[lonevoice]

From the article: "Breath tests indicated that VanGoethem had been drinking alcohol, Romanian police told The Associated Press."

On the basis of the information we've been given, we don't know if the marine was driving drunk, only that he had been drinking alcohol. Do we know the law in Romania? By what standard would the marine be measured? What are the rules of evidence there? Is the accused allowed an attorney? If found guilty, what is the penalty? Would you agree to have a serving member of our armed forces tried and sentenced according to sha'ria law, for instance?

IF drunk driving was the cause of this unfortunate death, then the marine should be held accountable in the United States and punished to the full extent of the law, if guilty. To do otherwise is to set a very dangerous precedent.

[rogue yam]

On the basis of the information we've been given, we don't know if the marine was driving drunk, only that he had been drinking alcohol.

He blew a .09 according to the article at Reply #24. That’s legally drunk in California and many other states.

Do we know the law in Romania? By what standard would the marine be measured?

The allowed B.A.C. is zero, as per the same article.

What are the rules of evidence there? Is the accused allowed an attorney? If found guilty, what is the penalty? Would you agree to have a serving member of our armed forces tried and sentenced according to sha'ria law, for instance?

Romania is a European, Christian country and an ally. Their laws are what they are. I am of the opinion that unless we are occupying a country by force and engaged in combat (e.g. Afghanistan and Iraq) our military and diplomatic personnel should be treated just like everyone else is. No immunity.

IF drunk driving was the cause of this unfortunate death, then the marine should be held accountable in the United States and punished to the full extent of the law, if guilty. To do otherwise is to set a very dangerous precedent.

As I stated in Reply #22, the presence of alcohol creates a presumption of liability in Romania. I don’t have a link for this observation as it is derived from my personal experiences there. When you say “to the full extent of the law” whose law do you mean? The Marine was operating a vehicle on Romanian streets and a Romanian citizen was killed. I think a dangerous precedent would be set by failing to respect their sovereignty. Would you feel differently about where this Marine faced justice if the accident had occurred in Canada, Australia, or the U.K? Why should we treat Romania differently?

[monday]

From post #25; "The Marine allegedly failed to yield at an intersection and hit a taxi Friday night in Bucharest,"

If this is true, it doesn't matter if he had been drinking or not. He is guilty of vehicular manslaughter.

you say; "Would you agree to have a serving member of our armed forces tried and sentenced according to sha'ria law, for instance?"

Absolutely. If you go to a country, by your presence you agree to observe the laws of the land, and be tried accordingly if you break those laws. You think you are above the law because you are American?

you said; "To do otherwise is to set a very dangerous precedent."

The usual procedure is for US military to be tried in the country in which they commit a crime. It happens in Germany, Japan, Korea, etc. routinely. If this marine escapes justice in Romania THAT will set a new and dangerous precedent.

If that happens, you can expect the US will lose a very loyal Ally in the Romanian people. Public opinion is already turning against the US. What are the chances of the US building ANY new bases in Romania if there are protests outside the US embassy on a daily basis?