Ecuador Learns 'Security Operations' Can Be a War Crime, Too
A Guayaquil court just sentenced 11 air force troops for the 'forced disappearance' of four Afro-Ecuadorian boys during President Noboa's 'iron-fist' security crackdown. The Guardian frames this as a 'starkest example of human rights abuses' under a rightwing leader. (Perhaps, if you ignore quite a few other examples, and entire histories). While Ecuador grapples with its military overreach, the
US continues to funnel billions in military aid, often to nations whose 'security operations' bear striking resemblances to this tale. One might charitably inquire why some disappearances are crimes, while others are just 'unfortunate collateral damage' in freedom's name. It seems some nations have higher ethical standards for their armed forces than others, or at least, more effective courts.