zlacker

>>xbar+(OP)
I usually refrain from making much political commentary.

I will say this: SA is a deeply troubled country, but for once I think the ruling government has actually done a good thing by pursuing this.

>>TheCap+bU
> South Africa asks ICC to exempt it from Putin arrest

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2YY1E6/

SA does not really present itself as an earnest or true actor in the sphere oh human rights.

>>timcob+K61
True

Nation states are often immoral and hypocritical

The outrage from the USA at the invasion of Ukraine, when the invasion of Iraq is a crime of the same magnitude - both dreadful stains on humanity

Most recently the international support for the actions of the IDF whilst condemning Russian actions in Ukraine

SA is just normal in this regard

>>worik+ej1
From a narrow, legalistic perspective Iraq was in material breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 in 2003 and so the invasion was justified on that basis. I am not arguing that the invasion was right (or even remotely a good idea), just that it was never firmly established as illegal under any treaty in force at the time. By contrast, there was never even a fig leaf of a legal justification for Russia's invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.

https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/478123?ln=en

>>nradov+gm1
>"so the invasion was justified on that basis"

Bullshit. There was nothing in the resolution that called for war. The most it had said was in tune of - you must comply and if you don't we will report you. No particular enforcement.

the resolution is here - https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N02/682/26/PDF...

>"it was never firmly established as illegal"

Really? It was an act of aggression. It is illegal by definition unless the UN had explicitly decided otherwise which I believe it did not.