Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rumsfeld considers war crime prosecution risk (May not go to Germany due to possibility of ARREST)
ABC News (Australia) / AFP ^ | February 2, 2005

Posted on 02/02/2005 12:02:12 AM PST by Stoat

Rumsfeld considers war crime prosecution risk

Concern that US leaders and military personnel risk prosecution in Germany for alleged war crimes has become a factor in deciding whether US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will attend an international security conference in Munich, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday.

US defence secretaries have rarely missed the Munich conference, an annual gathering of the world's top defence and national security officials and experts for two days of frank debate on major issues of war and peace.

Mr Rumsfeld has announced no plans to attend this year's meeting from February 11-13 even though he will be attending a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Nice, France just before it.

Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita said it remains to be determined whether Mr Rumsfeld will attend the Munich meeting.

The meeting's organiser, Horst Teltschik, said last month Mr Rumsfeld was not going.

Mr Rumsfeld was among 10 high-ranking US civilian and military officials named in a criminal complaint filed November 30 with a German federal prosecutor by a US legal rights group seeking an investigation into the Americans' role in the torture and abuse of detainees in Iraq.

Under Germany's Code of Crimes Against International Law, which was introduced in 2002, German courts have universal jurisdiction in war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Acknowledging US concern about the German law, Mr DiRita told AFP, "It's a factor in the decision" on whether Rumsfeld attends the Munich conference.

"It's not just a question of the secretary's travel. We have many thousands of US forces stationed there, some of which are named in this brief. So it's a big, big problem," he said.

He said the issue was being "worked on a government-wide basis".

"My impression is the German Government understands the gravity of this matter, but there are some unique aspects that will take time to address," he said.

A Berlin newspaper reported last week that the German federal prosecutor opted not to take legal action against Mr Rumsfeld because no German citizen was a victim of abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison.

The New York-based Centre For Constitution Rights, which filed the initial complaint, said on Friday it has filed new documents in the case, contending that attorney-general nominee Alberto Gonzalez had implicated himself in war crimes in Iraq, including torture at Abu Ghraib, in his Senate confirmation testimony.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: eurotrash; rumsfeld
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-112 next last
To: Stoat

I don't think these people are stupid enough to try it.

But...


21 posted on 02/02/2005 12:23:01 AM PST by DB (©)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stoat

Germany? Are they still in business?


22 posted on 02/02/2005 12:24:29 AM PST by Stultis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
We really ought to do this through proper channels.

1. Annex the country.
2. Repeal the law by executive order.
3. Free Rummy legally.

23 posted on 02/02/2005 12:24:50 AM PST by Monti Cello (We've got to move these refrigerators. We've got to move these color TV's.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

It's not official until the lib media says it is.


24 posted on 02/02/2005 12:25:08 AM PST by John Lenin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: dan_s
Read carefully, its not the germans who have filed the complaint. CAIR? ACLU?

I did read quite carefully, thank you very much.  It's irrelevant who filed the complaint; what's relevant is that the German courts accept the complaint and claim jurisdiction.

Any twit can file a complaint; the worry arises when it's taken seriously.

25 posted on 02/02/2005 12:26:02 AM PST by Stoat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Monti Cello

sounds good to me


26 posted on 02/02/2005 12:27:11 AM PST by GeronL (2-7-72 is my birthday, in lieu of gifts, just send me cash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: John Lenin

their lib media or ours?


27 posted on 02/02/2005 12:27:35 AM PST by GeronL (2-7-72 is my birthday, in lieu of gifts, just send me cash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Stoat

bump


28 posted on 02/02/2005 12:27:48 AM PST by GeronL (2-7-72 is my birthday, in lieu of gifts, just send me cash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Justanobody
Notice the year of this universal law?

1938?
1939?
1940?
1941?
1942?
1943?
1944?

Stop me if I get close.

29 posted on 02/02/2005 12:28:55 AM PST by VisualizeSmallerGovernment (Question Liberal Authority)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

"Tens of thousands of US troops go on a mission to spring Rummy from a German prison."

No. Just a few guys (and gals) in their "Urban Assault Vehicle" ala the movie STRIPES.


30 posted on 02/02/2005 12:30:46 AM PST by geopyg ("It's not that liberals don't know much, it's just that what they know just ain't so." (~ R. Reagan))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: VisualizeSmallerGovernment
lol..

2002...

31 posted on 02/02/2005 12:32:14 AM PST by GeronL (2-7-72 is my birthday, in lieu of gifts, just send me cash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Stoat
I say we send him, if the Germans want to start a row, we can send a carrier to their shores and tell him which they would rather keep, Rumsfeld, or Berlin.

The Eurowieners let Castro, Arafart and such scum swan about like movie stars and threaten Rummy? They have a lot of nerve.
32 posted on 02/02/2005 12:32:36 AM PST by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: geopyg
OK

goodnight

someone, loan me $5 till next year?

33 posted on 02/02/2005 12:32:49 AM PST by GeronL (2-7-72 is my birthday, in lieu of gifts, just send me cash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Bon mots

shores? From the shores of Germany? I think they have one shore...


34 posted on 02/02/2005 12:33:36 AM PST by GeronL (2-7-72 is my birthday, in lieu of gifts, just send me cash)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: GeronL
shores? From the shores of Germany? I think they have one shore...

No, they have two. One on the North Sea, and the other on the Baltic. I've been to both... windy and cold.

35 posted on 02/02/2005 12:38:56 AM PST by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: GeronL


Two shores.
36 posted on 02/02/2005 12:40:38 AM PST by Bon mots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: VisualizeSmallerGovernment

Why do you use such a light hard to read font?


37 posted on 02/02/2005 12:41:09 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (So I talk to myself, at least I am talking to a mind that is my equal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Stoat
I would go ape-sh%t if that happened!
38 posted on 02/02/2005 12:42:44 AM PST by Pro-Bush (Can't afford Medical care? Thank an illegal alien.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: geopyg

Operation Rumsfield!

39 posted on 02/02/2005 12:46:12 AM PST by WestVirginiaRebel ("Senator, we can have this discussion in any way that you would like.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Stoat; Southack

But between the UN and EU crapweasel laws, I wonder if even in FRANCE would Rummy be 'safe' from the grubby mitts of the ICC wannabe prosecutors--extradition tricks from FR to Germany....


40 posted on 02/02/2005 12:51:55 AM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (ATTN. MARXIST RED MSM: I RESENT your "RED STATE" switcheroo using our ELECTORAL MAP as PROPAGANDA!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-112 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson