Charges Filed Against Rumsfeld, other US Officials in Germany
Charges are to be filed with Germany's head prosecutor next week seeking an investigation and criminal prosecution of Rumsfeld, AG Alberto Gonzales, former CIA Director George Tenet and other officials for their part in the abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. The plaintiffs are former prisoners and chose Germany because it has a "universal jurisdiction" law on the books for trying war crimes. A similar case was almost brought against Rumsfeld in 2004, but the US was able to bully them from following through. The German prosecutor said at the time that he was dropping the case because he thought the US was going to do its own investigation, but that has proven false. I actually hope they follow through with it this time, not because I want to see Americans found guilty of war crimes (although if the facts show it is warranted, they should be), but because it will at least show people around the world that if you commit war crimes you can be prosecuted. If a country such as Germany is willing to try Americans despite the obvious political hurdles I think it sends a clear message to others to fear the courts. TIME has the full story here. Also, here is an op-ed piece by the President of the National Lawyers Guild supporting the charges against Rumsfeld and company.