Warrant for Rumsfeld?

[Tattila the Hun]

That I have never undestood. Sure, if diplomat commits serious crime, it is good to have him brought to justice in his own country. I mean, in some countries, he could be flogged to death, if left to the mercy of the foreign law.

But parking tickets? Why should diplomat's not respect the laws that touch them in everyday life? I mean they should, but why should they not be held accountable, if they fail to obey even the simplest laws of the host country, maybe unintentionally, but often from sheer arrogance? You may be posted there for awhile, you might bother to check if 100KM/H is allowed speed on the main street during business hours.

[Giancarlo]

What a troll thread.. more leftism nonsense. Down with Germany. Hope they have a bad year economically. The German government should be severely punished for even listening to these wacky stupid groups.

[Tattila the Hun]

Free society is *****, ain't it? Something ought to be done to it.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
I don't really see why he canceled the trip given that even if a warrant were issued, he has immunity from prosecution under international law while in office and could not be arrested.

I thought that only applied to diplomats. As the case with Pinochet showed, not all officers of a government have immunity, as he was a permanent memeber of the Chilean Senate at the time he was detained. Rumsfield isn't a diplomat.

[Shi Huangdi]

No matter which party is in power, the American public would be outraged over trying a US President(or sec. of defense), and that prosecuting country could count on ruined relations with the US.

[chequita guevara]

I think GOPers would dance with glee if Clinton were arrainged somewhere.

[Shi Huangdi]

A minority would, just as a minority would dance with glee if Bush were arraigned. But most Americans would be outraged over something like that.

[Sava]

bah, nothing will happen...

and as Agathon said, Nixon and Kissinger were worse, and they never got anything...

[SpencerH]

I think this is the tip of the iceberg. I think we'll see a lot more of this bull**** including investigations by the international court.

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
--- Rumsfield isn't a diplomat.

Yes, he is!

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Sava
bah, nothing will happen...

and as Agathon said, Nixon and Kissinger were worse, and they never got anything...

Actually, Kissinger can't go to France anymore.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Chemical Ollie
Yes, he is!

That was 20 years ago.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Patroklos


Not quite as amazing as what would happen to said states in retaliation.

Retaliate against whom? The judges who issue the warrants are independent of the government.

Also the Vienna Convention does not extend immunity from criminal prosecution. Diplomatic immunity does not apply - look at what happened to Pinochet. He had diplomatic immunity but the British Government was still bound to hold him until extradition proceedings were heard by British courts. This could easily happen to Rumsfeld if warrants are issued.

The man is widely regarded internationally as a war criminal, no better than Milosovic, this could be the end of him.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
A minority would, just as a minority would dance with glee if Bush were arraigned. But most Americans would be outraged over something like that.

But thats the point.Who cares what you think. In many countries the courts have this power. The governments could be friendly but the courts could be hostile. The German government is friendly to the US but could not stop a court from issuing a warrant. Even if not acted upon the embarrassment would be great.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


The man is widely regarded internationally as a war criminal, no better than Milosovic, this could be the end of him.

Blah blah blah blah.. blah blah blah blah.. just because you say something doesn't make it true.