Thread: Universal Jurisdiction??

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

An example is a US citizen smoking a Cuban cigar when travelling....it is against the letter of the law, and they could (in theory) be prosecuted for it!!

Is it? Is that a possession/consumption offense? I am not sure, not having read the law in question. I assumed it was a prohibition on importation, in which case your example would not work. Any experts (we have so many cigar smokers on this site, I am we'll get an answer quickly)?

Originally Posted by igitur55

Is it? Is that a possession/consumption offense? I am not sure, not having read the law in question. I assumed it was a prohibition on importation, in which case your example would not work. Any experts (we have so many cigar smokers on this site, I am we'll get an answer quickly)?

Look at my screen name! I became known as that because I was a recently graduated JD with a multi-thousand cigar collection! Edit...thinking back, it might go back even further, to when I was in law school. Not sure....regardless...

I am reasonably sure it is due to the fact that purchase of the cigar, regardless of where it takes place, is a benefit to the "enemy." Now...if it wasn't purchased, but given freely? I don't know. I did see the law in question, and have discussed it at some length, but it was at least a few years ago.

There is also an importation prohinition, and possession in the USA.

International law? Please. Were its heavy hand of concern, there would be no worry about driving ships past the Horn of Africa.

I think some of this comes from the fact that the U.S is signatory to certain international treaties concerning treatment of prisoners and all that, so if the U.S breaks these treaties and agreements then it can be tried for it. In the end though like any civil lawsuit even if you win you need to collect and how are you going to enforce it? same here as long as you stay out of Spain and even if you travel there and were arrested which I doubt would happen the red tape would be mind boggling.

Its like the international court, a joke.

International law is usually reserved for crimes that happen during wars that are recognized by the Hague or crimes that happen in international waters where there is no jurisdiction.


Here is a website. BTW I am guessing about the war crimes, it just seems that only certain wars are fitted into this category.

Originally Posted by Bruce

International law? Please. Were its heavy hand of concern, there would be no worry about driving ships past the Horn of Africa.

We've gotta get them Duke Boys!

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

Look at my screen name!

D'oh, of course!