Rumsfeld Debating Whether to Avoid Germany(arrest on war-crimes complaint)

[indigobusiness]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Thursday he has not decided whether to attend an international security conference next week in Germany, where he might be subject to arrest on a war-crimes complaint.

"I have not made a final decision on that (attendance). And there are several factors," Rumsfeld told reporters when asked if he would go to the prestigious annual private Munich Conference on Security Policy Feb. 12-13 when he is in Europe next week.

He conceded in response to questions at a press conference that one problem was the jurisdiction of a German court over a 160-page criminal complaint filed Nov. 30 with the federal prosecutor's office in Germany accusing him of war crimes in connection with detainee abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

That complaint was brought by the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), a group of lawyers representing Iraqis who say they were mistreated by U.S. forces at the Baghdad prison.

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http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7533075

[tavalon]

1. Aw, come on Rummy! You ain't chicken, are you? n/t

[TwentyFive]

2. Rummy in Prison? Poetic justice! n/t

[njdemocrat106]

3. Please go, Rummy. Consider it a personal favor for me.

:evilgrin:

[tridim]

4. Just the fact that he has to "debate" the decision

says it all.

[Hardrada]

5. Is he "negotiating with himself?"

Like his boss won't.

[FreedomAngel82]

16. Haha

That was still funny. :eyes:

[indigobusiness]

20. Has anyone noticed a "bulge"?

On his back? (get your minds out of the gutter)

[BlueTarheel]

6. Dear Rumsf***,

"As you know, you go to the Germany you have, not to the Germany you might want or wish to have at a later time."

;-)

[indigobusiness]

7. bwahahhhhaaa

hehee

that's rich...

[BlueTarheel]

9. I couldn't resist

:smoke:

[AndyTiedye]

8. Your Celll is Waiting. Presidential Pardons Not Accepted

[cornermouse]

10. Go Rummy go Puh-leeez Go.

[indigobusiness]

11. If he did, it might get worse.

Knowing George.

[blondeatlast]

12. Dunno, saves George some "unpleasantness."

Like that nasty having to deal with Rummy's incompetence and Abu Graib.

I think he's be happy to offer him up, myself.

[indigobusiness]

13. I meant from our perspective...

In terms of a replacement.

[blondeatlast]

14. Hadn't thought of that. You're right.

Weird the logistical quandaries we are forced into by the Bush administration, isn't it?

[indigobusiness]

17. No kidding.

Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't know.

[ClassWarrior]

18. I disagree. Once the big dominoes, like Rummy, start falling...

...whomever replaces him will only have a short-lived stay.

I think this White House understands that firings or resignations could start a snowballing effect that will topple the whole house of cards.

(And how's that for a spectacular job of mixing metaphors?)

NGU.

[indigobusiness]

19. You might be right...there is always that hope.

You might be wrong...and insult will be added to injury.

[FreedomAngel82]

15. If he really was wanting to resign

like he claims he should go and take responsibility for his actions. This administration has gone on for far too long for not taking responsibility like with September 11th and Iraq. I hope he goes so he can get served.

[Canuckistanian]

21. C'mon Rummy! Let's see some o' that Personal Responsibility

If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothin' to worry about, right?

[Vickers]

22. They will try to turn Germany into France in the public's mind

And that will backfire like a son-of-a-bitch.

[Ashamed_American]

23. ..

"Okay, we send Rummy over there, then they arrest him. Then can we bomb Iran?"

"George," says Mr. Rove, "let the big boys do the talking."



www.BlackEyedSundays.com

[Vickers]

25. Har! Who knows how many of those conversations have taken place?

:P

[ArtVandaley]

24. It would not be a good thing if he was arrested

Everyone think practically for a second: If the current US Secretary of Defense is arrested in another country, it cannot produce any good. Bush would be irrate, and if you think US/Europe relations are bad now, imagine what they'd be like after Rummy getting arrested in Germany. Not by the German government of course, but still, the implication would be that the German's let it happen. I have no desire to see a scenario such as this, no good whatsoever could come of it. Sure, seeing a humiliated Rumsfeld would be nice, but it wouldn't accomplish anything: the war would still be taking place and his deputy Woolfowitz is even worse than he is.

[indigobusiness]

26. The exquisite irony of Bush declaring war on Germany for Rummy's arrest.

"God told me to smite Osama bin Ladin, so I invaded Afghanistan. Then He told me to smite Saddam Hussein, so I invaded Iraq. Now he wants me to work on the Middle East problem..."
--U S President George W. Bush

"I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator; by defending myself against the Jews, I am fighting for the Lord."
--Adolf Hitler



"Political language - and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists - is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." - George Orwell

"They hate our freedom, our liberty, our way of life . . ." - George W. Bush

"All I can tell you is that in the corporate world sometimes things aren’t exactly black and white when it comes to accounting procedures." - George W. Bush

"The war on terror is more akin to World War II than to Vietnam." - George W. Bush

" . . to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and cooperation..." - Hitler

"By the most brutal methods of terrorism, a regime sought to maintain an existence that was condemned by the overwhelming majority of its people...I have tried to persuade the responsible authorities that it is impossible for a great nation, because it is unworthy of it, to stand by and watch millions belonging to a great, an ancient civilized people be denied rights by their government... I have endeavoured to find some way to alleviate a tragic fate. One agreement was signed only to be broken. I then tried a second time to bring about an understanding. A few weeks later, we were forced to the conclusion that the government had no intention of carrying out this agreement in the spirit that had inspired it, but in order to create an excuse. I have determined, therefore, to place the help of our country at the service of these millions. Since this morning, our soldiers are on the march across all of Austria's frontiers."
-- Adolf Hitler, March 12, 1938, justifying the German invasion of Austria.

[LibertyorDeath]

27. The German Gov should give whatever assurances it takes to get his ass

on their territory & the second that MF's feet touch German soil clamp the cuffs on him.

[solinvictus]

28. The irony...

of Germany arresting the American S of Defense for war crimes.

[schrodingers_cat]

29. Who better than Germany to recognize such a criminal....

there are many still alive from WWII who have seen *'s face before. And today's Germans carry that historical knowledge with them as well. Much moreso than we in the US do in regard to Native Americans.

[indigobusiness]

30. Welcome to DU, schrodingers_cat

Nice to see you survived the experiment.

[No Exit]

31. I wish the Germans would put up wanted posters

and then we could see his arrest on "Forensic Files".

[No Exit]

32. Hey--and he can occupy Goering's old chair at Nuremberg! n/t