Iraqi Innocents Can’t Sue Bush Officials Over War

An Iraqi woman who fled her home during the Iraq War can’t sue George W. Bush administration officials, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Feb. 10 (Saleh v. Bush, 2017 BL 40818, 9th Cir., No. 15-15098, 2/10/17).

The ruling brings to an end a putative class action she brought on behalf of Iraqi civilians harmed by the war under the Alien Tort Statute, 28 U.S.C. §1350.

Sundus Shaker Saleh alleged that the officials acted outside the scope of their employment in carrying out the war because they spoke about a potential war before ...