Diplomatic Immunity, American-Style
外交豁免，美国式
By Larry Romanoff, August 28, 2022
通过拉里·罗曼诺夫，2022年8月28日
译者：珍珠
In a recent podcast, Kevin Barrett stated that the rule of law has disappeared in the US. This is so obviously true to outsiders looking in, and is even more true of American official conduct abroad, but I find myself wondering about the extent to which Americans generally are aware of this and how it is perceived.
在最近的一次播客中，凯文·巴雷特（Kevin Barrett）表示，美国的法治已经消失。这对于局外人来说显然是如此，对于美国在国外的官方行为更是如此，但我发现自己在想，美国人普遍意识到这一点的程度，以及人们如何看待这一点。
In days gone by, this lawlessness was usually deeply buried and obfuscated but today it seems there is no longer even a pretense of any rule of law. We see this most recently in the so-called “sanctions” the US so freely applies to countries and individuals, being no more than illegal rampaging and looting.
在过去的日子里，这种无法无天的行为通常被深深地掩埋和混淆，但今天，似乎不再有任何法治的借口。我们最近在所谓的“制裁”中看到了这一点，美国如此自由地对国家和个人实施制裁，只不过是非法的横冲直撞和抢劫。
But there is another category that may not be as visible and yet is indicative of an extreme breakdown of the rule of law, this applying to the category of “diplomatic immunity”, real or imagined, where the US government absolutely treads on a one-way street. This article is only a brief introduction with a few examples of hundreds that could be cited.
但还有一个类别可能不那么明显，但却表明法治的极端崩溃，这一类别适用于“外交豁免”，无论是真实的还是想象的，美国政府绝对是走在单行道上。这篇文章只是一个简短的介绍，有数百个可以引用的例子。
Devyani Khobragade
德维亚尼·科布拉加德
On late 2013 an Indian diplomat, 39-year-old Devyani Khobragade, was the Deputy Consul-General in New York, and by all reports had an excellent reputation and was honorably discharging her consular duties. But then she was suddenly charged with submitting false documents to obtain a work visa for a housekeeper. She was arrested and handcuffed while dropping her daughter off at school, was taken to a police station and strip-searched, given a body cavity search, then put into a cell with drug dealers and held there until she was finally released on $250,000 bail. (1)
2013年末，一名39岁的印度外交官德维亚尼·科布拉加德（Devyani Khobragade）担任驻纽约副总领事，据所有报道，她享有良好的声誉，正在光荣地履行其领事职责。但随后，她突然被指控提交虚假文件以获得管家的工作签证。她在送女儿上学时被逮捕并戴上手铐，被带到警察局进行脱衣搜查，进行了体腔搜查，然后被关在一间与毒贩关在一起的牢房里，直到她最终以25万美元的保释金获释。(1)
The Federal Prosecutor, Preet Bharara, claimed agents had arrested her “in the most discreet way possible”, having doing so in full view of her daughter, her daughter’s friends, and most of the teachers and students. He said “there can be no plausible claim that this case was somehow an injustice”, calling her treatment “standard procedure” even for diplomatic personnel, claiming further that during her strip and cavity searches she had been “accorded courtesies well beyond what other defendants are accorded, most of whom are American citizens.” He claimed these procedures were “standard practice for every defendant, rich or poor, American or not, in order to make sure that no prisoner keeps anything on his person that could harm anyone, including himself”. He said his office’s sole motivation was to uphold the law, protect victims and hold lawbreakers accountable, “no matter what their societal status and no matter how powerful, rich or connected they are”. (2) (3) (4) (5) It staggers the imagination and leaves us numb and unable to respond when faced with such incredibly shameful lies.
联邦检察官普里特·巴拉拉（Preet Bharara）声称，特工“以尽可能谨慎的方式”逮捕了她，在她女儿、女儿的朋友以及大多数教师和学生的面前逮捕了她。他说，“不可能有合理的说法认为这起案件是不公正的”，称她的待遇是“标准程序”，即使是外交人员，他还声称，在对她进行脱衣和空腔搜查时，她“受到的礼遇远远超过了其他被告的礼遇，其中大多数是美国公民。”他声称，这些程序是“每个被告的标准做法，无论是富人还是穷人，无论是美国人还是非美国人，他说，他的办公室的唯一动机是维护法律，保护受害者，并追究违法者的责任，“无论他们的社会地位如何，无论他们有多么强大、富有或有多么关系”(2) (3) (4) (5)当我们面对这些令人难以置信的可耻谎言时，它会让我们的想象力错乱，让我们麻木，无法做出反应。
The mess was later blamed on a “mistake”, a claim that the low-level agent who drew up the charges against Ms. Khobragade had confused two documents – Ms. Khobragade’s US visa application and that of the employment contract with her housekeeper – and “misunderstood” Ms. Khobragade’s salary as the amount she meant to pay her maid. Yet those two documents are in an entirely different format and could not possibly have been confused one with the other. It would appear that no visa fraud actually occurred after all, and it was further discovered Ms. Khobragade was after all attached to the UN as an advisor, which function unquestionably granted her full diplomatic immunity. The US State department repeatedly refused to acknowledge her diplomatic status but let her leave the country. (6)
这场混乱后来被归咎于一个“错误”，即对科布拉加德提出指控的低级别代理人混淆了两份文件-科布拉加德德的美国签证申请和她与管家的雇佣合同，并“误解”了科布拉加德斯的工资，认为这是她打算付给女佣的金额。然而，这两份文件的格式完全不同，不可能相互混淆。看来，事实上根本没有发生签证欺诈，而且进一步发现，科布拉加德女士毕竟是作为一名顾问附属于联合国的，这一职能无疑赋予了她完全的外交豁免权。美国国务院一再拒绝承认她的外交地位，但让她离开美国。(6)
However, and if all the claims had been true, this really would have been at most a simple issue of a wage mis-statement which is a misdemeanor offense and not a felony, and would normally be investigated by the Department of Labor. In fact, this is a common issue with many foreign household and agricultural workers in the US, and also occurs daily with restaurant workers, but never in the history of America has a restaurant or farm owner been arrested and strip-searched because of a low-level wage or visa dispute. And for such a minor offense the bail is usually around $5,000, not $250,000. So what really happened?
然而，如果所有的指控都是真的，这最多只是一个简单的工资误报问题，这是轻罪而不是重罪，通常会由劳工部调查。事实上，这是美国许多外国家庭和农业工人的共同问题，餐馆工人每天都会遇到这种情况，但在美国历史上，从未有餐馆或农场老板因为低工资或签证纠纷而被逮捕和脱衣搜查。对于这种轻微的犯罪，保释金通常在5000美元左右，而不是250000美元。那么到底发生了什么？
Well, only a few weeks before being abruptly arrested and strip-searched in New York, Ms. Khobragade had managed to make some powerful enemies in the US pharmaceutical industry about India’s treatment of US so-called intellectual property. The Indian government and courts have taken IP actions that angered the Americans, including denial to US firms of pharmaceutical patents that were not a true innovation, and permitting compulsory licensing for production of generic medicines. The US Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) was hysterical at India’s actions, referring to “unprecedented patent revocations and denials” and accusing India of being “an outlier in the global economy”. AmCham’s “Global IP Center” held a public event in New York at which it attacked India’s practices, and at which Ms. Khobragade was “outspoken” in defense of her country’s practices, and where she engaged in “debate” with US industry executives, demanding that in future an Indian representative be given a formal place at these events to present India’s side of the story. Shortly thereafter, US officials were busy cavity-searching, humiliating, and deporting the woman who dared confront the IP kings of AmCham and the US pharma industry.
好吧，就在被突然逮捕并在纽约接受脱衣搜查的几周前，科布拉加德女士就印度对待美国所谓的知识产权问题在美国制药行业制造了一些强大的敌人。印度政府和法院采取了激怒美国人的知识产权行动，包括拒绝美国公司获得非真正创新的药品专利，并允许非专利药品的生产获得强制许可。美国商会（AmCham）对印度的行为感到歇斯底里，称其为“前所未有的专利撤销和拒绝”，并指责印度是“全球经济中的局外人”。美国商会的“全球知识产权中心”在纽约举行了一次公开活动，抨击印度的做法，霍布拉加德在会上“直言不讳”地为印度的做法辩护，并与美国行业高管进行了“辩论”，要求今后在这些活动中给予印度代表一个正式的位置，以表达印度方面的观点。此后不久，美国官员忙着寻找空洞，羞辱并驱逐这位敢于与美国商会和美国制药行业的知识产权之王对抗的女性。
Preet Bharara later confirmed in an autobiography that Devyani Khobragade was indeed strip-searched and cavity-searched, and acknowledged, “That could have and should have been avoided, given that no one would have sought pretrial detention.” (7) A bit too little and a bit too late.
普里特·巴拉拉后来在一本自传中证实，德维亚尼·科布拉加德确实遭到了脱衣搜查和空洞搜查，并承认，“鉴于没有人会寻求审前拘留，这本可以也应该避免。”(7)有点太少，有点太晚。
The official position of all civilised nations toward a foreign diplomat resident in their countries is that “He is a diplomat and has the privileges of a diplomat. If you’re a diplomat and you commit any crime, the case is investigated and is forwarded to your embassy. That’s what the law says and we work within the law”. However, the official position of the American government toward foreign diplomats in the US is different. A State Department “guidance paper” for American law enforcement officials on how diplomatic immunity works even at the highest levels says that “diplomatic immunity is not intended to serve as a license for persons to flout the law and purposely avoid liability for their actions. The purpose of these privileges and immunities is not to benefit individuals but to ensure the efficient and effective performance of their official missions on behalf of their governments.”
所有文明国家对居住在其国家的外国外交官的官方立场是，“他是一名外交官，享有外交官的特权。如果你是一名外交家，你犯了任何罪行，案件将被调查并转交给你的大使馆。这是法律规定的，我们在法律范围内工作。”。然而，美国政府对驻美外交人员的官方立场是不同的。国务院为美国执法官员编写的一份关于外交豁免权如何在最高级别发挥作用的“指导文件”称：“外交豁免的目的不是作为一种许可证，允许个人藐视法律，故意逃避对其行为的责任。这些特权和豁免的目的并不是为了使个人受益，而是为了确保代表其政府高效和有效地履行其公务。”
In short, a foreign diplomat in the US has no immunity against prosecution by the US government for offenses real or imagined, but US citizens in other nations, diplomats or not, have full immunity even when clearly engaged in illegal activities that include drunk or reckless driving, espionage, and murder.
简言之，在美国的外国外交官对美国政府因真实或想象的罪行而提起的起诉没有豁免权，但在其他国家的美国公民，无论是否外交官，即使明显参与了包括酒后或鲁莽驾驶、间谍活动和谋杀在内的非法活动，也享有完全豁免权。
There are literally hundreds of cases where US consular officials in all countries regularly flout domestic labor and many other laws. American employment contracts in other countries are regularly violated with impunity, and typically specify that all staff issues including compensation will be decided exclusively by the US consular staff with no recourse to either domestic or US law – contract wording that is itself illegal, since no contract anywhere can eliminate recourse to local courts. But then, these are Americans, and their world is apparently different than ours. Americans in all countries violate both domestic tax laws and their visa status, in all cases being protected by the US government claiming “diplomatic status” for those who are clearly non-diplomats.
事实上，所有国家的美国领事官员经常藐视国内劳工法和许多其他法律的案件有数百起。美国在其他国家的雇佣合同经常被违反而不受惩罚，通常规定所有员工问题（包括赔偿）将完全由美国领事馆员工决定，不诉诸国内或美国法律——合同措辞本身是非法的，因为任何地方的合同都不能排除诉诸地方法院的可能性。但是，他们是美国人，他们的世界显然与我们的不同。所有国家的美国人都违反了国内税法和他们的签证身份，在所有情况下都受到美国政府的保护，声称那些显然是非外交官的人享有“外交身份”。
Raymond Davis
雷蒙德·戴维斯
Here is another incident, this one from the other side of the fence. In January of 2011, CIA agent Raymond Davis was driving down a street in Lahore, Pakistan, when he stopped at a red light. A motorbike carrying two Pakistani Intelligence agents keeping Davis under surveillance due to suspicion of criminal activities, pulled in front of his car. Davis drew an automatic weapon and killed both men, claiming they had attempted to rob him and that he acted in self-defense. (8) (9) But the documented facts from multiple witnesses clearly proved that Davis initiated the violence. When the motorcycle stopped in front of his car, Davis first fired five shots through the windshield, killing one man and injuring the other, then got out of his vehicle, shot four more rounds into the two men as they lay on the pavement, then four more shots into one man’s back as he was trying to crawl away, killing him as well. Witnesses testified that Davis then walked back to his car, called for backup on a military radio, then took photos of the men he had just killed. One witness who watched from his restaurant across the street, said he was amazed at the American’s manner. “He was very peaceful and confident. I was wondering how he could be like that after killing two people,” he said.
这是另一件事，这件事来自篱笆的另一边。2011年1月，中情局特工雷蒙德·戴维斯（Raymond Davis）在巴基斯坦拉合尔（Lahore）的一条街道上开车时，在红灯前停下。一辆载有两名巴基斯坦情报人员的摩托车停在戴维斯的车前，戴维斯因涉嫌犯罪活动而受到监视。戴维斯拔出自动武器杀死了两人，声称他们试图抢劫他，他是出于自卫。(8)(9) 但来自多个证人的记录事实清楚地证明，戴维斯引发了暴力。当摩托车停在他的车前时，戴维斯首先向挡风玻璃开了五枪，打死一人，打伤另一人，然后下车，在两人躺在人行道上时又向他们开了四枪，然后在一人试图爬离时又向他的背部开了四炮，也将他打死。目击者作证说，戴维斯随后走回自己的汽车，通过军用无线电呼叫支援，然后拍下了他刚刚杀死的人的照片。一名目击者在街对面的餐馆里看着他说，他对这位美国人的举止感到惊讶。他说：“他非常平静和自信。我想知道他在杀了两个人后怎么会这样。”。
Minutes later, four Americans in a Toyota jeep with fake registration plates left Davis’ home and made a frantic but unsuccessful attempt to reach Davis and rescue him. Finding their vehicle trapped in a traffic jam, they crossed the median and traveled against the oncoming traffic, colliding with a motorcycle and killing the driver. After the accident, they fled the scene and drove at high speed to the US Embassy, jettisoning many bits of evidence along the way including 100 bullets, knives, gloves, a blindfold. Witnesses later told police that one American opened the door to their vehicle, displayed a rifle and threatened to kill anyone who got in their way.
几分钟后，四名美国人开着一辆丰田吉普车离开戴维斯的家，疯狂地试图找到戴维斯并营救他，但没有成功。他们发现自己的车陷入了交通堵塞，于是穿过了中央分隔带，与迎面而来的车辆相撞，撞死了一辆摩托车。事故发生后，他们逃离现场，高速驶向美国大使馆，沿途丢弃了许多证据，包括100颗子弹、刀、手套和一个眼罩。目击者后来告诉警方，一名美国人打开了他们的车的门，展示了一支步枪，并威胁要杀死任何阻挡他们的人。
Davis also attempted to escape in his vehicle but was apprehended and charged with double murder, espionage and the illegal possession of a firearm. Although Davis was part of the CIA’s Global Response Staff, he was at the time doing some contract espionage work for Xe Services, the private company formerly known as Blackwater that was involved in a multitude of scandals in Iraq that included mass murders and many other crimes. Items recovered from Davis’s car included a Glock handgun, an infrared light, a portable telescope, GPS equipment, two mobile phones, a satellite phone, 9mm ammunition, multiple ATM and military ID cards, multiple ID cards from several different US consulates, facial disguise and makeup, and a camera. According to Pakistani officials, Davis’ camera contained photos of “prohibited areas such as installations along the border with India”, stating “This is not the work of a diplomat. He was doing espionage and other activities”. (10) (11) (12) (13)
戴维斯还试图乘坐自己的汽车逃跑，但被逮捕并被控双重谋杀、间谍和非法持有枪支。尽管戴维斯是中情局全球反应工作人员的一部分，但他当时正在为Xe服务公司（前身为黑水公司）做一些合同间谍工作，该公司参与了伊拉克的多起丑闻，包括大规模谋杀和许多其他罪行。从戴维斯的车上找到的物品包括一把格洛克手枪、一盏红外光、一台便携式望远镜、GPS设备、两部手机、一部卫星电话、9毫米弹药、多张ATM和军用身份证、多张美国领事馆的身份证、面部伪装和化妆以及一台照相机。据巴基斯坦官员称，戴维斯的相机中有“禁止区域，如与印度接壤的设施”的照片，称“这不是外交官的工作，他从事间谍活动和其他活动”。(10) (11) (12) (13)
Then-US President Obama demanded that Pakistan free “our diplomat” under the Vienna convention rules, and the State Department exerted fierce and unrelenting pressure on Pakistan to release Davis. US officials insisted Davis was a diplomat doing “technical and administrative work” at the embassy and had to be treated as such, though he was a common criminal in the country on a tourist passport, had no diplomatic credentials and no consular functions. Pakistani officials demanded the US turn over for questioning the men in the Embassy who had attempted to rescue Davis and had killed the motorcyclist, but the Americans refused and spirited the men out of Pakistan. Davis was released after the families of the two killed men were paid $2.4 million in what is called “blood money”.
当时的美国总统奥巴马要求巴基斯坦根据《维也纳公约》的规定释放“我们的外交官”，美国国务院对巴基斯坦施加了强烈而无情的压力，要求释放戴维斯。美国官员坚称，戴维斯是一名外交官，在大使馆从事“技术和行政工作”，因此必须受到这样的待遇，尽管他是该国持旅游护照的普通罪犯，没有外交证书，也没有领事职能。巴基斯坦官员要求美国将试图营救戴维斯并杀害摩托车手的大使馆人员移交给他们进行审问，但美国人拒绝了，并将他们从巴基斯坦带走。戴维斯在两名遇害男子的家属获得240万美元的“血钱”后获释。
Joshua Walde
约书亚·瓦尔德
In another incident, in August of 2013 an American diplomat, Joshua Walde, an information management officer at the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, was driving his SUV at a high rate of speed when he made an illegal turn, crossed the highway center line, and rammed into a full mini-bus, killing a father of three whose widow was six months pregnant, and seriously injuring eight other people. (14) (15) US Embassy officials in Nairobi took advantage of Walde’s diplomatic immunity and rushed the American and his family out of Kenya the next day, leaving the crash victims with no financial assistance. Officials noted that embassy employees are typically evacuated “for medical evaluations” after traumatic events but also are flown out of a country “to avoid any possible retribution”. Hilary Renner, a State Department spokeswoman in Washington, said the embassy extends “its deepest condolences” to the family of the dead man, and “wishes a speedy recovery” to those injured.
在另一起事件中，2013年8月，美国驻肯尼亚内罗毕大使馆信息管理官员约书亚·瓦尔德（Joshua Walde）驾驶他的SUV高速行驶，非法转弯，越过高速公路中心线，撞上一辆满载的小型巴士，杀死了一名三个孩子的父亲，他的遗孀怀孕六个月，并造成另外8人重伤。(14) (15)驻内罗毕的美国大使馆官员利用瓦尔德的外交豁免权，第二天将该美国人及其家人赶出肯尼亚，使坠机遇难者得不到任何经济援助。官员们指出，大使馆员工通常在发生创伤事件后被疏散“进行医疗评估”，但也会被空运出境“以避免任何可能的报复”。美国国务院驻华盛顿发言人希拉里·雷纳（Hilary Renner）表示，美国大使馆向死者家属表示“最深切的哀悼”，并“祝愿伤者早日康复”。
Anne Sacoolas
安妮·萨科拉斯
More recently we had the case of Anne Sacoolas, the wife of an American employed at a UK consulate, who was formally charged in the death of British teenager Harry Dunn. Sacoolas was driving her car on the wrong side of the road, perhaps while impaired, and crashed into Dunn’s motorcycle, killing him. Sacoolas spoke later to the police, but then immediately headed for the airport and left the UK, claiming “diplomatic immunity” when of course she had none. However, the Americans refused to release her to return to the UK to stand trial. (16) (17) Once safe at home in the US, Ms. Sacoolas offered to perform some “community service” as penance. Here are some media details if you are interested in more information: (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23)
最近，我们看到了安妮·萨科拉斯的案件，她是一名受雇于英国领事馆的美国人的妻子，她被正式指控与英国青少年哈里·邓恩的死亡有关。Sacoolas在道路的另一边驾驶她的车，可能是在受伤的时候，撞上了Dunn的摩托车，导致他死亡。萨科拉斯后来向警方发表了讲话，但随后立即前往机场并离开了英国，声称享有“外交豁免权”，而她当然没有。然而，美国拒绝释放她返回英国受审。(16)(17) 在美国安全到家后，萨科拉斯女士主动提出提供一些“社区服务”作为赎罪。如果您对更多信息感兴趣，以下是一些媒体详细信息：(18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23)
Julia Bravo
朱莉娅·布拉沃
A current case is that of an American soldier in Italy, a young woman named Julia Bravo, who has been charged with vehicular homicide. Prosecutors in Pordenone, in Italy’s Northeast, charged the 20-year-old female soldier stationed at the US Air Force’s Aviano Air Base with vehicular manslaughter in the auto death of a young boy in Italy.
目前的一个案例是一名在意大利的美国士兵，一名名叫朱莉娅·布拉沃的年轻女子，她被指控犯有车辆杀人罪。意大利东北部波德诺内的检察官指控驻扎在美国空军阿维亚诺空军基地的20岁女士兵在意大利一名男童自动死亡中因车辆过失杀人。
According to witness testimony, Bravo had left a disco in the small hours of the morning, was subsequently seen driving erratically on the road, drove over and through a traffic circle, crossed a median, crashed through a group of road signs at high speed and hit a group of young boys walking on the roadside, killing one of them instantly. According to an eyewitness who had been partying in the same club, Bravo was so drunk “she couldn’t even turn the ignition on”, and at first drove off in the opposite direction of her military base. The police said her blood-alcohol level was four times the legal limit.
根据目击者的证词，布拉沃在凌晨离开了一家迪斯科舞厅，随后有人看到他在路上不规则地开车，驶过一个交通圈，穿过一个中央分隔带，高速冲破一组路标，撞上了一群在路边行走的小男孩，其中一人当场死亡。据一名在同一家俱乐部参加聚会的目击者称，布拉沃醉得“连点火开关都开不开”，一开始开车向她军事基地的相反方向驶去。警方说她的血液酒精含量是法定限度的四倍。
The dead boy’s mother said, “We all know that the soldiers on the Aviano base in this area do what they like, that they don’t respect the rules. There have been many incidents in the past that involved American troops. They have the freedom to do whatever they like and not be punished.” The mother told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that she wanted the soldier tried in Italy. “I don’t trust the American justice system.” However, the chance of that appears slight since the US Embassy is apparently exerting enormous pressure on the Italians to have the woman sent to the US for a “prosecution” which will never take place. (24) (25) (26) (27) (28)
死者的母亲说， “我们都知道，该地区阿维亚诺基地的士兵做他们喜欢做的事，他们不遵守规则。过去发生过许多涉及美国军队的事件。他们有自由做他们喜欢的事，不受惩罚。”这位母亲告诉《晚邮报》，她希望该士兵在接受审判时，能在法庭上受到惩罚意大利北部。“我不相信美国的司法系统。”然而，这种可能性似乎很小，因为美国大使馆显然正在向意大利人施加巨大压力，要求将这名女子送往美国进行“起诉”，而这一起诉永远不会发生(24) (25) (26) (27) (28)
However, being American, our sympathies must lie with the perpetrator. Her lawyer told the Italian media that his client was “extremely emotionally exhausted” from expressing her remorse and apologising to the family.
然而，作为美国人，我们必须同情肇事者。她的律师告诉意大利媒体，他的委托人因向家人表示悔恨和道歉而“情绪极度疲惫”。
Capt. Richard Ashby
理查德·阿什比上尉
There have been many such occurrences involving US military personnel in countries throughout Europe and Asia, and invariably with the US applying immense diplomatic and military bullying to prevent Americans from being subject to the laws of any country. One notable case occurred some years back where a Capt. Richard Ashby, flying a military jet aircraft in Northern Italy, was displaying what he boasted as a “daredevil stunt” and severed the cables of a cable car line at an Italian ski resort, sending 20 people to their death. The military restrictions prohibited flight below 1,000 feet above ground level and at speeds more than 500 mph. Ashby was flying his aircraft at little over 300 feet and at more than 1,000 Kph when the accident occurred. (29) (30) (31)
在整个欧洲和亚洲国家发生过许多涉及美国军事人员的此类事件，而且美国总是运用巨大的外交和军事欺凌来防止美国人受到任何国家法律的约束。几年前发生了一个值得注意的案例，一位名叫理查德·阿什比（Richard Ashby）的上尉在意大利北部驾驶一架军用喷气式飞机，展示了他吹嘘的“胆大妄为的特技”，并在意大利一个滑雪胜地切断了缆车缆绳，导致20人死亡。军事限制禁止飞行低于地面1000英尺，速度超过500英里/小时。事故发生时，阿什比正以300英尺多一点的速度飞行，时速超过1000公里。(29) (30) (31)
Italian prosecutors had wanted four US airmen, including Ashby and his co-pilot, Capt. Joseph Schweitzer, and three officers from the US base at Aviano, to face charges of manslaughter and endangering the safety of transport, but the Americans bullied the Italians into surrendering the prisoners to an American court. Naturally, all were found not guilty of all charges. The Italians were infuriated, but there was nothing to be done. People still ask today why has no one has even been held to account for that tragedy. (32) (33)
意大利检察官曾通缉四名美国飞行员，包括阿什比和他的副驾驶员约瑟夫·施韦策上尉，以及来自阿维亚诺美国基地的三名军官，以被控过失杀人和危及交通安全，但美国人威逼意大利人将囚犯交给美国法院。当然，所有人都被判无罪。意大利人很愤怒，但没有什么可做的。今天，人们仍然问，为什么没有人对这场悲剧负责。(32) (33)
Epilogue
后记
One of the distressing features of today’s world is that it is not only the US that has apparently abandoned any pretense of adhering to a rule of law; most other Western nations are as guilty, and some perhaps even more so.
当今世界的一个令人痛心的特征是，不仅是美国显然放弃了任何坚持法治的借口；大多数其他西方国家也同样有罪，有些甚至更有罪。
Think of Canada during the recent truckers’ protest in Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first had the nation’s law enforcement agencies track down the ownership of the vehicles and extort the insurance companies into canceling the insurance on all the trucks. When that failed, they used every manner of access to determine the identity of all protesters and forced the banks to freeze the accounts of all participants. When that still failed to frighten off the protesters, Trudeau had the local governments begin seizing the semi-trailers and selling them ($150,000 to $200,000 each) “to pay the costs of monitoring the protest”. All actions were openly and reprehensibly illegal, against all manner of law and justice, but seemingly of no concern.
想想加拿大最近在渥太华发生的卡车司机抗议。总理贾斯汀·特鲁多（Justin Trudeau）首先让国家执法机构追查车辆的所有权，并勒索保险公司取消所有卡车的保险。当这一行动失败时，他们利用各种渠道确定所有抗议者的身份，并迫使银行冻结所有参与者的账户。当这仍然无法吓退抗议者时，特鲁多让地方政府开始扣押半拖车并将其出售（每辆15万至20万美元）“以支付监控抗议活动的费用”。所有行动都是公开的、应受谴责的非法行为，违反了各种法律和正义，但似乎毫不关心。
It is incredible, unbelievable, that the government of any civilised country, the so-called democracies and “free nations”, could behave in such a manner, and yet this is where we are. The few examples in this essay are of rampant criminality and the immunity that comes with uncontrolled power in the hands of the wrong people. It is no longer a matter of law but of power to do. The US government recently confiscated the entire assets of Afghanistan’s central bank and arbitrarily decided to “donate” the money to American 9-11 victims. That is not different than seizing the assets of Russia’s central bank, and keeping the money, not different than seizing a $100 million yacht owned by an innocent individual, and selling it and keeping the money – because he’s Russian.
令人难以置信的是，任何一个文明国家的政府，所谓的民主国家和“自由国家”，都能以这样的方式行事，而这正是我们的处境。本文中的几个例子是猖獗的犯罪行为，以及不受控制的权力落入坏人手中所带来的豁免权。这不再是法律问题，而是权力问题。美国政府最近没收了阿富汗中央银行的全部资产，并任意决定将这笔钱“捐赠”给美国9-11受害者。这与扣押俄罗斯中央银行的资产并保留这些钱没有什么不同，也与扣押一艘无辜个人拥有的价值1亿美元的游艇并出售并保留这些资金没有什么不同-因为他是俄罗斯人。
We see articles today warning us of the impending degeneration of the US and the West into totalitarian fascism, but that’s a delusion: we’re already there, but nobody seems to know. If you are on the wrong side of the political fence today, your life could easily become miserable and short. Dissidence is no longer a requirement; innocent questioning of the official narrative will be sufficient. By the time everyone wakes up, it will be too late and we will be in the middle of World War Three.
我们今天看到一些文章警告我们，美国和西方即将沦为极权法西斯主义，但这是一种错觉：我们已经在那里，但似乎没有人知道。如果你今天站在政治围栏的错误一边，你的生活很容易变得悲惨和短暂。持不同政见不再是一项要求；对官方叙述的无辜质疑就足够了。等到大家醒来的时候，一切都太晚了，我们将处于第三次世界大战的中期。
*
Mr. Romanoff’s writing has been translated into 32 languages and his articles posted on more than 150 foreign-language news and politics websites in more than 30 countries, as well as more than 100 English language platforms. Larry Romanoff is a retired management consultant and businessman. He has held senior executive positions in international consulting firms, and owned an international import-export business. He has been a visiting professor at Shanghai’s Fudan University, presenting case studies in international affairs to senior EMBA classes. Mr. Romanoff lives in Shanghai and is currently writing a series of ten books generally related to China and the West. He is one of the contributing authors to Cynthia McKinney’s new anthology ‘When China Sneezes’. (Chapt. 2 — Dealing with Demons).
罗曼诺夫先生的他的文章被翻译成32种语言，并在30多个国家的150多个外语新闻和政治网站以及100多个英语平台上发表。拉里·罗曼诺夫是一位退休的管理顾问和商人。他曾在国际咨询公司担任高级管理职位，并拥有国际进出口业务。他一直是上海复旦大学的客座教授，向高级EMBA课程介绍国际事务的案例研究。罗曼诺夫先生住在上海，目前正在写一系列与中国和西方有关的十本书。他是辛西娅·麦金尼的新集《当中国打喷嚏》的撰稿人之一。(第一章。2-对付恶魔).
His full archive can be seen at
他的完整档案可在
https://www.bluemoonofshanghai.com/ + https://www.moonofshanghai.com/
He can be contacted at:
他可以通过以下方式联系：
*
Notes
注释
(2) IFS officer Devyani Khobragade, who was stripped searched in US, promoted after 7-month wait
（2） 国际单项体育联合会军官德维亚尼·科布拉加德在等待了7个月后升职，他在美国被搜身
(3) Who is Devyani Khobragade, the Indian diplomat at the center of the firestorm?
（3） 谁是印度外交官德维亚尼·科布拉加德，这场大火的中心人物？
(4) Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade leaves US under immunity
（4） 印度外交官德维亚尼·科布拉加德豁免美国
(5) U.S. officials made a mistake that led to Indian diplomat’s arrest and strip search over visa application for maid
（5） 美国官员犯了一个错误，导致印度外交官被捕，并因女佣的签证申请而被脱衣搜查
(6) Devyani Khobragade: Diplomat row charges dropped in US
（6） 德维亚尼·科布拉加德：美国对外交官争议的指控
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26554245
(7) Preet Bharara says diplomat was strip-searched, could’ve been avoided
（7） Preet Bharara说外交官被脱衣搜查，本来可以避免的
(8) American who sparked diplomatic crisis over Lahore shooting was CIA spy
（8） 拉合尔枪击事件引发外交危机的美国人是中情局间谍
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/20/us-raymond-davis-lahore-cia
(9) US gives fresh details of CIA agent who killed two men in Pakistan shootout
（9） 美国提供中情局特工在巴基斯坦枪战中杀害两名男子的新细节
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/21/raymond-davis-pakistan-cia-blackwater
(10) CIA killer Raymond Davis released by Pakistani authorities
（10） 中情局杀手雷蒙德·戴维斯被巴基斯坦当局释放
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2011/03/pkst-m18.html
(11) CIA contractor Ray Davis freed over Pakistan killings
（11） 中情局承包商雷·戴维斯因巴基斯坦杀人案获释
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12757244
(12) Revealed: What CIA agent was really doing in Lahore as it emerges even Pakistan officials are ‘worried for his safety’
（12） 披露：中情局特工在拉合尔的真实行动，甚至巴基斯坦官员也“担心他的安全”
(13) Pakistan defiant in face of US pressure to free CIA agent
（13） 面对美国要求释放中情局特工的压力，巴基斯坦不顾一切
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/21/raymond-davis-cia-agent-pakistan
(14) https://www.rt.com/news/us-diplomat-flees-kenya-accident-979/
(15) https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/08/02/diplomat-kenya-car-crash/2612229/
(18) Anne Sacoolas to face UK court over death of Harry Dunn
（18） 安妮·萨科拉斯因哈里·邓恩之死在英国法庭受审
(19) ANNE SACOOLAS has reached a “resolution” with Harry Dunn’s family after the teenager was killed in a car accident with her behind the wheel in 2019.
（19） 安妮·萨科拉斯（ANNE SACOOLAS）与哈里·邓恩（Harry Dunn）的家人达成了一项“决议”，这名少年在2019年与她一起驾驶的车祸中丧生。
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10079907/anne-sacoolas-us-diplomat-wife-harry-dunn-death/
(20) Anne Sacoolas: Harry Dunn suspect ‘willing to do community service’
（20） 安妮·萨科拉斯：哈里·邓恩怀疑“愿意做社区服务”
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-56326406
(21) Case against American woman accused of killing a UK teenager can go ahead in the US, judge rules
（21）法官裁定，美国一名女子被控杀害一名英国青少年的案件可以在美国进行
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/17/us/harry-dunn-anne-sacoolas-damages-intl/index.html
(22) The fugitive: US spy’s wife Anne Sacoolas is pictured driving HER children on the school run in America after fleeing Britain following car crash that killed teenager Harry Dunn
（22）逃犯：美国间谍的妻子安妮·萨科拉斯（Anne Sacoolas）被拍到开车带着她的孩子在美国的学校跑步，她是在少年哈里·邓恩（Harry Dunn）死于车祸后逃离英国的
(23) US woman who killed teen biker Harry Dunn wouldn’t face prosecution in America, lawyer claims
（23）一名律师声称，在美国，杀害青少年摩托车手哈里·邓恩的美国女子不会面临起诉
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/09/uk/anne-sacoolas-harry-dunn-community-service-intl-gbr/index.html
(24) U.S. servicewoman in Italy charged with vehicular homicide in drunk driving accident
（24）美国驻意大利女军人被控酒后驾驶交通肇事杀人
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/aug/23/julia-bravo-us-servicewoman-italy-charged-vehicula/
(25) American service member, 20, is arrested in Italy for hitting and killing 15-year-old boy with her car while ‘driving drunk’
（25）一名20岁的美国军人在意大利被捕，罪名是“酒后驾车”时用车撞死一名15岁男孩
(26) Drunk US soldier kills boy in Italy
（26）喝醉的美国士兵在意大利杀死一名男孩
The American airwoman hit the 15-year-old while driving four times over the legal blood alcohol limit
这名美国女飞行员在驾驶四次超过法定血液酒精限量时撞上了这名15岁的少年
https://www.rt.com/news/561418-american-pilot-drunk-driving-italy/
(27) US soldier held in Italy for allegedly killing 15-year-old while driving four times over legal alcohol limit
（27）一名美国士兵因涉嫌杀害一名15岁少年而被关押在意大利，当时他驾驶的汽车四次超过法定酒精限制
(28) US soldier under house arrest in Italy after driving drunk, killing teen
（28）一名美国士兵在意大利因酒后驾车而被软禁，杀害了一名青少年
(29) 20 die as US warplane hits cable car in Italian resort
（29）美国战机撞上意大利度假胜地的缆车导致20人死亡
(30) 20 Die in Italy As U.S. Jet Cuts A Ski Lift Cable
（30）20人在美国喷气式飞机割断滑雪缆绳时在意大利死亡
https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/04/world/20-die-in-italy-as-us-jet-cuts-a-ski-lift-cable.html
(31) Cable Car Plunges in Italy, Killing at Least 14 People
（31）意大利缆车坠落，至少14人死亡
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/23/world/europe/italy-cable-car.html
(32) US pilot who killed twenty on ski gondola acquitted
（32）在滑雪缆车上杀死20人的美国飞行员被判无罪
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/03/ital-m06.html
(33) Cavalese cable-car disaster: It’s 20 years since a US aircraft killed 20 people in the Dolomites and still no one accepts responsibility.
（33）卡瓦雷斯缆车灾难：20年前，一架美国飞机在白云石造成20人死亡，但仍无人承担责任。
Copyright © Larry Romanoff, Blue Moon of Shanghai, Moon of Shanghai, 2022