There MUST be someone to hold accountable - rehashing the 9-11 Victim Fund

[tniassaint]

Kenneth Feingold was on the radio this morning and was discussing his role in several mass settlement deals where victims of various events attempted to receive compensation through large funds set aside for that purpose. Honestly, Feingold is one of those people who are so easy to dislike; but he executed his responsibilities with a certain level

Comments

[policraticus]

I am pretty much with you on this, actually. People are tragically killed in terrible ways all the time and many thousands leave family, children, loved ones who are bereft and financially ruined. Where is their taxpayer financed fund? If private citizens want to give charitably, I say go for it, I was happy to contribute to fire and police benevolent organizations in the subsequent years, but outside of maybe an ex gratia payment, the Fed had no business doing what it did. It was driven by emotion, not reason.

[tniassaint]

Why not seize the assets (laughing a little as if they had any) of the Afghan Taliban Government (who was the legitimate governing body at that time) and pull the funds from that - as well as attaching the assets (as unreachable as they were) of the Bin Laden family and Al Qaeda in at least a symbolic gesture.

[policraticus]

Because we aren't allowed to plunder anymore.

[tniassaint]

This would not be plunder. It would be legal compensation due to illegal and criminal acts. Send it through the courts as needed.

You say we cannot plunder, but the concept of holding the airlines or the federal government (and therefore the tax payers) responsible is plunder just as well.

Why not allow a court to hold the Al-Qaeda and Taliban legally responsible as the actual perpetrator and facilitator. If the government can garnish wages when legal responsibility is determined why not in a case like this?

[policraticus]

It would be plunder because hand-wringers across the world would say it is plunder. Imperialist plunder. I can see the Guardian expose in my mind's eye.

[allhatnocattle]

not sure why the Taliban government or Bin Laden family would ever be even remotely responsible. Iraqi's could thereby sue the Bush family and the Republican Party for the tragedy at Abu Gharib?

[tniassaint]

One might argue they should be able to... the Iraqi's that is. What laws and which courts would they sue under? There have been plenty of examples of national entities and international entities being sued in US and UK courts - and of course, access is an issue.

We will never get the chance to find out. The logic still stands that the airlines were illogical - even nonsensical targets.

[dreadfulpenny81]

I wouldn't think the Taliban/al Qaeda/Afghanistan/Pakistan/whatever would just give up funds. I would think seizing assets would be the only way to get compensation, but then you run into the same problem you run into with rich criminals in the U.S. -- off-shore funds and secret banking accounts or money just buried somewhere.

[luvdovz]

Come on. There are no rich criminals in the US. :p

[tniassaint]

Oh I completely agree... but again the point is that just because you might never be able to collect on these folks, you should just sue whomever you think you CAN connect with - regardless to any sense of logic... ie: Sue the victim with the deepest pockets.

[tniassaint]

Thanks Jeff - nice icon...

Everybody IS Stalking... but it's all just Pissing in the Wind from what I hear.