Rumsfeld's next problem

[james_davis_nicoll]

A lawsuit in Germany will seek a criminal prosecution of the outgoing Defense Secretary and other U.S. officials for their alleged role in abuses at Abu Ghraib and Gitmo

This bit is interesting: "Germany was chosen for the court filing because German law provides "universal jurisdiction" allowing for the prosecution of war crimes and related offenses that take place anywhere in the world."

Comments

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

What'll you bet me the US will choose not to recognize that "universal jurisdiction" ....

[pauldrye.livejournal.com]

It's not a question of them recognizing it. The international community does, and it's mostly a question of how far gone US-World relations are whether this goes ahead or not. If it does -- I strongly suspect it will be quashed by pressure in Germany -- Rumsfeld might not be able to set foot outside the US without ending up in pokey.

It's especially humourous since the whole thread of international law that brought us to this point started at the Nuremberg Trials.

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

Same reason why Henry Kissinger doesn't travel much any more...

[dewline.livejournal.com]

My heart sarcastically bleeds for Mr. Kissinger.

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

Not one of my favourite people, no.

[(Anonymous)]

The international community recognises Germany's universal jurisdiction precisely as far as it's not them getting sued. America just pointed this out in advance.

[timill]

It's all good fun until Saudi Arabia uses the same theory to impose Sharia law worldwide...

[dewline.livejournal.com]

As far as their particular interpretation of shari'a is concerned, if they try it, it'll be too bad for them. Other, saner interpretations may yet prove more trustworthy in the eyes of the world at large, I suspect.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't say the US would be able to make non-recognition of it stick. :)

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

It's not a question of them recognizing it. The international community does, and it's mostly a question of how far gone US-World relations are whether this goes ahead or not. If it does -- I strongly suspect it will be quashed by pressure in Germany -- Rumsfeld might not be able to set foot outside the US without ending up in pokey.

It's kind of funny to think of the guys in the gang who helped make travel to anf from the US such a pain in the ass being inconvenienced to an even greater degree.