What a baffling piece. In a long "Guest Post," whatever that is, Ms. Speri spends a lot of time repeating again and again what she said near the beginning. The use of accusations of sexual wrong-doing of one sort or another is a classic way of demolishing or at least tarnishing someone's reputation and are a favorite ploy of security agencies around the world, most definitely including the Mossad and the CIA. This post is a joy for Israel and the US, both countries being intent on the destruction of the ICC. Ms. Speri appears to be aiding and abetting in this destruction. With a sloppy post like this, Drop Site News has badly damaged itself.
There is damage on both sides. My first reaction was the same as yours, related in your second sentence. But things are what they are - the only way forward is for investigation, serious invvestigation to begin, with Mr. Khan, who I admire, having stood aside.
That's sad. Sad for her and sad for the ICC. Khan should be held accountable, but so too should Netanyahu. After years of Trump trampling on US courts, and Netanyahu justifying 'collateral damage' in Gaza, this independent report by DSN on ICC culture is depressing - but it's what i signed up for. Thank you (I think)
Regarding: “Having all of this come out is the only way for the court to move forward with any integrity.”
That statement could have made sense, if anything had come out.
People who did NOT provide any comment:
• The alleged victim
• The accused
• The deputy prosecutor
• The spokesperson for the court
• A senior advisor at the ICC
• Any of the outside experts
• The accused's wife
Sources:
• Office rumour about a complaint
• Anonymous Twitter account
• ?
A timeline might have been useful. The accusation was made before arrest warrants were announced, but did the accusation come before or after the investigation leading to those arrest warrants was started?
Smoke makes every one cough and feel ill. This may be well be what was intended. But the only way forward is investigation i), of the accousations against Mr. Kahn and ii) of the ICC's report arguing for the indictments of Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Gallant, and of the Hamas Leadership who have assumed responsibilitiy for the group after the deaths of the named 3.
You call to investigate Kahn, the ICC, and whomever is left alive in charge of Hamas... not a single Israeli: Just the investigator, the investigation, and (since Israel has preemptively executed the three people who were indicted alongside Israel's highest ranking genocidal monsters) you call to investigate/hunt/browse for whomever ELSE there might be, leading Hamas, for Israel to assassinate.
Genocidal maniacs are happy to stall, until starvation has finished off ALL of Palestine's children, and permanently crippled all of Palestine's adults.
Not long now, right?
Palestine's children — the brightest lights in a truly admirable society — are dying like flies. Meanwhile, you fuck around, looking for diversions, and excuses for foot-dragging.
The investigation into Thug-1 & Thug-2, was MORE than fair to the genocidal, apartheid, terrorist-state of Israel. The "game" is to make sure that no Palestinian is left alive by the time you're forced to admit that fact, right?
We are not new to Israel's favourite manner of slander... and nothing Kahn is accused of, should slow (let alone take priority over) the effort to stop Israel's inhumanly-sadistic genocide.
You do you, but those of us who are on the side of HUMANITY, should try not to let the smoke deprive our brains of oxygen.
I agree with Lisa and I'm quite disappointed with Dropsite news appearing to follow the herd of media outlets providing such low-quality reporting that honestly feels tabloid-esque.
Given the suspicious timing and context of the accusations against Khan and the lack of any evidence for the accusations (just hearsay) there was no compelling need to re-hash what all the other F-rate media outlets are saying.
We expect - and paid - for an independent media outlet that would do justice to the issues at hand. If the investigation against Khan has any meat to it then that would be worth reporting - but a complaint, a random person named "Lynch", whose name is peppered throughout the article without clear reference to his role in the ICC? No investigative work on intimidation tactics used against the accusers, against the possible victim of false accusation, no discussion of the undermining of the ICC by major powers worldwide and the context of these accusations?? This piece was SO low quality and if this continues I'm not renewing my subscription. I suspect many here share that sentiment.
Rushed? Are you kidding us? Khan was not rushed at all; he took too long, so as to appease Israel lobby. He was swift in doing arrest orders for Putin, but dragged his feet for the Israeli leaders. (And even though Israeli leaders killed many many more innocents than Hamas, he only indicted two of them!) Experts like Craig Mokhiber and Mouin Rabbani wrote about Khan's lack of action re. Israel. They note how even before Oct 7, Khan took forever in prosecuting Israel's crimes...Khan was US's candidate that they pushed for that office knowing his leniency for Israel. But after the horrific livestreamed genocide, he took finally some action. Even that bit of action got him into trouble in the eyes of Zionists/Israeli lobby. Sexual allegations- what a classical ploy to smear him to try to make him look like the bad guy for doing tiny bit of accountability for Israel... I would not expect such a wacky piece from Drop Site!
This article is utter garbage and pure Israeli propaganda based on nothing but hearsay. Why is Dropsite publishing this? "The ICC did not have enough evidence for the warrant"? Really????
Thank you for this report! These are indeed very depressing times but there are good people out there. We need to know who they are so we can believe in them, and support them.
We need to get current administration, and the entire Biden administration charged under 18 U.S. Code § 1091, the statute that incorporates the Genocide Convention into US criminal law. Members of these administrations shouldn't go a single day without having this statute in their faces, up front and center, at every protest, at every meeting, press conference, briefing, and trips home and abroad. Let them consider what is looming. They should have visions of prison all the days of their lives, and the recall of slamming cell doors.
Regarding: "Rights advocates and member countries that have long viewed the ICC as unwilling to take on the world’s most powerful have embraced the court’s more aggressive stance under Khan’s leadership. But navigating the inevitable political backlash, court insiders say, requires a leader who is unimpeachable and not distracted by personal considerations."
"Court insiders?" The old guard, maybe? People who preferred it the way it used to be, when Israel's impunity was even more complete?
How many iterations of, "Everyone else in the world must first be proven innocent, before anyone utters a single syllable about Israel's undeniable guilt," do we all have to suffer through? "Unimpeachable" rules out literally everyone. We can all be "impeached," if all it takes is an accusation.
How many times can we take it seriously, when allegations of sexual assault "come out" against people who seek to hold Israel to account? Especially without any comment from anyone involved?
Exactly! Why does one have to impeccable to indict Israel? His indictment of Israeli leaders must stand and must be put into action asap. That does not change the fact that he can be persecuted for his personal crimes, once it is tried and proven.
"a leader who is unimpeachable and not distracted by personal considerations." I think they crucified the last one who fit that description. As we all know, regardless of Mr Khan's guilt or innocence on this allegation, the "ICC is for Africans and thugs." If Mr Khan has changed that, in perception and deed, then it would behoove us to keep separate the professional deeds from the personal crimes when rendering judgment.
With a 2025 budget of nearly €200mil, there have thus far been 33 cases (61 arrest warrants), 22 people have been detained at the ICC detention center and appeared before the Court (30 at large and 8 charges dropped due to death), with 11 convictions and 4 acquittals...since 2002.
"Through the spring of 2024, Khan continued to both build a case against Israeli leaders and negotiate with U.S. officials, leading them to believe that no charges were imminent."
US is not even a State Party of the ICC, yet the Prosecutor "negotiates" with US officials regarding the decision to request an arrest warrant from the Judges? Per the ICC website, "Political considerations never form part of the Office's decision making." Oh well!
We'll see what the ASP decides regarding the allegations against Khan. Can't say I have any faith in that either.
Great quote within the piece that sums it up: "two things can be true at the same time. You can have a situation that deserves to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and you can also have a megalomaniac who has himself done something wrong.”
What a baffling piece. In a long "Guest Post," whatever that is, Ms. Speri spends a lot of time repeating again and again what she said near the beginning. The use of accusations of sexual wrong-doing of one sort or another is a classic way of demolishing or at least tarnishing someone's reputation and are a favorite ploy of security agencies around the world, most definitely including the Mossad and the CIA. This post is a joy for Israel and the US, both countries being intent on the destruction of the ICC. Ms. Speri appears to be aiding and abetting in this destruction. With a sloppy post like this, Drop Site News has badly damaged itself.
There is damage on both sides. My first reaction was the same as yours, related in your second sentence. But things are what they are - the only way forward is for investigation, serious invvestigation to begin, with Mr. Khan, who I admire, having stood aside.
That's sad. Sad for her and sad for the ICC. Khan should be held accountable, but so too should Netanyahu. After years of Trump trampling on US courts, and Netanyahu justifying 'collateral damage' in Gaza, this independent report by DSN on ICC culture is depressing - but it's what i signed up for. Thank you (I think)
I can't say it better myself. Thanks.. I think. We signed up for legitimate media.
Regarding: “Having all of this come out is the only way for the court to move forward with any integrity.”
That statement could have made sense, if anything had come out.
People who did NOT provide any comment:
• The alleged victim
• The accused
• The deputy prosecutor
• The spokesperson for the court
• A senior advisor at the ICC
• Any of the outside experts
• The accused's wife
Sources:
• Office rumour about a complaint
• Anonymous Twitter account
• ?
A timeline might have been useful. The accusation was made before arrest warrants were announced, but did the accusation come before or after the investigation leading to those arrest warrants was started?
Smoke makes every one cough and feel ill. This may be well be what was intended. But the only way forward is investigation i), of the accousations against Mr. Kahn and ii) of the ICC's report arguing for the indictments of Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Gallant, and of the Hamas Leadership who have assumed responsibilitiy for the group after the deaths of the named 3.
You call to investigate Kahn, the ICC, and whomever is left alive in charge of Hamas... not a single Israeli: Just the investigator, the investigation, and (since Israel has preemptively executed the three people who were indicted alongside Israel's highest ranking genocidal monsters) you call to investigate/hunt/browse for whomever ELSE there might be, leading Hamas, for Israel to assassinate.
Genocidal maniacs are happy to stall, until starvation has finished off ALL of Palestine's children, and permanently crippled all of Palestine's adults.
Not long now, right?
Palestine's children — the brightest lights in a truly admirable society — are dying like flies. Meanwhile, you fuck around, looking for diversions, and excuses for foot-dragging.
The investigation into Thug-1 & Thug-2, was MORE than fair to the genocidal, apartheid, terrorist-state of Israel. The "game" is to make sure that no Palestinian is left alive by the time you're forced to admit that fact, right?
We are not new to Israel's favourite manner of slander... and nothing Kahn is accused of, should slow (let alone take priority over) the effort to stop Israel's inhumanly-sadistic genocide.
You do you, but those of us who are on the side of HUMANITY, should try not to let the smoke deprive our brains of oxygen.
I agree with Lisa and I'm quite disappointed with Dropsite news appearing to follow the herd of media outlets providing such low-quality reporting that honestly feels tabloid-esque.
Given the suspicious timing and context of the accusations against Khan and the lack of any evidence for the accusations (just hearsay) there was no compelling need to re-hash what all the other F-rate media outlets are saying.
We expect - and paid - for an independent media outlet that would do justice to the issues at hand. If the investigation against Khan has any meat to it then that would be worth reporting - but a complaint, a random person named "Lynch", whose name is peppered throughout the article without clear reference to his role in the ICC? No investigative work on intimidation tactics used against the accusers, against the possible victim of false accusation, no discussion of the undermining of the ICC by major powers worldwide and the context of these accusations?? This piece was SO low quality and if this continues I'm not renewing my subscription. I suspect many here share that sentiment.
Rushed? Are you kidding us? Khan was not rushed at all; he took too long, so as to appease Israel lobby. He was swift in doing arrest orders for Putin, but dragged his feet for the Israeli leaders. (And even though Israeli leaders killed many many more innocents than Hamas, he only indicted two of them!) Experts like Craig Mokhiber and Mouin Rabbani wrote about Khan's lack of action re. Israel. They note how even before Oct 7, Khan took forever in prosecuting Israel's crimes...Khan was US's candidate that they pushed for that office knowing his leniency for Israel. But after the horrific livestreamed genocide, he took finally some action. Even that bit of action got him into trouble in the eyes of Zionists/Israeli lobby. Sexual allegations- what a classical ploy to smear him to try to make him look like the bad guy for doing tiny bit of accountability for Israel... I would not expect such a wacky piece from Drop Site!
Huge report - well done, thank you!
re: "We're an accountability mechanism with zero accountability ourselves." - because of being populated by humans? Such is life.
Exactly!
This article is utter garbage and pure Israeli propaganda based on nothing but hearsay. Why is Dropsite publishing this? "The ICC did not have enough evidence for the warrant"? Really????
Thank you for this report! These are indeed very depressing times but there are good people out there. We need to know who they are so we can believe in them, and support them.
Speaking of prosecution, this is also a must:
18 U.S. Code § 1091
We need to get current administration, and the entire Biden administration charged under 18 U.S. Code § 1091, the statute that incorporates the Genocide Convention into US criminal law. Members of these administrations shouldn't go a single day without having this statute in their faces, up front and center, at every protest, at every meeting, press conference, briefing, and trips home and abroad. Let them consider what is looming. They should have visions of prison all the days of their lives, and the recall of slamming cell doors.
Let us find the way.
Regarding: "Rights advocates and member countries that have long viewed the ICC as unwilling to take on the world’s most powerful have embraced the court’s more aggressive stance under Khan’s leadership. But navigating the inevitable political backlash, court insiders say, requires a leader who is unimpeachable and not distracted by personal considerations."
"Court insiders?" The old guard, maybe? People who preferred it the way it used to be, when Israel's impunity was even more complete?
How many iterations of, "Everyone else in the world must first be proven innocent, before anyone utters a single syllable about Israel's undeniable guilt," do we all have to suffer through? "Unimpeachable" rules out literally everyone. We can all be "impeached," if all it takes is an accusation.
How many times can we take it seriously, when allegations of sexual assault "come out" against people who seek to hold Israel to account? Especially without any comment from anyone involved?
Exactly! Why does one have to impeccable to indict Israel? His indictment of Israeli leaders must stand and must be put into action asap. That does not change the fact that he can be persecuted for his personal crimes, once it is tried and proven.
"a leader who is unimpeachable and not distracted by personal considerations." I think they crucified the last one who fit that description. As we all know, regardless of Mr Khan's guilt or innocence on this allegation, the "ICC is for Africans and thugs." If Mr Khan has changed that, in perception and deed, then it would behoove us to keep separate the professional deeds from the personal crimes when rendering judgment.
exactly!
With a 2025 budget of nearly €200mil, there have thus far been 33 cases (61 arrest warrants), 22 people have been detained at the ICC detention center and appeared before the Court (30 at large and 8 charges dropped due to death), with 11 convictions and 4 acquittals...since 2002.
"Through the spring of 2024, Khan continued to both build a case against Israeli leaders and negotiate with U.S. officials, leading them to believe that no charges were imminent."
US is not even a State Party of the ICC, yet the Prosecutor "negotiates" with US officials regarding the decision to request an arrest warrant from the Judges? Per the ICC website, "Political considerations never form part of the Office's decision making." Oh well!
We'll see what the ASP decides regarding the allegations against Khan. Can't say I have any faith in that either.
Great quote within the piece that sums it up: "two things can be true at the same time. You can have a situation that deserves to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and you can also have a megalomaniac who has himself done something wrong.”