Court avoids Iraq kidnapping case

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Friday, April 6, 2007 · Last updated 11:45 a.m. PT
Court avoids Iraq kidnapping case

By PETE YOST
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court refused to intervene Friday in the case
of a U.S. citizen facing a death sentence in Iraq for his role in the kidnapping
of three Romanian journalists in Baghdad.

A three-judge panel said it is unable to step into the case because Muhammad
Munaf was convicted by an Iraqi criminal court.

Courts in the United States have "no power or authority" to intervene in a case
brought by an Iraqi court of nationwide jurisdiction and administered by the
government of Iraq, wrote Judge David Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit.

Sentelle noted that Munaf is held in Iraq by U.S. military personnel, but added
that they are part of a multinational force authorized by the U.N. Security Council
in coordination with the Iraqi government.

-snip-

Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1155AP_Iraq_American.html

[daleo]

1. The U.S. has "no power or authority" in Iraq

That's pretty comical.

[Kagemusha]

4. Why would the court have such power over Iraq, and not over Guantanamo?

This decision really doesn't surprise me precisely because of that logic.

[Xipe Totec]

2. So much for being in Iraq to protect American lives

kinda puts the lie to that neocon meme doesn't it?

[monktonman]

3. If he were a white guy....

He'd be home by now.
Fact.

[ManiacJoe]

5. Every now and then the US courts get one right.

One needs to remember that US jurisdiction stops at the US border. When you travel abroad, you are subject to the laws and courts of the country you are standing in.