WASHINGTON,
June 15, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Republican Senators believe the US
should reconsider funds allocated to the International Committee of
the Red Cross in view of its repeated criticism of rights violations
by US troops in Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
In
a report titled "Are American Interests Being Disserved by
International Committee of the Red Cross?", the Senate Republican
Policy Committee called for an audit of funds spent by the ICRC to
ensure that American dollars are not being used for lobbying against
US interests.
It
noted that the US, the largest donor to the international humanitarian
group, funds 28% of the group’s budget and has contributed $1.5
billion since 1990.
The
report, circulated this week, accused the group of “inaccurately and
unfairly” accusing US officials of not adhering to the Geneva
Convention.
The
ICRC, the guardian of the Geneva Conventions governing conduct in
warfare, lambasted late last year "utter contempt" for
humanity in US-occupied Iraq.
The
international group also described the US abuses against Guantanamo
detainees as war crimes.
Anti-American
The
10-page report claimed that the ICRC had "lost its way" and
veered from the impartiality on which its reputation was based.
"The
ICRC effectively no longer serves as the guardian of obligations that
have been accepted under a ratified treaty or treaties."
It
accused the international humanitarian group of becoming "more
responsive to the preferences of the liberal and frequently
anti-American international nongovernmental organization
community".
The
report even claimed that the ICRC "has become an aggressive
advocate - like Amnesty International - for enforcing a broader set of
obligations."
It
argued that the international body was exceeding the bounds of its
mission by trying to "reinterpret and expand international law in
favor of terrorists and insurgents".
In
its annual report issued on May 25, Amnesty said the US war on terror
has encouraged governments around the world to roll back the rule of
law, taking their cue from the global US anti-terror rhetoric.
Founded
in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross oversees
compliance with the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners.
The
body also undertakes projects aimed at alleviating the suffering of
civilian populations during times of military conflict.
