Belgian Law May Force U.S. to Stop Attending NATO Meetings

[Theresa]

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 12, 2003 – Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said today that American officials may stop attending NATO meetings in Belgium because of a law that allows "spurious" suits accusing American leaders of war crimes.

Rumsfeld said the United States will withhold any further funding for a new NATO headquarters building here until the matter is resolved. He spoke during a press conference following the NATO defense ministerial.

The problem stems from Belgium's Universal Competence Law. Under this law, U.S. Central Command chief Army Gen. Tommy Franks has been charged with war crimes for his actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Former President George H.W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and retired Army Gen. Norman Schwartzkopf, former CENTCOM commander, have also been charged for their roles in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

The law gives Belgian courts the power to try citizens of any nation for war crimes. "These suits are absurd," Rumsfeld said. He said Franks went to great lengths to spare civilian lives during the war in Iraq.

"The point is this: By passing that law, Belgium has turned its legal system into a platform for divisive, politicized lawsuits against officials of its NATO allies," Rumsfeld said.

The secretary said that it's not for outsiders to tell the Belgian government what to do. "We respect their sovereignty," he said. "We respect it even though Belgium appears not to respect the sovereignty of other countries."

But, he said, Belgium must understand there are consequences. "We will have to seriously consider whether we can allow senior uniformed and civilian officials to come to … Brussels," he said.

"Certainly until this matter is resolved we will have to oppose any further spending for construction of the new NATO headquarters in Brussels. Until we know with certainty that Belgium intends to be a hospitable place for NATO to conduct its business."

This is not the first time that U.S. officials have complained about the law. Joint Chiefs chairman Air Force Gen. Richard Myers commented on the law during a visit to NATO in April.

In March, Secretary of State Colin Powell also complained about the law.

U.S. Embassy officials said there have been discussions in the Belgium government about the law and its unintended consequences.

[Vortex]

Boy............Belgium is acting as usual like a bunch of pr*cks.

Belium should be divided up between Holland and France. That we we'll save lots of problems and can a troublesome country like Belgium return to some form of stabillity.

[Pah-Wraith]

What???!!!?? That's going to be Rubbish, Nato won't be as Strong a Military Alliance without the Input of the US, America's Role In Nato was Vital to eliminate the Spread of The Communists. It's Wrong to just accuse them of War Crimes at this stage

[Vortex]

it's the belgian legal system that sucks. They must revise it at its roots. Or simply surrender to Holland, and we'll take over that troubled country

[Pah-Wraith]

LOL That would be Funny, the Dutch Empire rising again to conquer or Annex Belgium

[Vortex]

Exactly, we should rise again!!!

But really, this is shocking actually.

[Los]

crap crap crap. Where are the charges against other leaders of countries that have done political misdeeds to people? Where are the people wanting Castro's head? Or the hordes of terrorists that go wandering the streets planning, plotting for another attack on a country that goes against fundamentalist beliefs?

[Qgirl]

I don't understand why a country would think it's allowed to press such extreme charges on members of ANOTHER country ?
I don't see how they think they have the right.

[Los]

But the US can do it to other nations, like Iraq, Chekoslovakia, etc.

double-standard at its best, though I fail to see how we can be war criminals.

Couldn't we press charges on the Belgiums for not giving a *beep* about anything?