Well I said that we'd start seeing lots of nasty legal proceedings against leading lights of the Bush Administration now that the Democrats have some democratic clout in the US Congress and I was right. Well, kind of. According to an exclusive posted last night by Time, a criminal investigation is about to begin against Donald Rumsfeld and Alberto Gonzalesin (US Attorney General) in Germany. Yes. Germany. The case is being sought by 11 plaintiffs from Iraq who were prisoners at Abu Ghraib, and Mohammad al-Qahtani, a Saudi held at Guantanamo. Apparently they chose Germany because they have "universal jurisdiction" when it comes to war crimes.
Quick reality check time though. The US will never extradite Rumsfeld to face war crime charges in another country in what she will see as a politically motivated trial. In the case of the Attorney General I think he might actually have to extradite himself. It's never going to happen, which makes the trial rather meaningless.
6 comments:
This wasn't a Time exclusive. It's also been covered by ABC's Blotter and others.
And there's nothing difficult or 'investigative' about the media 'uncovering' this story. The Center for Constitutional Rights which is bring the case has postyed not only a news item but a Background Brief on its website.
It's almost a case of the media publishing a press release and then saying 'look whart we found out, aren't we clever'.
The CCR is also challenging the Military Commissions Act both within the US legeal system and at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Quick reality check time though. The US will never extradite Rumsfeld to face war crime charges in another country in what she will see as a politically motivated trial.
In the case of the Attorney General I think he might actually have to extradite himself.
It's never going to happen, which makes the trial rather meaningless.
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a meaningless trial. do not agree.
it's a worthwhile initiative.
You're welcome to disagree. It doesn't make you right though.
You're welcome to disagree. It doesn't make you right though.
ditto.
having said that the whole process may help with "closure".
I think you're labouring under an illussion of misunderstanding. You are wrong, I am right. The trial is meaningless, no one will be extradited, no one will be sentenced.
Help with the "closure" of what exactly? It's a bollocks trial.
"You are wrong, I am right."
opinionated arrogance - i agree.
someone asking for a trial does not mean that the trial actually takes place - hence I referred to the process.
"closure" - well, I'm afraid you will have to work that out for yourself.
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