Dear Arab News,

1. Who sold Saddam the arms inthre first place?
2. For the last 20 years - didn't the US and UK know precisely what was happening in Iraq - having sold Ira much to the arms?

Re: www.globaljusticeonline.com and “Learn the Law” – my reminiscences

Greetings and warm regards.

I am a lawyer by profession, and a world citizen at heart.

I have written a book. I have established a web site. Both focus on global issues – the book focuses on law around the world – the web site on issues of global justice. I thought a bit, reminisced, then decided to share my thoughts.

Citizens of the world concerned about world events might be consumed by anger when responding to certain atrocities. One is understandably made angry at the thought of Osama bin Laden and the horrors unleashed in New York on September, 11; or, one might be equally angry when recalling the other September, 11 – 1973.Both were calculated acts of terrorist violence.

If desired international standards are to be upheld in the world with crediblity, such standards cannot be selectively applied.

The world, I have decided, has good and bad, yin and yang, pain and pleasure, joy yet sorrow all at once in the one world we share. Some, not all, want to share with others. Others want corporate globalisation at the price for their greatest share. Some genuinely seek harmony in the global village; some instigate wars. These dialectical tensions between love and hate, generosity and greed arouse and motivate the world. Peace protesters versus warmongers – then assess the ‘good’ or ‘bad’ of their circumstances and decide on strategies – how many battalions does our side command?

Humanity’s on-going struggles confirm that neither absolute good nor bad reign supreme. The world is a mixture of the bitter with the sweet. A bitter and bad idea in our time is that of “pax Americana” proclaimed via ‘the Project for a New American Century’(PNAC) requiring war for America to achieve world domination. The recent duplicities and dishonesty in pursuit of the war in Iraq are a part of this project, and demonstrate just how determined the powerful can be, in disregard of international law. It is easy for those who have not experienced the horrors of war to advance policies for war with cruel and indecent haste. Having embraced the truism that love tempers hate, it is difficult for me to accept that a country with an admirable constitution designed for the eternal preservation of great freedoms finds it necessary to support military terror (hatred), while shackling other peoples’ freedom to live in peace with prosperity. The global economic system, if we are honest, scientific and empirical, continues to impoverish the majority of humankind (more hatred and greed). Augusto Pinochet’s military coup speaks to the former, and the consequences of consistently failed IMF ( International Monetary Fund) policies indubitably speak to the latter.

In the fullness of time democratic voices will inevitably speak out for peace and demand justice in the world. People always do.That has been the history of the world – oppression – challenge - change. The people’s choir continually raising voices as they sing out their concerns about human needs. Seeking Utopia? – no! needing survival, for there is enough in our world to provide for all; that is the challenge. Putting man on the moon was one great challenge met. Putting food in man’s mouth, shelter over his head, education in his brain, clothing on his back, justice in his societies are other achievable challenges to be met. Not all sing from the same song sheet of desire for peace and justice in the world. Powerful and discordant voices are heard, crooning for increased military expenditures, as they sing the lyrics of WMDs. The yin of oppression pours acid on yang’s healing processes, repression is in harmony with terror, and so the world responsively sings mournful songs.

WMDs ( Words of Mass Deception) deceive the people that hatred is love, and proclaim that war is peace – “I reminded them and their families that the war in Iraq is really about peace” (the exact words of President George W. Bush spoken in April, 2003, when he visited wounded soldiers in Iraq). Many in the world believe that the war was/is really about oil and money. My web site www.globaljusticeonline.com addresses such issues. We might sensibly ask - does the sale of greater numbers of arms in the world then equate to investments for peace? Saddam Hussein was sold arms in great quantities by the very nations that ended up bombing the Iraqi people. Clearly, based on George W. Bush’s assertion, significant investment for peace had been made in Iraq. On the rationale of “…really about peace” let’s then sell lots more arms for peace. While at the global arms bazaar, let’s also have all sorts of war. We need to add to the war on drugs a war on crime – a war on terror- and while at it, why not add a war on peace? However, with that mindset one must never declare a war on war – for that would be deemed self-defeatingly insane and unacceptable to those who manufacture and sell the arms in the world. Listening to the leading supporters of the destructive and lunatic policies, I believe that when official doublethink meets doublespeak – I am left little choice but with incredulity to laugh. When others see the consequences of many hypocritical or cruel world policies they probably do the opposite and cry. Laughter, I believe, is the better of the two options, and is good medicinal therapy for much that might otherwise make us melancholy. Laughter – peace - great choices! And, this thought brings me to my book.

“Learn the law” is my cathartic global and humourous analysis of my profession – the law. The book is at once a teacher, and a release valve; it analyses the international legal issues concerning the war in Iraq, and expresses genuine concerns. It states what the law is and simultaneously explains what law does in the world. It traces from whence law came into the world. There is wit and humour in the book, coupled with the good sense of using tones of parody and paradox to help readers discover for themselves without the pedantry of the writer telling intelligent people what to think. This approach explains the book’s subtitle – ‘ a retarded text for advanced readers’.

There you have it – my reminiscences – and my pot of global law as stew for thought, and all the global issues as spice to maintain flavour.

Do taste a chapter of the book’s simple humour – read and enjoy.

X

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NOTABLE

THE JUDGE

One of my favourite pieces of nonsense poetry, Lewis Carroll’s “You Are Old Father William”, succinctly states how Father William developed his powers of advocacy:

“You are old,” said the youth, and your jaws are too weak

For anything tougher than suet;

Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak,

Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

“In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law,

And argued each case with my wife;

And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw

Has lasted the rest of my life.”

Well, if argument with one’s spouse is the prescription for preparing a case, as a married lawyer, I was inclined to take that advice. Words, especially effective use of language, are essential for any lawyer wanting to make his mark in court. However, as the lawyer’s jaw grows stronger with years of purposeful matrimonial discussion (as distinct from exchanges without legal content), I wondered what might be the judge’s equivalent preparation for hearing a case. The question might be, “You are old, yet you are attentive and hear. How do you manage to do it?”

“In my youth,” said the judge, “my talkative wife,

Taught me how to look bright but not hear;

My ear would be turned towards trouble and strife,

But I’m totally deaf in that ear.”

(Apologies to Lewis Carroll!)

Some judges who do not have the good fortune of a hearing defect, end up unable to avoid counsel’s clamour save by cat-napping on the Bench. The “sleeping judge” is a character known to all jurisdictions.

The judge (ignoring here lay people who adjudicate in minor courts and technically knowledgeable arbiters sitting in arbitrations) is an experienced lawyer who has ascended to this important position. In some jurisdictions, a lawyer of many years’ experience is appointed (or in some countries, elected) to the “Bench” (i.e. where judges sit in court, and most people sit in parks). The requisites for a judge are:

- a sound knowledge of the law on which he adjudicates;

- a lawyer’s skill to grasp facts and issues; in addition he should use his intuition and commitment to justice to deduce from what is said as well as from what is kept hidden;

- within the confines of procedure, he should interpret legal rules and apply them with binding authority.

His tasks might be said to be knowing, grasping and deciding. Having heard the facts, he has to dispense “justice according to law.” How the final purpose is achieved will determine the quality of the judge.

When observing the judge in court, beware of feigned sentience. Counsel might feel that his address to the Bench in stentorian tones commands attention, but he may be mistaken. Sedulity is no answer for senility.

The sleeping judge, to whom I earlier alluded, is exceptionally clever. He has an ingenious practice which even years of attending court might not reveal. The secret? Sleeping judges have refined their art of restfulness on the Bench, to make their closed eyes convey an appearance of cogitation. Drowsily, they drift away to drift back sufficiently to grasp the bare essentials of the case. Such a judge’s utterances provide convincing proof of constant attentiveness. Thus, he might slowly open his eyes (his yawns being swallowed behind tightly closed lips, suggesting reflective rumination) and say:

Judge: I am not sure that I fully appreciate the point which Counsel made but I am open to persuasion.

Counsel: As I said earlier, Your Honour….

So Counsel is skillfully made to recount those important points which he had inconsiderately raised during the judge’s slumber.

Those judges who are neither deaf nor senile,

represent an assiduous legal breed. The hours are long, the responsibilities great, and late nights are normal for the responsibilities and burdens of this high office.