Are Zacarious Moussaoui and Bob Woodward legally equivalent? If not, are they not morally equivalent?
The conviction of Massoui on the charge of NOT taking part in the September 11 hijackings raises (in my twisted mind, at least) an interesting legal question. As I understand it, he was prosecuted for conspiring with the hijackers and then doing nothing to prevent them. Under this theory of law, he is held responsible for the 2,000+ deaths that occurred as a result. The prosecution seeks the death penalty.
Logically, does it not follow that Bob Woodward, Judith Miller, or any other person not employed by the United States government who was fully aware of the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld plan to invade Iraq regardless of the outcome of diplomacy have the same legal liability to the people of Iraq (and the world)?
Obviously such a trial would have be held in The Hague (or in Teheran or Baghdad), but is it possible that a future war crimes tribunal could hold Bob Woodward and Judith Miller culpable for doing nothing to stop deaths the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis? I am neither lawyer nor ethical expert, but I would like to hear from some who are.
With respect to the leadership of the U.S Government, it is obvious that they are war criminals and should be tried in the Hague for their crimes against humanity.