The Munster Higher Administrative Court has offered a ruling Tuesday calling on the German government to take “appropriate measures” related to US drone strikes launched from the Ramstein Air Base.
At the least, the court says Germany must determine if the drone strikes
are in line with international law, and that they should also be
prepared to press the US government to shift its policy to get back into
line with international law.
This was built around lawsuits by three Yemenis who had relatives
killed in US drone strikes which flew out of the Ramstein base. US
courts rejected legal complaints surrounding the killings, but the
Munster Court was willing to hear the case, and confirmed that Germany
has obligations to protect people who “legitimately fear a danger for
their lives and safety” from attacks coming out of Germany.
The German government argued that they saw no indications of US
violations in the attacks, but the court found that the government had
never properly assessed the facts, and needed to do so to make such
assurances sustainable.
Reasoning on the human level would suggest that one country attacking another country from your soil, without war deceleration or other international bodies or scrutiny involved, would make the host country fully responsible for the same acts.
The national courts turn their blind eye to deals made at the highest level to trust each other’s top secret judgement as being good for the “international order”. And international courts have simply no power unless countries provide them with it.
Then there’s of course the possibility that postwar Germany simply had little choice as it might be in their more or less forced lease contract to allow whatever activity?
Nice to hear Germany raise the issue of the targeted killing’s legality. When every 15 year old is able to own some sort of lethal air vehicle, it would be nice for the state to present come clarity, unless chaos in the sky is O.K. In the meantime perhaps the U.N could provide some legal input about members executing people in other states which they or their friends & allies dislike… Who terrorizes more people? The opposition or the elected officials…????? Who are the terrorists in Yemen, the Hooteys or the U.S. Saidi Coalition..????
Murder most fowl is all one can say. The murderous US Government is scum on the face of the human race
Yaa, Ron… Hard to hold ones head high when one catches wise to our murderous reflex to every little beef…
There are interesting new dance steps on display between Germany and US. Germany was first broadsided by US when during Obama administration allies were to introduce sanctions to Russia. Germany was active in forging Minsk
agreements, both I and II. It was to bail Ukranian military from hasty, US-encouraged military campaigns against Lughansk and Donetsk breakaway regions. In both cases, Ukranian military was routed, and large segments cut off and surrounded. Without German intervention (France not worth mentioning, Russia trusted Germany) the armies of breakaway republics could have, without anybody to stop them, took control of the region all the way up to Dnyepr river. But Russia and Germany not only cut the deal to open the encirclement, but also to set demiliterized zone, to set steps for cinstituriknal amendment paving way to elections and the reunification of the regions with Ukraine. Naturally, Kiev refused to fullfill the agreement, and stalemate remained. But Germany and Russia agreed to a sensible solution, then US humiliated Germany insisting EU sanctions Russia. That was a hit on German economy. Then followed new dance steps, with swipes at Deutsche Bank and Volkswagen, part I. Followed by attack on Nord Stream. Germany answers by its own move by praising Soviet legacy in gas reliability of delivery, calling Russia a partner. US puts forward a new move, calling Huawei a threat to security recommend banning its products. Germany is setting up a body to define tough standards of telecom security, taking matters in its own hands. The new sly move — American telecom equipment will have to in the future meet THE SAME CRITERIA. Basically, no more snooping. But US introduced a brand new dance spin — US will curtail intelligence sharing with Germany! Completely ready for the counter move, German court ordered evalation of US drone program on German soil for deaths in foreign countries, violating international law. Expecfedly, here comes US sanction threat on Volkswagen, Part II. But here, the countermove is relaxed, almost melodic. Volkwagen just thrned out to be market darling, with big sales to China posted recently. An what else? Germany posted a record expirt to China, almost 100 billion Euros. To put it in perspective, UK is second, with 24 billion, France third, 22 billlion, Italy fourth, 13 billion. To make it sweater, German railway land port, Duisburg, in the Eurolean junction to China. When trains leave Germany to EU border in Poland, trains enter EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) transit rules, so trains just run through Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, to Chinese border. Faster, cheaper, safer. Dance continues.
… Paragraphs please?
Great comment!
There is NO possible reason for the USA to have the huge base a Ramstein, especially now that POTUSTRUMP wants the Germans to pay even more for for the privilege of being “protected” from Russia!!!
Try being a sovereign country and see if that helps protect you from the USA!
Lots of villains other than just the U.S. government, unfortunately.
… Took them long enough to figure they should ask, over a decade into the drone wars.
I love your analyses Bianca. You show us what we would never see & what we would never know unless some sharp eyed & minded person such as you catches the sub rosa event(s) & or actions and deliver them to us on your silver tray of insight. What do you think of Justin shutting down comments on his articles…??? Thanks for your dedication to the cause.