Editorial -- No Place for Extrajudicial Killings

The targeted killing of Russian political figure Darya Dugina, the daughter of Russian nationalist and war cheerleader Alexandr Dugin, has no place in war. 

Trial International, a human rights group, says that life is the first and most fundamental right of individuals, without which no other right can be upheld. Thus, extrajudicial executions are a violation of this right. The state has the obligation to promote and protect the right to life. Unfortunately, Ukraine has not only refused to condemn the killing, they are criticizing those who do.

Extrajudicial executions can be considered a war crime in the context of an armed conflict. They violate such treaties as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Geneva Conventions, and the European Convention on Human Rights.

You don’t have to like or agree with the content that Alexandr Dugin or his daughter produced. But under International Law, there are no exceptions which would allow a country to commit an extrajudicial execution just because they don’t like what the victim is saying. By that logic, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi Arabia, would be justifiable since the Saudi authorities did not like what he wrote.

It is telling that President Joe Biden refuses to condemn this blatant act of violence, which he would have done promptly had it been Russian agents committing an extrajudicial killing against a civilian in Ukraine because they didn’t like what they were writing about Vladimir Putin. This tells me that Joe Biden is not really interested in fighting for the “Rules Based International Order” that he keeps talking about, but is just interested in carrying out a personal vendetta against Putin, using the Ukrainians as cannon fodder.

Russia stands accused of committing numerous such executions and poisonings over the years, both when they were known as the Soviet Union and today. If we don’t take a stand and condemn it when “our” side does it, then how can we argue that we are in any way morally superior to the Russians?

McCaskill Sees Results in Effort to Combat Chinese Trade Practices

Weeks after visiting a Sedalia steel wheels plant where she expressed support for a trade case against China, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today showcased the positive impact on American jobs that is resulting from recent work to combat illegal Chinese trade practices.  She also stressed the need to enforce the judgements of trade cases.   

In a letter to chief customs official David Aguilar, McCaskill pointed out recent evidence that Chinese companies are shipping jobs back to the U.S. after being forced to compete fairly with other manufacturers by the International Trade Commission.    

“This shows that when the playing field is level, the U.S. will outwork and outcompete China,” McCaskill said. “The problem is that a foreign government like China’s continues to do everything it can to cheat the system, and so I’m going to keep up the pressure on both China, and federal officials here in the U.S. to make sure everyone is playing by the same rules.”

Currently, if the Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission find that a Chinese company has engaged in unfair trade practices, those companies can be penalized through tariffs on their goods. Some Chinese companies have responded by moving their production to the United States and creating American jobs. 

Unfortunately, a number of malicious companies have sprung up offering to help foreign companies evade the tariff penalties through mislabeling, smuggling or other means.  Sen. McCaskill has been working with her colleagues to crack down on this problem.  In her letter, she warns that, if Chinese companies believe they can get away with smuggling, it will undermine job growth in the U.S.

McCaskill called on Aguilar to continue the American crackdown on such practices by foreign governments.

“Customs has taken some steps in the right direction, but needs to do more to stop this kind of evasion,” McCaskill wrote in her letter.  

McCaskill has been an outspoken leader in the fight against unfair trade practices in China, introducing the FAIR Enforcement Against Duty Evasion Act, which would help strength enforcement matters.

McCaskill has also stood up for Missouri manufacturers, testifying in Congress in support of a trade action filed against them by a Maxion Wheels of Sedalia, Missouri, and visiting the plant in April as part of her Fighting for Fairness tour.

A copy of McCaskill’s letter is available HERE.

Proposed Ballot Issue would Ban Sharia or Other International Laws

Representative Don Wells sponsored HJR 31 recently, a measure that bans the use of Sharia Law or other international law from being a source of any Missouri court decisions.

Many states are pushing to ban Sharia or international law from being used in their judicial systems. Representative Wells believes bordering states are accurate in their stand against Sharia law and offered HJR 31 which was referred to the Judiciary Committee last Thursday. HJR 31 would be placed on the ballot to be voted on in November. When passed, HJR 31 will be in Missouri’s constitution.

“We need a firm foundation in which the Missouri courts should base judicial decisions,” said Don Wells. “Logically speaking, the United States Constitution, the Constitution of Missouri, the United States Code, federal regulations, and state to state laws are currently used in Missouri court decisions. Missouri does not need foreign law in addition to the ones stated to make decisions in our courts. Prohibiting Sharia Law will also protect Missourians.”

Sharia Law has been used in New Jersey’s court system which resulted in refusing the safety of an abused woman. No action was taken against her husband who confirmed her allegations against him.