Time Exclusive: Charges Sought Against Rumsfeld Over Prison Abuse

[notadmblnd]

Along with Rumsfeld, Gonzales and Tenet, the other defendants in the case are Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Stephen Cambone; former assistant attorney general Jay Bybee; former deputy assisant attorney general John Yoo; General Counsel for the Department of Defense William James Haynes II; and David S. Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff. Senior military officers named in the filing are General Ricardo Sanchez, the former top Army official in Iraq; Gen. Geoffrey Miller, the former commander of Guantanamo; senior Iraq commander, Major General Walter Wojdakowski; and Col. Thomas Pappas, the one-time head of military intelligence at Abu Ghraib.

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. Indeed, a similar, but narrower, legal action was brought in Germany in 2004, which also sought the prosecution of Rumsfeld. The case provoked an angry response from Pentagon, and Rumsfeld himself was reportedly upset. Rumsfeld's spokesman at the time, Lawrence DiRita, called the case a "a big, big problem." U.S. officials made clear the case could adversely impact U.S.-Germany relations, and Rumsfeld indicated he would not attend a major security conference in Munich, where he was scheduled to be the keynote speaker, unless Germany disposed of the case. The day before the conference, a German prosecutor announced he would not pursue the matter, saying there was no indication that U.S. authorities and courts would not deal with allegations in the complaint.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1557842,00.html

Looks like they're going after the entire gang. anyone think they'll be successful?

[file83]

1. Why isn't the United States doing this instead of Germany? What a flip of history.

[bigdarryl]

2. OH SHIT!!! like the old saying be careful what you wish for...

the Administration talked all this stuff about war crimes well now the tables are turned

[Phredicles]

3. Does "universal jurisdiction" mean none of these defendants could EVER

go to any country that has an extradition treaty with Germany?

The fact that John "Torture Is Nice" Yoo is among those named makes me especially happy.

[notadmblnd]

4. I don't know what it means. I imagine he's safe as long as he stays in the US

unless someone is dispatched to kidnap them or something like that. Yes I agree, Yoo deseves his own special place in hell.

[leveymg]

5. If indicted, we will have to extradite them to Germany.

Even a presidential pardon wouldn't save Rummie and Yoo and the rest from prosecution under the UN Convention Against Torture.

The wheels of justice are turning, and are about to roll over those criminals.

[Phredicles]

6. So our choice would be either to extradite them or be in breach of our

treaty?

Of course, we know how deeply The Decider cares about treaties.