Romania-US row over star's death

[cal04]

Romania is demanding that the United States hand over a US marine who left the country after being involved in a car crash that killed a top rock star. Police say a breath test suggests the marine had been drinking when his car hit a taxi carrying Teo Peter, 50, bass player with Romanian group Compact.

The US ambassador expressed regret but said the US authorities would first conduct their own investigation. Romanians have reacted with shock and grief to the veteran rocker's death.

The marine, who has not been named, worked as a guard at the US embassy in Bucharest. Police say he was driving a car that failed to stop at a junction in the capital. He hit a taxi, killed Peter and injuring the taxi driver.

Romania's foreign ministry has expressed "consternation" that the marine left the country immediately after the incident. It sent an official protest to the US embassy, asking for the man to be brought back and to have his diplomatic immunity lifted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4070821.stm

[Karenina]

1. Americans are "special"

and above being held accountable.

[leftofthedial]

2. take it up in the World Court . . .

er, never mind

[Downtown Hound]

3. I'm sure he was just having some harmless fratboy fun

[TheFarseer]

4. This is outrageous

If he did that back in the states, he would be in jail for 10 years. I wonder if he has any consequences at all over this.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Eventually people in other countries will go out of their way to avoid us

_Bush is showing the world that if an American is involved, you can be sure there will NOT be a just resolution to any situation. Americans will ALWAYS prevail, no matter what the cost to everyone else, every time.

We will also make trouble for any government which tries to support its own citizens who have been harmed by Americans.

Isn't it sad? We are all being forced to live as if we are all little spoiled brats, with arrogant, cold parents who dispise other people. We've gone from "The Ugly American" to the "Stinking, hateful, loathesome, cruel, dishonest, contemptible American."

[arikara]

6. Singers... wedding parties... old men, women, babies... who cares

Its only a bit of unavoidable collateral damage.

[Johnyawl]

7. Get a grip people, he had diplomatic immunity

Under international law the US is under no obligation to turn him over to the Romanian goverment, regardless of his crime. The world court would the US on this.

[kcass1954]

8. Understood

But don't we get pissed when another country pulls the same thing?

[rooboy]

9. The United States IS obliged to hand this guy over.

Ever heard of MORAL obligation?

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Friendly countries waive the immunity for serious crimes

eg Colombia waived immunity against a sergeant major accused of murder in the UK:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3070873.stm

Yes, if the USA wants to behave like the USSR in a western country in the 1970s, then they can claim immunity ...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. Several years ago, a young woman in DC was killed

by a drunken foreign diplomat. I believe he was Russian, though I may be mistaken. Public outrage was expressed over the incident (even here in Diplomatic Immunityville) The man eventually returned to face trial, and was found guilty.

Can we expect less of this Marine?

[Ima]

12. But..but, Romania doesn't understand........

We have wars to fight...cant spare no marine.:puke: