Germany's top prosecutor will seek a criminal investigation and prosecution of Rumsfeld, along with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former CIA director George Tenet and other senior U.S. civilian and military officers, for their roles in abuses committed at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
One witnesses who will testify on behalf of the prosecution is former Brig. Gen. J. Karpinski, the one-time commander of all U.S. military prisons in Iraq.
German law (like it or not) provides "universal jurisdiction" allowing for the prosecution of war crimes and related offenses that take place anywhere in the world. The Bush Administration has rejected adherence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on grounds that it could be used to unjustly prosecute U.S. officials.
Will the democrats run with these new charges?
Should they be tried as war criminals?
Should International courts be telling America what do do?
2006-11-11 14:03:56 · 11 answers · asked by big-brother 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
http://www.time.com/time/nation/printout/0,8816,1557842,00.html
2006-11-11 14:04:10 · update #1
Why are the Germans doing what are own Gutless Senate and House will not do?
This is an important issue and every member of Congress who is against having war crime trails or impeachment is a Traitor.
2006-11-11 14:08:20 · answer #1 · answered by dstr 6 · 2⤊ 8⤋
The German prosecutors have not made any decision.
The plaintiffs are Iraqis, not Germans. The plaintiffs are supported by an American NGO, not a German NGO. They WANT to have a criminal investigation in Germany, but it is doubtful whether they will get one.
They have not even contacted the German prosecutors yet. They have just issued a press release, picked up by TIME magazine. That's all that happened, but the American blogosphere goes ballistic and blames Germany, although Germany has not done anything. Crazy.
Apparently, many American bloggers are so convinced that Germans are Anti-American that they can't see straight anymore.
German prosecutors have dismissed similar cases in the past.
This is explained in more detail in the Atlantic Review, which is edited by three German Fulbright Alumni:
http://atlanticreview.org/archives/484-guide.html
2006-11-12 05:46:51 · answer #2 · answered by Atlanticus 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How did this become Germany's jurisdiction? Who are they to judge OUR officials? German law could provide that the moon is made of green cheese but that doesn't make it a fact or make it necessary for us to do anything but snicker.
Have they decided that because of their murderous ventures that cause the term "crimes against humanity" to be coined, that they have the absolute right to apply it where they deem fit? Isn't that somewhat akin to the Nazis conquering Europe and telling them what to do back in the 30s and 40s? They apparently haven't learned much from history.
If they are so self-righteously concerned about "crimes against humanity," why didn't they do something about Saddam long before we got there? How about N. Korea's leaders? Or China's? Or the dictators in South America? I find it interesting that the only time they fell the need to put their self-decided "universal jurisdiction" into practice is now and against officials of The United States.
So, I doubt that even Democrats will allow another country to dictate our actions. Remember when Chavez went to the UN and insulted the President? One of the Democrat's loudest critics of Bush in New York told him that he didn't come into his country and insult his President. That was HIS job.
NO, they shouldn't be tried as war criminals since they've committed no crime
First, it isn't an international court, it's a German court. But we can take care of ourselves, without their help. We took care of them and Japan a long time ago.
2006-11-11 14:16:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Is this revenge for us prosecuting their old Nazis? What idiots.
Poor Rummy.
Congress now has the majority of lepers. I optimistically think that congress won't try to indict Rumsfeld, Gonzales & Tenet. The new majority is concerned about our international reputation. They called off the threat to impeach Bush. They want to move closer to center. Presently, it's about Hellary's campaign for 2008.
2006-11-11 18:25:33 · answer #4 · answered by Em E 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) Neither Rumsfeld nor Tenet nor Gonzales committed any crimes, war or otherwise.
2) Germany wouldn't have jurisdiction even if they had.
3) Congress is the legislative branch. They have no power to prosecute.
Other than that, your question makes perfect sense.
2006-11-11 17:54:00 · answer #5 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
All though I never cared for Rumsfeld I don't think germany has the right to touch our americans. Especially because Germany is in bed with Iran. We better wake up and take care of our own people.
2006-11-11 14:17:47 · answer #6 · answered by Stand 4 somthing Please! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I just read that. Dangerous times we live in I tell ya. These American nut case political psychos better be careful what they wish for. It goes to show you just how angry the world is. Electing a bunch of dems is not going to change that. If you think this stuff is going away, forget about it. The world smells American blood and they're circling like sharks. It's time for everyone to realize the reality of our times and stand up for the US first, not an ideal.
2006-11-11 14:13:08 · answer #7 · answered by Griff 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
No.
Germany has lots of experience with war crimes over the years, don't they?
2006-11-11 14:07:49 · answer #8 · answered by Bawney 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
What goes around comes around huh? Bush and his group have been illegally kidnapping people and jailing them since 9/11.
2006-11-11 14:12:14 · answer #9 · answered by notme 5 · 2⤊ 7⤋
no
no
no
2006-11-11 14:17:25 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋