“Another Such Victory Over The Romans And We Are Undone.”
The quote that titles this post is one of the quotations attributed to King Pyrrhus, supposedly said to the people congratulating him after winning a battle with the Romans. Another version is: "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined." This is the genesis of the term 'Pyrrhic victory', a "victory" that costs far more than it is worth. That pretty well describes this victory in a court here in the United States.
A federal judge yesterday ordered Iran to pay more than $2.6 billion to nearly 1,000 family members and a handful of survivors of a 1983 bombing of a Marine barracks in Lebanon that killed 241 soldiers. The ruling brought cheers and tears from survivors but faces long odds of being fulfilled.
"This court is sadly aware that there is little it can do to heal the physical wounds and emotional scars," wrote U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth in his order. But he expressed hope that "this extremely sizeable judgment will serve to aid in the healing process and simultaneously sound the alarm to the defendants that their unlawful attacks on our citizens will not be tolerated."
The militant group Hezbollah carried out the suicide bombing on Oct. 23, 1983, but in a ruling in 2003, Lamberth found that Iran was "legally responsible" for supporting Hezbollah with financial and logistical support to carry out the attack. Iran did not contest the charges.
Hundreds of survivors and families packed into the courtroom to hear Lamberth's ruling, and they erupted in applause when he left the bench.
Even if a victim of terrorism wins at trial, however, it is almost impossible to collect damages. Iran's assets in the United States, for instance, are worth only about $20 million, mainly in diplomatic property, according to State Department officials. Congress passed legislation in 2000 authorizing the payment of $380 million in U.S. Treasury funds to claimants in cases involving 14 victims who were held hostage or killed by Iranian-supported groups such as Hezbollah. Lawmakers ordered the State Department to try to get that money reimbursed by Iran.
241 dead American Marines and an noncollectable judgment against a regime that openly advocates the downfall of this country and everything it stands for. Civilized law will not win against intentional barbarity. 'Pyrrhic victory' is too kind a term for this. Ed Morrisey has thoughts about this legal landmark as well.
UPDATE: Thanks to Dr. Sanity for linking this post in the Carnival of the Insanities.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), Saturday, 8 September , 2007 @ 9:15 pm
What about selling off the Iranian property frozen in 1979? (Note: I favor taking harsh action against Iran, but the legal issues are relevant.)
By Gaius, Saturday, 8 September , 2007 @ 9:30 pm
Oh, I hope they do. But it isn’t even close to the judgment amount.
By Quilly Mammoth, Saturday, 8 September , 2007 @ 11:11 pm
Foreclosure to satisfy a judgment. A legal concept in most countries.
By GMC, Saturday, 8 September , 2007 @ 11:20 pm
Tomahawk with a fuel-air warhead woul help, maybe?
By Chris, Sunday, 9 September , 2007 @ 5:28 am
I don’t see how holding Iran accountable for Hezbollah’s action is a Pyhrric victory. It may not be much, but it’s a step in the right direction.
By Bob, Monday, 10 September , 2007 @ 1:58 pm
John Edwards wants to see more of this activity!