Warrant for Rumsfeld?

[Alexander's Horse]

I'm sorry but that simply isn't true - the Vienna Convention does not extend unlimited immunity. In Australia for example diplomats must pay traffic fines.

The fact that Rumsfeld cancelled a trip to Europe for a conference suggests the Administration took the threat seriously.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
I'm sorry but that simply isn't true

Sadly this position isn't backed up by anything substantive: The Congo v Belgium ruling from the ICJ pwnz you.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Jesus people am I the only one that actually studies these issues.

Since you're going into law, I suspect probably, yes.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Kissenger was likely the most realistic Sec. of State we've had in the last 50 years. I'd take him back in a heart beat.

He's a mass murderer and a war criminal. I'm opposed to the DP, but I'd make an exception for him. If there's a hell, Satan has a place next to Hitler for Kissinger. In addition, the man's a traitor to our country. He helped Nixon sabotage the Paris peace talks, which kept our country in the Vietnam War another four years, and killed another 24,000 Americans, and God only knows how many more Indochinese. There isn't a torture too cruel for him.

[Dis]

bump

[DinoDoc]

I'm glad someone decided to bump this. I'd be ashamed if after all my work people thought the case had a chance in hell of overcoming the legal realities Rummy still being in office places on it before we even get to sustaining burden of proof.

[Imran Siddiqui]

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. This is without even going into the dubious merrits of the case.

What he said.

[child of Thor]

aha! i've found it!

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Sadly this position isn't backed up by anything substantive: The Congo v Belgium ruling from the ICJ pwnz you.

You miss the point - its the embarassment and the difficult position it puts a host government in which is the problem - I don't seriously expect Rumsfeld would be arrested in Germany but it would put the German government in an awkward position if Rumsfeld visited.

I think this is a positive development - it reminds Bush Administration officials and others that they can't act with impunity. Someone might call them personally to account eventually.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
You miss the point

I get the point quite well. The fact is that there can be no warrant (period, full stop) for anyone in the Bush admin. while they are still in office.

[Alexander's Horse]

right - you miss the point

[DinoDoc]

Why don't you explain to me (legally!) how a court could even entertain such a motion before we start considering the political implications of your wet dream scenario?

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Tattila the Hun
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.

In Washington diplomats from the former Soviet Union have an especially bad reputation. They rack up more unpaid parking tickets then any other region plus there have been several high profile cases of drinking and driving. A few years back a Georgian diplomat was drunk and ran over a eight year old girl in a cross walk.

[chequita guevara]

When I visited a friend there, she made sure to stress being very observant when crossing the street.

[child of Thor]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4236489.stm

This is in the news again for an upcoming visit for around the 13 of feb 05.

If nothing can happen to him while in office, why did he cancel the trip last time, and why the cold-feet now? surely he will have teams of very good lawyers giving him advice?