Posted on 02/02/2005 12:02:12 AM PST by Stoat
Rumsfeld considers war crime prosecution riskConcern 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. |
How right you are! The delight I would take in watching the Germans even attempt to place Rumsfeld under arrest is beyond description. I would pay for a front row seat to when President Bush reacts, and I would await with baited breath to watch the dems react.
I am actually of the opinion that he should go--call a bluff or force a hand. Not to go would send a message of fear and intimidation, IMHO.
The irony of all this is that the Germans said nothing when Saddam executed 600 Kuwait POWs nor when he lit off the oil wells. In fact the other night on Fox the showed one of Saddam's underground complexes built by the Germans after sanctions were in place!
I agree, it's time to move our troops and our $Billions out of Germany.
Thanks, nw I have a map to plan my invasion to rescue Rummy. =o)
Your second comment is disgusting, and the first is dumb. The Federal Prosecutor won´t charge Rumsfeld, because no Germans were killed by Americans in Iraq nor were Germans killing people in Iraq under his command (in theory possible).
Seriously. This is one court that does not represent the policy of the German government. All they could do is embarass themselves and the German government. Nothing more.
HE[[ NO! NO PROSECUTOR CHARGES RUMSFELD NOR IS ANY COURT ACCEPTING A CHARGE! All the Federal Prosecutor has done and MUST have done is investigating the report by the American Left! What´s your problem??
Ummm.... I'm making the argument that the German government isn't behind this and would probably do everything in its power to prevent a judge or prosecutor from causing an international incident.
What's your problem?
Manhatten Project, a bullet with Germany's name on it.
The gas oven folk don't know how lucky they are that Hitler's armies collapsed early.
They didn't arrest clinton.
Agreed. Surround him with a few hundred of America's finest with the very best weaponry, and just dare 'em.
Not only the government is trying to stop this, the Federal Prosecutor also wants it - as it is even mentioned in the article. My guess is that way too many here are either too dumb to comprehend the article or too lazy.
Have you actually understood that neither the German government nor the Federal Prosecutor want to charge Rumsfeld, and that they just have to investigate the report filed by American Leftists? I mean, your nearest Police station also has to investigate when Mr.X complains about Mrs Miller who alledgly killed her neighbour, right?!
So what´s your problem?
I did not know that.
International Law and Jurisdiction ping........ enjoy
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.
I still did not know that.
Actually this is the brainchild of some dem lawyer from here in the states. He and some others filed the charges. I can't think of his name off the top of my head...back soon with more info.
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