I do not think the freeing of this terrorist was related to the kidnappee being freed, but it does show how "life in prison" does not mean life, especially in Europe.

Death penalty, anyone?

Why do we still have troops stationed in Germany, anyway? It's not like we're concerned that the Red Army is going to come storming thru the Fulda Gap anytime soon.

If it's any consolation, Schwarzenegger told the city of Graz to stuff it. LINK

Maybe we can pull a "Munich" on the guy...

"Führerin."

JFH,
I was just thinking that. What would be even cooler would be if Germany and we had come up with the plan. Ya know: You let him go to get what you want, then we'll pop him later on.
Very slick. If only it were true.

This guy probably has more people tailing him right now than Jake Gyllenhaal.

Wasn't this in a movie?

Why do you think that the actions of the Mossad portrayed in "Munich" were necessary anyway? It's not like they assasinated them in Syria or Iraq - these were terrorists living openly in Europe - a Europe that just didn't care about the presence of the terrorists.

The Europeans get their knickers in a knot when we legally and humanely execute a murdered because that supposedly means we don't value human life, and then they do a thing like this. What kind of value does that place on Robert Stethem's life? Hamadi needs to be hunted down and I'm sure there are plenty of people willing to do it.

Nuance, gail. Nuance. Something sorely lacking in George Bush's America.

In answer to the original question, I think we killed them all, didn't we?

My hunch is that the first comment by Mark is correct. My understanding is that, by European standards, 19 years in prison is considered, even for murder, to be an extremely severe penalty. Now, that's screwed up in any number of ways, but I suspect his punishment was not out of line with other German punishments, and might well be more severe than a purely "domestic" murderer would get.

The part I really don't understand myself, even given all Germany/Europe's cultural differences, is how they're letting a guy *on parole* go back home to Lebanon? Isn't the point of parole supposed to be "You're not off the hook, we're just being nicer than we have to be. We'll be watching you, and one false step, you're right back in prison?" Are the Germans going to keep tabs on this guy in Lebanon?

"Führerin."

This bastard killed an American.
And the Krauts let him go.
Lets pull our troops out of Germany.
Send them to Lebanon.

fuhfluffer ? (female fuhrer who fluffs)

I think it would simply be Die Fuhrer instead of Der Fuhrer, yes?

According to my Bavarian friend here at work, "Die Führerin"

So you do change the article from "das", and add "in" like Stumbo said

fuhfluffer ? (female fuhrer who fluffs)

Hey, Maxine! :)

By the way, this is the place where I learned the meaning of "fluffer." See how things come full circle? lol!

Kruats,jerrys,huns whats i matter its consitered Poticily Incorect to call them this anymore

This stinks! There has got to be a way to reverse this injustice.

It's good that Germany gave GWB and U.S. arrogance the finger. It helps to remind Americans that they usually won't get what they want.

Under Bush, we're headed toward third-world status pretty quickly. In fact, Germany is a much bigger economy than we are, and their actions will continue to get more support from the international community than ours.

The U.S. is far from being the greatest country on Earth. You're going to have to live with that: it's time to swallow a little pride.

Regarding the guy who snuffed the U.S. Navy Seal and is now laughing with friends back in Lebanon, he'll be commended at home and live a long, happy life, just like Osama is living now (remember Osama?).

Speaking of Osama, his case is a classic example how powerless the U.S. military really is. Here's a guy who, way back in 2001, destroyed the financial, trade and power center of this country, using nothing but boxcutter knives, and the entire U.S. military and all of our secret agencies and "trained experts" using $200 billion have still not found him even as we now go into 2006. Excuses excuses. The fact is that we are incompetent and unsophisticated.

Again, compared to Germany, our education system is laughable; and, proportionally, we churn out more illiterate people from high school every year than all of the other 10 largest economies combined.

Boy, do I feel safe!

It's good that Germany gave GWB and U.S. arrogance the finger. It helps to remind Americans that they usually won't get what they want.

Under Bush, we're headed toward third-world status pretty quickly. In fact, Germany is a much bigger economy than we are, and their actions will continue to get more support from the international community than ours.

The U.S. is far from being the greatest country on Earth. You're going to have to live with that: it's time to swallow a little pride.

Regarding the guy who snuffed the U.S. Navy Seal and is now laughing with friends back in Lebanon, he'll be commended at home and live a long, happy life, just like Osama is living now (remember Osama?).

Speaking of Osama, his case is a classic example how powerless the U.S. military really is. Here's a guy who, way back in 2001, destroyed the financial, trade and power center of this country, using nothing but boxcutter knives, and the entire U.S. military and all of our secret agencies and "trained experts" using $200 billion have still not found him even as we now go into 2006. Excuses excuses. The fact is that we are incompetent and unsophisticated.

Again, compared to Germany, our education system is laughable; and, proportionally, we churn out more illiterate people from high school every year than all of the other 10 largest economies combined.

Boy, do I feel safe!

Germany is a much bigger economy than we are

Definitely.

Much bigger.

Don't forget that Germans are super-human, too.

I always said we should model ourselves after the Germans.

Just two questions, Corrupt Poser:

1) If Germany is so great, why don't you live there. I'm sure you believe you're a world-citizen and all, so moving to another country is no big deal. It's not like you have any special attachment to any particular nation because that would be nationalism.

2) How's your relationship with you father?