[Atlantis]

Recent news reports indicate that the US coordinates its drone warfare in Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan from its airbase in Rammstein, Germany. The US center for analyzing drone attacks, DGS-4, is also located in Rammstein.

Die Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports that an expert opinion issued by the scientific service of the German parliament considers that the government cannot tolerate military operations carried out from German territory by foreign forces which violating international law. The German government would violate international law if it knew about such operations and if it failed to do anything about it.

In the past, the German government has always claimed that it received the assurance from Washington that "armed drone attacks are neither launched nor directed from US bases in Germany". The spokesman of the German government now announced that Germany would discuss the news reports about drone attacks coordinated from Rammstein with the US government.

To the German government, the 1,400 hectare Rammstein airbase seems to be terra incognita. Officially the site is German territory, but, according to a 1993 agreement, German officials or politicians are not allowed to enter the site without the consent of the US commander. A liaison officer of the German army visited the Rammstein airbase in Feb. 2013 but did not discuss any operational aspects. Germany does not have jurisdiction over the US soldiers stationed at the base and is not allowed to interfere with wireless communication.

The expert opinion comes to the conclusion that, short of cancelling its agreement for stationing US troops, the German government has hardly any means for preventing drone attacks from US bases in Germany.

[wiseraphael]

i don't understand why drone attacks are considered "illegal" (not so sure they actually are).

Apparently it's OK to bomb a target even though "collateral damage" (horrible phrase) is unknown and unplanned, but drone attacks that sometimes kill people who aren't the target but definitely hits the right target are wrong.

[Noelnada]

Apparently it's OK to bomb a target even though "collateral damage" (horrible phrase) is unknown and unplanned, but drone attacks that sometimes kill people who aren't the target but definitely hits the right target are wrong.

It's considered legal to declare war against another country and illegal to conduct terrorist operations without a proper declaration of war.

[Atlantis]

Here is an English language source for the drone strikes via the US air-base in Germany: German base provides satellite link for US drones

The NDR television network and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper revealed that the US was using a satellite link at Germany's Ramstein air base to coordinate drone attack throughout the world.

Former drone operator Brandon Bryant made a statement to the media saying that the US depended on the German base to run the drone program which would otherwise be ineffective.

Bryant also admitted killing an estimated 1,626 people in combat during his six years working as a drone sensor operator for the US air force.

I'm amazed at how comfortable Americans seem to be with killing people worldwide. Americans seem to think that international law doesn't apply to them.

[wiseraphael]

Americans killing people worldwide??

Completely ignores who they're bombing of course...those sweet innocent put-upon Al-Quaeda, the Taliban etc. Don't you feel so sorry for them?

Still, by that logic we shouldn't have bombed Nazi germany in WW2

[Atlantis]

Still, by that logic we shouldn't have bombed Nazi germany in WW2

There is a difference between bombing in war and killing people in peacetime. Is it legal to arbitrarily kill people in your country? Or do you only approve of killing foreigners?

[wiseraphael]

There is a difference between bombing in war and killing people in peacetime. Is it legal to arbitrarily kill people in your country? Or do you only approve of killing foreigners?[/quote]

You really think we're not at war?

Where have you been for the last 20 years...in LaLa Land?

[Noelnada]

You really think we're not at war?

Where have you been for the last 20 years...in LaLa Land?

What about you, sitting on your couch watching foxnews ?

[Atlantis]

You really think we're not at war?

If it is legitimate for Americans to kill, torture, and destroy wherever and whenever they want, then it is also legitimate for non-Americans to do the same to Americans.

----------------

Here is another English language article from the German foreign broadcasting service: Berlin powerless to challenge US drone operations at Ramstein air base

For years the US has been using drones to fight terrorism in Africa, the Middle East and in the Pakistani-Afghan border region. Since 2004, the Investigative Bureau of Journalism estimates there have been 383 US drone strikes in the Pakistani-Afghan border region alone. At least 2,300 people have been killed, among them 416 civilians.

Foreign policy spokesperson for the Greens party, Omid Nouripour, called on the government to take action against the potential involvement of US air force bases stationed Germany in drone attacks.

"It is shameful that the German government simply closes its eyes to violations of international law on German territory," said Nouripour in an interview with the news agency DPA.
...
But even if Germany believed international law had been violated, it would be difficult for Berlin to take legal action. Jurisdiction lies with the US. The German government could terminate the Status of Forces agreement, said Zimmermann, "but that would be a huge political decision that would question the entire alliance."
...
"What do you do against an ally who possibly violates international law from your own territory?" asked Marcel Dickow. "The Americans are the most important strategic partner. You don't easily challenge such a partner, particularly when you use the same tools and values in the common war against international terrorism."
Not much more can be expected other than a protest behind closed doors.

[Typhoon]

In answer to the OP, no I dont think so in this case but they could certainly do more it seems to stop these violations from being undertaken from German territory.

Considering that drones can be controlled from anywhere in the world, for the US to use them from Germany (if this is actually the case rather than just controlling the drones in transit) against the wishes of the German goverment shows a remarkable ammount of contempt.

[Great Smell of Brut]

crone strikes against AQ are certainly not war crimes.