According to the BBC, US “constitutional rights lawyers” have filed a criminal complaint against Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other Defense Department officials for so-called abuses of Iraqi rebel detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The other defendants include Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez (US Army - former commander in Iraq), and former Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet. The story can be found here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4057531.stm
Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, this whole business has its ludicrous aspects. This complaint was filed with the German Federal Prosecutor by something called the "Center for Constitutional Rights" in New York. The Germans prosecuting Americans for human rights violations ! That’s too rich for words. Must be a run on black pots and kettles in Deutschland. Even assuming the Germans pursue the case, (which is not a slam-dunk) the matter is an exercise in futility because (whatever the Germans claim) the German courts have no jurisdiction, and cannot put their paws on Mr. Rumsfeld and company without landing Germany in some hot, hot water.
More seriously, the very idea of Americans acting to procure prosecution of US public officials in foreign courts sticks in El Jefe’s craw. The BBC story says that the “Center for Constitutional Rights” deemed American investigations into Abu Ghraib “inadequate.” The "Center for Constitutional Rights" evidently distrusts American constitutional processes, because they then went forum-shopping and chose Germany because the Germans have legislation purporting to allow such prosecutions across national boundaries. The idea that Americans would connive with foreigners at orchestrating what would amount to public humiliation of the US government, not to mention propaganda for its enemies, is both astonishing and disgusting to El Jefe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4057531.stm
Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, this whole business has its ludicrous aspects. This complaint was filed with the German Federal Prosecutor by something called the "Center for Constitutional Rights" in New York. The Germans prosecuting Americans for human rights violations ! That’s too rich for words. Must be a run on black pots and kettles in Deutschland. Even assuming the Germans pursue the case, (which is not a slam-dunk) the matter is an exercise in futility because (whatever the Germans claim) the German courts have no jurisdiction, and cannot put their paws on Mr. Rumsfeld and company without landing Germany in some hot, hot water.
More seriously, the very idea of Americans acting to procure prosecution of US public officials in foreign courts sticks in El Jefe’s craw. The BBC story says that the “Center for Constitutional Rights” deemed American investigations into Abu Ghraib “inadequate.” The "Center for Constitutional Rights" evidently distrusts American constitutional processes, because they then went forum-shopping and chose Germany because the Germans have legislation purporting to allow such prosecutions across national boundaries. The idea that Americans would connive with foreigners at orchestrating what would amount to public humiliation of the US government, not to mention propaganda for its enemies, is both astonishing and disgusting to El Jefe.
1 comment:
When their verdict is handed down, do you think they'll use the Blue Helmets to enforce it? If so, we have nothing to worry about.
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