Detainee law may not provide total immunity for CIA interrogators [View All]

[cal04]

(snip)
International legal experts said the measure is meaningless overseas, where international courts theoretically could still prosecute alleged violations of anti-torture treaties.

The same experts concede such prosecutions are highly unlikely - but not because there's no evidence of wrongdoing. Instead, they predict American economic, military and political power will deter any country from allowing the cases to proceed.

(snip)
Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents hundreds of detainees, said his group is preparing to file new war crimes charges in November in Germany against more than a dozen senior U.S. officials, probably including attorneys who shaped the policy. Two years ago, the group filed similar charges against Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and 10 others - charges that were dismissed after Rumsfeld hedged on whether he would attend a conference in Germany.

Legal experts say charges also could be filed in a recently created International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, which has jurisdiction over war crimes. European authorities are under pressure to respond to allegations that they breached human rights laws by cooperating with illegal CIA kidnappings and detentions of their own citizens. Italy has issued arrest warrants for 22 CIA agents.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/15642236.htm