On this matter, I still think that Germany thwarted due processes by blocking the extradition.

On the contrary, due process was upheld: the petition for extradition was duly examined by a German court - and rejected as inadequate. One may disagree with that decision, but it was arrived out through a scrupulous application of the rule of law.

Personally, I find such a decision comforting: if a court has the courage to stand up to prosecutors on behalf of an Islamic (alleged!) terrorist with a funny name, we can depend on them to be an effective check on executive authority.

Magnifico:

In my view, the CIA drone attacks in Pakistan are acts of war

I entirely agree.

Magnifico:

However, are you suggesting that if the Bush administration when through with their assassination plan in Germany, Germany would have seen it as an act of war?

No I'm not, merely that they would be within historical precedent if the chose to do so.


The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman