JUDGMENT IN GERMANY?

The Abu Ghraib scandal has faded from Washington's radar screen--to the Administration's presumed relief. Seven low-level GIs have been prosecuted in military court, but the people in charge, starting with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, have avoided legal scrutiny. In an attempt to remedy this breakdown of justice, the Center for Constitutional Rights recently filed a criminal complaint with the German Federal Prosecutor's Office against Rumsfeld and other senior US officials, including officers stationed in Germany, accusing them of war crimes connected with Abu Ghraib. CCR is acting under a 2002 German law that permits human rights and war crimes prosecutions even though the criminal acts took place outside Germany. "We file these cases here because there is simply no other place to go," said CCR vice president Peter Weiss. "It is clear that the US government is not willing to open an investigation into these allegations against these officials" (to support CCR's effort go to www.ccr-ny.org or Act Now at www.thenation.com).

CLANDESTINE JUSTICE

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