Posted on 12/06/2004 3:57:38 PM PST by AMBIVILANCEkilledTHEcat
Alleging responsibility for war crimes and torture at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, a human rights group has filed a criminal complaint in Germany against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other top US officials.
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.
It also makes military or civilian commanders who fail to prevent their subordinates from committing such acts liable.
"No other place to go"
"We filed these cases here because there is simply no other place to go," CCR vice president Peter Weiss said in a statement, adding that the US Congress had "failed" to seriously investigate the abuses. "It is clear that the US government is not willing to open an investigation into these allegations against these officials."
The Center for Constitutional Rights noted that while several US soldiers were facing court 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.
Five victims part of the case
"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 issued in Frankfurt, Germany.
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. Germany's federal prosecutor now has to decide whether the case warrants further investigation.
DW staff/AFP (win)
"I applaud the effort by the German citizens"
this effort is no more by "the German citizens" than it is by "the American citizens". It is an action taken by a couple independent small groups of persons, acting on their own initiative.
no need to blame "the German citizens" for this, merely because their courts allow a suit to be attempted there.
Viking kitties killed Ambivilance.
Why don't you tell that face to face to one of the soldiers or Marines who are over there? Or better yet, as the father of a Marine, come see me! In my opinion, if the German court is so stupid as to try and convict them, and then tries to arrest them, it is grounds for war.
I've met a few people like yourself. They sleep in doorways and usually have fleas.
And we let them live to tell the tale?
Does this suggest anything to you at all?
as America has simply declared itself above any global war tribunals.
Is that why we won't be seeing your guy, Bill Clintoon, in front of a war tribunal for bombing Serbia and killing 2,000 Serbians?
You are about to become VK meat
DO YOU SMELL THE OZONE??????????
Why don't you respond?
Are you scared?
What time is the kick off for the invasion!!
"which grants German courts universal jurisdiction They want to be master of the universe? it sounds familiar."
no, it was because Nazis who fled Germany to other countries could be charged in German court anyway . . .
you beat the ZOT!
WELL DONE!
"Did I beat the zot?"
Look what the troll's only other post was:
God Is A Registered Voter ^
Posted by AMBIVILANCEkilledTHEcat to SwinneySwitch
On News/Activism ^ 12/06/2004 3:40:32 PM PST · 3 of 3 ^
It's too bad that the faith the founding fathers had rested upon the belief of separation of church and state, and therefore, making any such legislation based on those principles is kind of well I guess horse-turds! I find your argument ilconcieved but I'm surprised since it stems from the Christian right; however, surprise surprise, I AM a gay American, and I did vote for Bush. I did so because I thought Kerry was a joke, despite what I think about Bush. So, God as you say, is totally irrelevant in an election. People make their own fates or haven't you learned anything from history. Maybe we should have a good ol baby sacrifice to keep the eclipses away!
They are fighting people who are willing to ruthlessly slaughter their catives by slowly cutting and ripping out their throats before behading them.
But I don't see you getting upset about that.
Once you get upset about that enough to put your butt on the line, then come see me.
Until then, KMA. Oh, yeah, have a nice day.
"Code of Crimes Against International Law, introduced in 2002, which grants German courts universal jurisdiction in cases involving war crimes or crimes against humanity."
--
Right. I thought the Thrid Reich fell?
Since when did Germany have Universal Jurisdiction
on anything?
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