U.S. judge hits Iran with $2.65 billion in damages over 1983 Marines barracks bombing
posted at 1:50 pm on September 7, 2007 by Allahpundit
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The biggest damage award against a foreign power in U.S. history, according to the judge himself.
Iran must pay $2.65 billion to the families of the 241 U.S. service members killed in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, a federal judge declared Friday in a ruling that left survivors and families shedding tears of joy…
Iran has been blamed for supporting the militant group Hezbollah, which carried out the suicide bombing in Beirut. It was the worst terrorist act against U.S. targets until the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Hundreds of people crowded into a federal courtroom to hear Friday’s ruling. Parents have grown old since their children were killed. Siblings have grown into middle-age. Children have married and started families of their own.
Weeping spectators stood and erupted in applause and hugs as Lamberth left the bench.
If this story sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because the very same judge — Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee — dropped a $254 million verdict on Iran last year for its role in the Khobar Towers bombing. There’s no way to collect except to seize Iranian assets, which depends upon being able to locate them — no easy feat given the regime’s expertise at hiding them to avoid U.S./UN sanctions on the nuclear program — and then confiscate them per U.S. and international law. The verdict’s largely symbolic, in other words, but only a little less gratifying for that reason, as the boldface part shows.
Quite a rap sheet the regime is building for itself, though. An international arrest warrant was issued last year for the new head of Iran’s Assembly of Experts after he was indicted in Argentina on terrorism charges. Now there’s a cool two-billion-dollar judgment stemming from actions taken by the government in the early 1980s. The president of Iran at the time who oversaw those actions? The current supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Blowing things up is a surefire way to get promoted in Tehran.
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It’s about time we settled some scores with these people.
CP on September 7, 2007 at 1:53 PM
…dear God. Talk about an impotent exercise in futility. The sentiment is all right, but the absolute naivete in acting like this ruling will make Iran bat an eyelash is ludicrous.
MadisonConservative on September 7, 2007 at 1:53 PM
Are the iranian Assets seized in 1979 in US banks still there ?
I remmeber that is one of the few things Jimmy Carter did to Iran. The Iranians wanted their billions back
William Amos on September 7, 2007 at 1:53 PM
Did anybody get any money from Libya after a judge ruled them responsible for the downing of airplane?
LakeRuins on September 7, 2007 at 1:53 PM
NO JUSTICE
NO PEACE
NO JUSTICE
NO PEACE
Wait…..the US won? IMPERIALISM!!!!!!!
Defector01 on September 7, 2007 at 1:54 PM
Iran might as well just print some US currency and send it on over. They have the means. They have the die casts.
gabriel sutherland on September 7, 2007 at 1:55 PM
Some background
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis
William Amos on September 7, 2007 at 1:56 PM
This could just be the winner for the new definition of futility.
Ochlan on September 7, 2007 at 1:58 PM
…errr…yeah…what MadCon said… ;-)
Ochlan on September 7, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Silky chimes in in 5…4…3…2…
‘See the courts DO work. That’ll show em to mess with the laws!’
Limerick on September 7, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Maybe, unless this is the precursor to sending in the repo men to collect.
James on September 7, 2007 at 2:00 PM
I’m sorry, I feel bad for the families, but these types of ruling are just stupid. Hello…. hello US Court system….. you do not have jurisdiction in Iran…. you can rule for any amount your want… BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE THEM PAY. So what’s the point? How long were US Court rooms tied up with this case?
Maxx on September 7, 2007 at 2:02 PM
Iran only has one oil refinery, let’s bomb it and call it even.
LakeRuins on September 7, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Let’s send Jimmy Carter to collect !!
Maxx on September 7, 2007 at 2:06 PM
Does this not srike anyone else as kinda stupid?
Granted, the happiness enjoyed by the family and friends of those lost is priceless, but are we really gonna start sueing over acts of war?
And, because I feel a little blue today, will this allow other aggrieved governments to sue the U.S. or the C.I.A. over incidents in their countries?
VolMagic on September 7, 2007 at 2:06 PM
We apparently can, however, seize Iranian assets, including in banks.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 2:17 PM
This sets a VERY dangerous international precedent.
Now any country can sue US for damages from military operations.
And I say this as someone who WAS THERE… who helped dig out bodies… this does nothing more than make any military operation or support for anothers operation, fall under judicial review.
Romeo13 on September 7, 2007 at 2:17 PM
IIRC, they’ve tried to do so before.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Military operations are NOT terrorist operations. Whole different animal. Terrorism is, by its very nature, illegal.
IrishEi on September 7, 2007 at 2:23 PM
No Judge Lamberth you could have done more. You could have denied the case from the beginning and saved those families all of those legal fees that will never get reimbursed. You could have tossed the case out on the first day and prevented U.S. Court rooms from being un-necessary tied up over a case that can be granted no true relief. How much did taxpayers have to pay for this feel good meaningless result?
Maxx on September 7, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Considering these were the families of 234 Marines who died overseas protecting our freedom, I’d say the cost isn’t terribly important right now.
We spend tons of money on crap lawsuits all of the time. This one, which apparently makes the families feel that justice has been served, I personally don’t mind sending my tax dollars to.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 2:32 PM
Correct. That’s why soldiers are covered under the Geneva Convention, and not terrorists.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 2:33 PM
“Will you take a Czech?”
mojo on September 7, 2007 at 2:35 PM
Some things money can’t buy. I suspect these families got what they needed from the verdict alone. Like ameripundit, I have no problem spending taxpayer money for whatever peace of mind this process gave them.
That’s really bad; but I’m gonna give you a pass and assume you got an early start on the weekend. LOL
IrishEi on September 7, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Sorry, but your wrong. The recent revisions of the Geneva convention, and our OWN legal opinions lately by the court, give Geneva Convention rights to Nonuniformed combatants.
Add in the FACT that under international law everything we’ve done since WWII have been UNDECLARED Wars… and you have a real legal problem… One mans soldier is another mans terrorist ( at least to the Lawyers ).
So… whats next… Iran has been sued for supporting Hezbollah… are we going to get sued for supporting the Mujahadeen in Afganistan? or the Contras in Central America?
Or even worse… for our support of Israel?
Bad legal precedent.
Romeo13 on September 7, 2007 at 2:48 PM
Huh? Israel’s an ally, recognized by the United Nations. What are we going to get sued for supporting Canada and France, too?
Are we really more afraid of lawyers than the terrorists themselves?
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 2:53 PM
(from above)
Stupid chicks:
Yeah, that’s the secret. Lawsuits. The American way.
Why didn’t Roosevelt think of that?
Christoph on September 7, 2007 at 2:56 PM
It’s still a misuse of the courts amerpundit and those families would have more money in there pockets right now if the court would have done the right thing and rejected the case for lack of jurisdiction. The courts should not allow themselves to be used as a mere feel good venue then it could be deciding cases where real relief could be granted. I know it sounds hard-nosed but you are really undermining the purpose of the court when this type of case is accepted.
And a greater harm will result if other countries follow suite and rule against US private interest in their jurisdiction for acts or perceived acts committed by our government. If this type of thing continues perhaps a division of Lockeed will be confiscated by the Japanese government for the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It’s just dumb, it leads to more problems than solutions.
Maxx on September 7, 2007 at 2:57 PM
Except that would lead to political repercussions for that country.
We’re already have companies seized in other countries, regardless of these lawsuits. How about parts of our oil companies being taken over by Chavez? It’s already being done.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 3:01 PM
Yes, but Chavez does it because that’s what socialist do.
I’m talking about the harm that results when normal democratic countries decide to allow their citizens to sue other governments for past offences. Private interest will crumble and internation trade will fail because no company wants to be held responsible for what some court thinks the US goverment is responsible for. It’s just madness, we should not engage in it.
Maxx on September 7, 2007 at 3:06 PM
I can’t think of many “normal democratic countries” that wouldn’t suffer from political repercussions resulting from taking away our companies.
First of all, Japan is our ally. Beyond that, let’s remember the horrible offenses the Japanese and other countries in that region committed during those same wars. Need we bring up times they cut open their prisoners, while they were alive?
The others don’t really have anything to sue for. Russia? Russia funds Iran and is helping it with its nuclear program. It doesn’t need additional pressure. China? China’s trying to get on our good side. Trade embargoes would kill their economy. Britain? No. France? No. We’ve saved their @sses countless times.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 3:14 PM
We should just annex Iran and call it even. Then outlaw all forms of islam followed by turning all mosques into pork processing plants.
Guardian on September 7, 2007 at 3:23 PM
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 3:14 PM
You lost me… I’m not seeing the connection to the original debate.
My point simply is… the courts cannot grant relief for acts of war/terrorism. They simply have no jurisdiction to grant relief. Thus it is wrong of the courts to pursue such issues.
Maxx on September 7, 2007 at 3:24 PM
I’m not arguing on jurisdiction. All I’m saying is that we can’t not do these things because we’re in fear of other countries doing the same.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 3:26 PM
Now they they are tied to the murder of US Marines for the world to see, when does payback time start?
How many acts of war and more dead US military and civilians are we waiting for?
Hening on September 7, 2007 at 3:28 PM
The problem is one of legitimacy.
We bombed Bosnia without UN approval or a declaration of war. Folks there could go to a GERMAN court (who also, following our lead, declared Universal Jurisdiction), and sue us for COLLATERAL damage.
Or… Israels little incursion into Lebanon last year… by this courts precedent WE could be sued, because we supported Israel financialy before and during a cross border incursion.
Its a further case of the courts taking power in cases where they declare that they have jurisdiction in cases where they clearly DO NOT. This happened in Lebanon… for a suit to go forward it should have happened THERE.
So, now the Courts in Tehran will follow suit, declare Universal Jurisdiction, under Sharia law, and try us for the “Terrorist Invasion” of Iraq….
Romeo13 on September 7, 2007 at 3:33 PM
The Lebanese crossed into Israel first, taking two soldiers yet to be returned.
That’s not really my major concern as they’re blowing up our troops, touting a plan to wipe Israel off the map, and building nuclear weapons. It seems they’ve already declared “universal jurisdiction” under Sharia law.
amerpundit on September 7, 2007 at 3:38 PM
Amen. As nice as this court verdict may be, I’d prefer a noon-time MOAB over the former US Embassy.
How many more EFPs have to maim our troops? How many more of their “diplomats” do we have to catch red-handed in Iraq?
At what point do we start cashing in these receipts?
Kid from Brooklyn on September 7, 2007 at 3:43 PM
Problem is that countries like Russia could use THEIR court rulings to dismiss any court ruling we may give.
It would all depend on who recognized which rulings… and with the silliness going on at the UN… I would hazard a guess that the US would loose that fight. I mean, take a look at which countries are running the commities in the UN…
Romeo13 on September 7, 2007 at 5:45 PM
I say we invade Iran’s oil fields and oil terminals, and their refinery. Then give them to a US oil company to operate, with the profits going to reimburse those who have judgments against Iran.
If they don’t like it, we can do to them what they want to do to all Americans, bomb them.
When all the debts and judgments are paid, then we can negotiate with Iran IF we’ll return them and on what terms.
georgej on September 7, 2007 at 6:50 PM
Yeah like they’re ever going to pay. I’d like to see that.
Between this and the money they have to spend every day to refine their oil, Iran will be bankrupt.
Ryan Gandy on September 7, 2007 at 7:18 PM
I guess they “sold their souls” in Debbie Schlussel’s world;
Is it time for Debbie to apologize yet?
Terp Mole on September 7, 2007 at 7:27 PM
Exellent,and when iminadinnerjacketcrazyguy won,t
pay up,then send in the United States Airforce to collect.
canopfor on September 7, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Money will not be collected from these attacks but the fact that the basic truth – that the Ayatollahs are gangsters – is being acknowlegded is significant.
aengus on September 7, 2007 at 10:48 PM
You must have been with the 7th Marines, Romeo13. I was with 2/4 and was TAD to El Salvador under the FID program at the time. My best bud came back from the Root with severe facial burns, I couldn’t recognize him. I’ve had a special place in my heart for islamo-kooks ever since.
Oohrah, brother.
Alden Pyle on September 7, 2007 at 10:55 PM
The CIA should have a special division that collects on such damage awards. Allot 10% of whatever is collected for Agency expenses and turn ‘em loose, using every available spook tool.
Great fun and oh so satisfying.
T J Green on September 8, 2007 at 2:04 AM
Let’s start thinking about sueing Mexico also.. For all the rapes, murders, drug dealers, home invasions, invading US citizens property rights, job robbers, turning young girls into their horrors and hooking them on their drugs stuffed inside their mattresses, etc.etc.etc…a nice class action law suit by everyone who has been harmed by this Mexican invasion.
Legions on September 8, 2007 at 12:10 PM
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