Charges sought against Rumsfeld

news24dotcom ^ | 30/11/2004 | unknown

[OSHA]

Berlin - An international legal team filed a criminal complaint in Germany on Tuesday against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top US officials over the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq.

The New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Berlin's Republican Lawyers' Association said they and five Iraqi citizens mistreated by US soldiers were seeking a probe by German federal prosecutors of leading US policymakers.

They said they had chosen Germany because of its Code of Crimes Against International Law, introduced in 2002, which grants German courts universal jurisdiction in cases involving war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Civilian leaders liable

It also makes military or civilian commanders who fail to prevent their subordinates from committing such acts liable.

"We filed these cases here because there is simply no other place to go," CCR vice president Peter Weiss said in a statement.

"It is clear that the US government is not willing to open an investigation into these allegations against these officials," he said, adding that the US Congress had "failed" to seriously investigate the abuses.

The Center for Constitutional Rights noted that while several US soldiers were facing courts martial for the abuse and sexual humiliation of prisoners at the US-run Abu Ghraib detention center in Iraq, their superiors looked set to escape discipline.

The complaint names Rumsfeld, former CIA director George Tenet, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Steven Cambone, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, Brigadier General Janis L. Karpinski and other military officers who served in Iraq.

Donald Rumsfeld on down

"From Donald Rumsfeld on down, the political and military leaders in charge of Iraq policy must be investigated and held accountable," CCR president Michael Ratner said in a statement.

The CCR said that the five Iraqis it was representing had been victims of mistreatment including electric shock, severe beatings, sleep and food deprivation and sexual abuse.

It noted that Sanchez and other officers involved in the case were based in Germany.

[RetiredArmy]

Fat chance of this going any place.

[GmbyMan]

This continues to prove the Anti Americanism of the left in both Europe and in America. Why aren't these bozos seeking charges against the UN who ran a corrupt Oil for Bribes campaign for several years, thus increasing the coffers of a madman while the people in his country died? Seems to me that that is a slightly bigger deal, but that's just me.

[visualops]

The UN and Saddam perpetrated the biggest scam in history, which cost untold Iraqi lives, and these people are still harping on Abu Ghraib. Unbelievable.

[visualops]

GMTA

[Armedanddangerous]

Wonder if we can boycott BMW and mercedes if this happens?

[marlon]

Tell Rummy's at the Pentagon waiting for them all they have to do is go in and get him. Bawahahahahahahahah!

[Poohbah]

"In other news today, a thermonuclear explosion devastated the city of Hamburg, Germany. At the White House, President Bush's only comment was 'Who's yer daddy, Gerhard?'"

[Patti_ORiley]

And the left is still criticizing Bush from not signing on to the world court.

[intolerancewillNOTbetolerated]

"They said they had chosen Germany because of its Code of Crimes Against International Law, introduced in 2002, which grants German courts universal jurisdiction in cases involving war crimes or crimes against humanity. "

They chose Germany because of their long tradtion of respecting human rights and peaceful co-existence with the world.

Yeah, like there is any nation, let alone GERMANY, with any sort of ethical equity that makes their standing in judgment of the U.S. on virtually ANYTHING, let alone being expected to fight a war with an enemy that has no standards of conduct whatsoever under a microscope of scrutiny by those who lack the conviction to do what is necessary themselves, anything but self-serving baloney.

[ImpBill]

"They said they had chosen Germany because of its Code of Crimes Against International Law, introduced in 2002, which grants German courts universal jurisdiction in cases involving war crimes or crimes against humanity."

How interesting. Germany of all places involved in "crines against humanity".

Seems to me a bit ironic at best.

[Tallguy]

German courts accusing the US of running an illegal detention camp? Somebody explain the concept of a "hanging curveball" to the Germans!

[PLK]

Have they also filed a criminal complaint against the fine mooslim folks performing the beheadings? Wake me up when that happens - I might actually be interested in what a "german legal team" is up to at that point. Yawn.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"From Donald Rumsfeld on down, the political and military leaders in charge of Iraq policy must be investigated and held accountable," CCR president Michael Ratner said in a statement."

Is this Ellen Ratner's brother?

[keysguy]

The french wanna sue to but they don't know how.

[keysguy]

the germs will need to borrow some white flags from the french.

[Publius6961]

When are charges going to be filed against Germany and France and Russia for aiding and abetting terrorism by:

A) Supplying countries with moderm weapons which are channeled to terrorist groups all over the place.

B) Aiding and abetting terrorism by tolerating domestic hate speech against foreign countries by muslims in their countries.

If you shelter, tolerate or support terrorist anywhere by whatever means, we, the United States of America, are at war with you.

[dirtboy]

The New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Berlin's Republican Lawyers' Association said they and five Iraqi citizens mistreated by US soldiers were seeking a probe by German federal prosecutors of leading US policymakers.

I wonder if these nimrods ever files a suit against Saddam when he murdered his own people.

[keysguy]

The nazis actually approve of beheading as long as it is done with a german sword.

[visualops]

Well, seeing as we make BMW's right here in SC, I don't think that would be the greatest idea! lol

[You Dirty Rats]

es macht nicht

[Mark17]

Berlin - An international legal team filed a criminal complaint in Germany on Tuesday against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top US officials over the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq.

So, how many divisions do they command?

[cyncooper]

Michael Ratner (brother to the charming and scintillating Ellen) is president of CCR and in the two other articles I've read on this subject today, it is he who is quoted on this filing. Read some of his background here:

http://www.humanrightsnow.org/columbia_law_school.htm

[Edgerunner]

We aut to start a "court" so we can hand down decrees like the Germans!
This is a FARCE.
I defecate in their general direction!

[cyncooper]

See my link down thread. Michael Ratner has been involved in stirring the pot over the years and has caused much mischief as a result.

[cyncooper]

Indeed it is.

I linked one background piece on him down a bit. But here is another. Just look at the issues he's been involved in:

http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?aid=2356

[Publius6961]

"They said they had chosen Germany because of its Code of Crimes Against International Law, introduced in 2002, which grants German courts universal jurisdiction in cases involving war crimes or crimes against humanity."

Germany granted itself "universal jurisdiction"?
As did Belgium?

Do they have the divisions to back up any decision?

The world should accept the moral and legal authority of the biggest butchers of the 20th Century?

What's up with that?

[processing please hold]

There is an unwritten law where when you talk about the "ABUSE", you must mention the panties on the head thingy.

A lot of men would pay good money to be TORTURED that way...lol

[Trepz]

An international legal team filed a criminal complaint in Germany on Tuesday against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top US officials over the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq.

I hereby charge and find those individuals guilty of mass stupidity and sentence them to life in the sewers of baghdad. No food or water to be provided, all sustenance is to gather from the sewers. Anyone found assisting these individuals will receive the same sentence. Sentence to be impossed immeidately with no appeal.

[DAC21]

Pull ALL the troops out of Germany, and move up the schedule, "F" em

[processing please hold]

Agreed..."F" 'em all.

[Mad Mammoth]

CCR president Michael RATner

You just can't make these names up. They need to all receive the newest holiday greeting from FTD, the official Vice President Dick Cheney "G.F.Y." Greeting Card, "the card that delivers an unmistakable and the most appropriate message to the people who need it the most."

That Dick Cheney, ya just gotta love him!

[kellynla]

but they apparently had no problem with the mass murder and butchery of one Osama bin Laden...

[hellinahandcart]

I wonder if these nimrods ever files a suit against Saddam when he murdered his own people.

Surely you jest. The Center for Constitutional Rights is a Saddam fan club, just like the Lawyers Guild, the International Action Center, and International ANSWER.

[OSHA]

That's the answer! LOL

[chronotrigger]

"Berlin - An international legal team filed a criminal complaint in Germany on Tuesday against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top US officials over the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq."

Exactly why we haven't joined the ICC.

Amazing how the Euros and some neo-comms (neo-communists) in America still are so amazed that we haven't signed up.

[chronotrigger]

Wonder if we can boycott BMW and mercedes if this happens?

Wonder if we can nuke Germany?

[visualops]

And that's not even getting into the whole "panty raid" phenomenon.

Which makes me think of Anthony Michael Hall selling panty views lol

[chronotrigger]

Pull ALL the troops out of Germany, and move up the schedule, "F" em

I second that.

[Armedanddangerous]

Who would miss it?

[Tunehead54]

but they apparently had no problem with the mass murder and butchery of one Osama bin Laden...

---

Actually they did ... sort of. I forget his name but they found a guy in germany who knew Atta and others in the plot, assisted them directly in the planning and he was convicted of 2700+ murders (WTC, Pentagon,PA). Of course the maximum penalty was 15 years! Prolly out in seven assuming "good behavior". :-( Assuming Rumsfield is convicted I figure the worst they could give him is a couple of weekends in jail given their penalty for 9-11. ;-)

[Michael81Dus]

But you realized that it was Americans filing this complaint to the German Federal Prosecutor, who has made no decision whether to file charges or not?