German Court Won't Extradite Ex-Nazi

Former SS Officer Wanted In Denmark For 1943 Assassination Of Journalist

(AP)  A German court has blocked the extradition to Denmark of a former member of the Nazi SS wanted in the Scandinavian country for the assassination of a journalist in 1943, it said Monday.

A senior Nazi-hunter in Israel criticized the decision, saying time and old age could not erase guilt for Nazi crimes.

Soeren Kam, an 84-year-old German citizen born in Denmark, was detained at his home in Bavaria in September 2006 on a European arrest warrant. He was released from custody in October pending a ruling on his extradition.

The upper state court in Munich said it blocked his extradition because there was insufficient evidence for murder charges. It said that, under German law, possible charges of manslaughter had expired under the statute of limitations.

Kam and several others are accused of shooting Danish newspaper editor Carl Henrik Clemmensen to death in Lyngby, a suburb of Copenhagen.

Clemmensen was kidnapped Aug. 30, 1943, and found dead the next morning. Kam has acknowledged that he was among the three Danish SS officers who fired at Clemmensen, but said he fired only after Clemmensen was dead. German prosecutors dropped a murder case against him in 1971 for lack of evidence.

However, a Danish court ruled in 2004 that Kam should be charged with murder in the case.

Efraim Zuroff, a Nazi-hunter with the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem, urged Danish authorities to keep pressing for Kam's extradition.

"As problematic as the decision is, it would be understandable if Germany itself would take Kam to court," Zuroff said in a statement.

"But the opposite is the case. German justice has investigated Kam for many years without bringing charges," he said.

Zuroff said "old age does not make a benefactor out of a Nazi criminal."

The SS, "Schutzstaffel" or "Protective Squadron" in German, was a vast paramilitary organization that grew from beginnings as a security force for Adolf Hitler. It ran concentration camps and carried out mass killings, while its combat wing, the Waffen SS, became notorious for cruel fanaticism including the killing of prisoners of war.

The SS was declared a criminal organization at the Nuremberg war crimes tribunal after the war.

[bluestardad]

Truth will come out and engage all who have hidden it!

Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC's original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors (unfounded as it turned out) that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC's stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] It regularly meets with members of Congress and holds events where it can share its views. It also provides analysis of the voting records of U.S. federal representatives and senators with regard to how they voted on legislation related to Israel. AIPAC has been effective in gaining support for Israel among members of Congress and White House administrations.

[gunnerv1]

I always new that the Liberals would protect there own kind, Now you have proven it.

[bluestardad]

Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC's original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors (unfounded as it turned out) that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC's stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] It regularly meets with members of Congress and holds events where it can share its views. It also provides analysis of the voting records of U.S. federal representatives and senators with regard to how they voted on legislation related to Israel. AIPAC has been effective in gaining support for Israel among members of Congress and White House administrations.

[bluestardad]

America has its own Fuhrer in power now George Bush!

[bluestardad]

Leave this old man alone. Extradite the Neocons that support the Iraq war!

[adian1-2009]

Without knowing the evidence in which the court based its decision, as well as without knowing the rules of law governing this kind of procedures in Germany, I can't see how are we going to conclude that it is a wrong decision. Germany's courts have a well earned reputation of righteousness, of seriousness and of fairness. If it is that Denmark has good evidence beyond a mere scintilla, they should make a public full disclosure so than we can evaluate fairly the decision issued by the German court. Not that I buy a defense based on that the gentleman fired after the victim was dead. In the ordinary course of events, nobody will shoot at a dead body. But, again, we do not know what transpired before the German court.

[legendary240]

Yes, given their heinous behavior, they have responded appropriately through recent history- at least until now. They should deliver him over to his accusers.

[rheola-2009]

Centristdem

I fully agree with respect to Israels right to exist, within as you say its borders, I do not necessarily agree with all it's policies, nor do I agree with all those of it's neighbours.
I do sincerely wish that peace could come to that part of the world.
But there are snippets of good in all of their policies.

[centristdem]

Oh, I agree with you -- I just think that, while this court decision is wrong, one shouldn't forget how much Germany has done since the war. And incidentally, I am Jewish, and a supporter of Israel (that is, of its right to secure existence within its borders, not necessarily of its policies).

[rheola-2009]

Centristdem

Though in general I totally agree with your comments, I do feel however, that these creatures should be brought to atonement for their disgusting actions.
I will add that
I AM NOT JEWISH OR A SIMPATHISER OF ISREAL, just a person who believes nobody has the right to deprive another of his life, unless that person has committed a ********* crime against society or humanity.

[bigwhtpony]

I vas only following orders!!!! :)

[centristdem]

That's a rather extreme reaction. Although I certainly disagree with the court's ruling, it should never be forgotten what an astonishing job the Germans have done since 1945 of establishing democracy and atoning for the Holocaust. Today, Germany takes resurgent anti-semitism more seriously than any other country in Europe. Given what Germany was like even in 1945-6, their turnaround is extraordinary.

[legendary240]

This reeks of apathy on the part of Germans. Makes you wonder when the next fuhrer will rise up.