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# When it rains, it pours.
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19178/
- Published: 2006-11-13T15:11:08.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:35:33.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**by Jessica Reed**

As President Bush's approval rating reaches a new low at 31%, Nancy Pelosi is promising not to impeach him.Meanwhile, a lawsuit is soon to be filled in Germany - it will seek a criminal prosecution of the outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his responsabilities in the Abu-Graib and Guantanamo Bay scandals. Other US officials who are not (anymore) protected by the legal imunity usually accorded to high government officials would also be prosecuted.

It is highly unlikely that the ex-Secretary will end up doing any time but some, like conservative journalist [Andrew Sullivan](http://time.blogs.com/daily%5Fdish/2006/11/rumsfelds%5Fwar%5Fc.html?ref=opendemocracy.net), see the case as coherent. Some even ask, what it the complaint could gets to the [International Criminal Court](http://www.icj-cij.org/cijwww/?ref=opendemocracy.net) of Justice, which is responsible for the prosecution of individuals for [genocide, crime against humanity, crime of aggression and war crimes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International%5FCriminal%5FCourt?ref=opendemocracy.net)?

It seems unlikely and wishful thinking as both the [US](http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinternetbible/partI/chapterXVIII/treaty11.asp?ref=opendemocracy.net#N7) and [Israel](http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinternetbible/partI/chapterXVIII/treaty11.asp?ref=opendemocracy.net#N3), which had [previously signed](http://www.un.org/law/icc/statute/status.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, have since declared their decision not to become a party to the treaty, therefore bypassing its obligations.

*Picture via* [*Pete*](http://www.flickr.com/photos/pete/293648047/?ref=opendemocracy.net)*'s flickR account.*