to amount to anything at any rate, as President-elect Donald Trump is keen to shift focus in Syria to fighting against the rebels, and not trying to impose regime change. This presumably would shift US focus away from war crimes charges for Syrian generals.

Even then, Syria isn’t a member of the International Criminal Court, which seems to limit the possibility of any international legal moves against their military. The US of course is familiar with this, as the US State Department has similarly argued US military personnel are immune to ICC prosecution as a non-member nation.

http://news.antiwar.com/2016/11/21/us-vows-syrian-generals-will-face-trial/