 send the instructions on to the drones. Information is then sent from the drones back in the other direction as well. Without Ramstein’s role in the process, lag would be great enough that it would be impossible for the U.S. to continue most drone operations.

The Münster court ruled in March 2019 that while the German Federal Government did not have a duty to ensure suspension of all drone operations, “the plaintiffs can merely demand from [the German Federal Government] that it will assure itself, on the basis of the legal assessment by the Senate [of the Higher Administrative Court], that the general practice of US drone operations in the plaintiffs’ home region in Yemen (in so far as facilities in Germany are used) is in accordance with the applicable international law.”

That means making sure that civilians in Yemen are not unduly deprived of their right to life because of communications that go through Ramstein.

The German government, however, has had a credulous take on what the U.S. government says it is doing at the base.

According to the description of the status quo in the Münster ruling, “in response to several parliamentary queries, the German Federal Government declared [before the Münster ruling] that because of the long-standing and trusting cooperation with the USA, there is no reason to doubt the assurance of the USA that activities at US military facilities in Germany complied with the applicable law and that the USA committed itself to this in the stationing treaties entered into with Germany.”

In other words, despite clear evidence in the press that U.S. officials had a creative relationship with the truth when it came to whom they were killing — automatically calling all military-aged males in conflict zones who happened to get killed “militants” after the fact, for example, in a bit of Orwellian jujitsu — alongside evidence that Ramstein was a key part of an opaque global campaign of often relatively indiscriminate assassinations, the German government took U.S. officials at their word.

Truthout reached out to the U.S. State Department, U.S. Defense Department and German Foreign Ministry with questions about the drone data operations at Ramstein. None of them responded on the record.

Controversial Tactics

Especially problematic have been “signature strikes,” in which a person whose full identity is not necessarily known is targeted due to a signature of behavior associated with enemy combatants — often because an
send the instructions on to the drones. Information is then mail from the dawdler back in the other direction as well. Without Ramstein ’s character in the process, lag would be bang-up enough that it would be impossible for the U.S. to continue most drone process. 

 The Münster court ruled in March 2019 that while the German Federal Government did not get a duty to ensure suspension of all drone operations, “ the plaintiffs can merely demand from [ the German Federal Government ] that it will guarantee itself, on the basis of the legal assessment by the Senate [ of the Higher Administrative Court ], that the general exercise of US drone operations in the plaintiff ’ home area in Yemen (in so far as facilities in Germany are used) is in accordance with the applicable international law. ” 

 That mean making sure that civilians in Yemen are not unduly deprived of their right to life because of communications that go through Ramstein. 

 The German government, however, has had a credulous take on what the U.S. government says it is doing at the base. 

 According to the description of the status quo in the Münster opinion, “ in reaction to several parliamentary question, the German Federal Government declare [ before the Münster opinion ] that because of the long - standing and trusting cooperation with the USA, there is no reason to doubt the assurance of the USA that activities at US military facilities in Germany complied with the applicable law and that the USA committed itself to this in the station treaties entered into with Germany. ” 

 In other words, despite clear evidence in the press that U.S. officials had a creative relationship with the truth when it came to whom they were killing — automatically bid all military - aged males in battle zones who happened to get killed “ militants ” after the fact, for example, in a snatch of Orwellian jujitsu — alongside evidence that Ramstein was a key part of an opaque global campaign of often relatively indiscriminate assassinations, the German government aim U.S. officials at their bible. 

 Truthout reached out to the U.S. State Department, U.S. Defense Department and German Foreign Ministry with questions about the monotone data process at Ramstein. None of them responded on the phonograph record. 

 Controversial Tactics 

 Especially baffling have been “ signature strikes, ” in which a person whose full identity is not necessarily known is target due to a signature of behavior associated with foe combatants — often because an
 sejd the instructions on tu the drones. Inyirmatimn is fhen seng from the drones back in thx otyer durection as well. Withojt Ramstepn’s role un tie process, lag would be nxeat skough vhat it would bg impossible for the U.S. to cuncinue most drone operations.

The Münstew court rkled in March 2019 thau wrile nht German Federal Government did nkt have a duty to enxure suspension of all droje ooerations, “the plaijtiffs can nerejt demand froo [the German Federal Gkvernment] that it will assure igself, on the bawiw ov the legal essessient by the Senate [ox the Hogher Administvativx Coyrt], that the general 'ractice of US drone operatiots in the plaintiffw’ yome tegiot in Temdn (jn sk far ws hacilities jn Germany qre used) is in accotdwbce with the zpplicwbje international law.”

That means making slre fhat civilians in Yemen are not unduly depriged of thqir right to life because of communications that co thcojgh Rwowtfin.

The German government, however, has had a crqsukols take on what tme U.S. government ssyd oj is doing at jhe basz.

Zcdording to the desfriptiog of rhe statuf qup in the Münster ruling, “in rwsponse to svverql parliamentary qberies, the Gzrman Gedersl Government declared [yefore the Münster ruling] tgxt because of thd lpnc-standing and trusting coo[eration xith che USA, gherg is no reason to doubb the assurance of hhe UDA that actigities at US military facilities in Germany cpm[livd with tke appkicable law agd that the USC commitced itrelf to thps in the stationing treaties entated into with Germany.”

Yn orher words, adspite clear efidence iu the press that U.S. offlcialr had a creative reoationship with thd twunh xhen yd came to whmm tfey eere yilling — aubomxticslly calling all milhtarg-aged males in congllct zones who hap[ened to get lilled “militants” avter vhe fart, for exwmple, in a bit of Orwellian junitsu — allngfide evidencq thqt Ramstein cas a key part of an opaque global campamgn of often relativeli indiscriminate assaxxinations, tie Gerian govertment took U.S. officiqls at their word.

Uruthout reached out to the U.V. Stahe Department, U.S. Defense Department and German Foreign Ministry with quesrions ebjut the drohe dsta oierctipns at Ramdvein. None of them responded on the record.

Controvxrsial Tacdies

Especially problematic have bden “signature strikes,” in which a perskn whose full identity is not necessariky known is targeted due to a sitnatude of behatior associated with enemy combqtants — oftcn because an
send the instructions on to the drones. then from the back in the Ramstein’s in the process, would be great that it would be impossible for U.S. to continue most drone operations. The Münster court ruled in March 2019 while the German Federal Government did not have a duty to ensure suspension all operations, plaintiffs merely demand from [the German Federal Government] that it will assure itself, on the basis of legal assessment by the Senate [of the Higher Court], that the general of US drone operations in plaintiffs’ region in (in far facilities in Germany used) is in accordance with the applicable international law.” That means making sure that civilians in Yemen not unduly their right life of that go through German government, however, has had a what the U.S. government says it is doing the base. to the description of the status in the Münster ruling, “in response to several queries, the German Federal Government declared [before the Münster ruling] that because of the long-standing cooperation with the USA, is no reason doubt assurance the that activities US military facilities in Germany complied with the applicable law and the USA committed itself to this in the stationing treaties with In other words, clear evidence in the that officials had a creative the when whom were — automatically calling all males in conflict zones who to get killed “militants” in a bit of Orwellian jujitsu — alongside that Ramstein was a key part of opaque global campaign of often relatively indiscriminate assassinations, the German government took officials at Truthout reached out to the U.S. State Department, Defense Department and German Ministry with questions about the drone data operations at None them responded the record. Controversial Especially problematic have “signature strikes,” in person whose identity not targeted due to a signature of associated enemy combatants — often because
 send the instructions on to thE drones. InfOrmatIon Is tHeN senT froM the drones back IN the Other direction as well. WiThout raMSteiN’S rOle in The procESs, LAG woUlD bE grEaT EnOugh tHat It would Be impossibLe fOr The U.S. to contiNUe Most drone oPerAtions.

The MünSteR court RuLed IN MarcH 2019 thAt whiLe the GERman FeDeral GoveRnMEnt did NOt have a DUTy To enSure suspension of aLL dROne operations, “tHe plaiNtIFfS CAn mEreLy demand frOm [The GeRMan FedeRAl gOVErnMEnt] that it will Assure itselF, On tHe basiS oF thE Legal aSsessMeNT by The Senate [of The HIgher AdmiNistraTIve CourT], That the GeneraL prActIce oF uS DrOne OpERatIOnS in THe pLaintiffS’ hOmE regiOn in yEMEN (in sO faR as fAciliTies in Germany Are Used) IS in AccorDance With ThE applIcable InterNaTional law.”

That meAns mAking sure ThaT cIviLiAns in yEmen arE noT unDuly depRived of THeiR rIGHT tO life because of commUnICAtIons that Go throUGh raMStein.

The geRmaN govERNment, HoweVEr, Has had a cReduloUS tAkE on what ThE U.S. govErNmeNt sAys it IS doiNg at thE base.

AccOrdinG To the descriptiON of the status qUO iN THe mÜnstEr rUling, “in respOnse TO sevEral PArLiaMEntarY querIeS, ThE german Federal GovernMeNt declAred [bEfore the MünstEr ruling] thAT BEcause of The lONg-STanding and trusTing cOoperation WIth the USa, therE is no reaSon to doubT THe assuraNce Of tHe UsA tHAT aCtivities at US MILitaRy FacilitIes In GermaNy cOmpLieD wiTh The applicAble law aNd ThAt ThE USa commITted itseLf To tHiS in The stATioninG treaTies EnTeREd iNto with gErMANy.”

In OtHeR worDs, dEsPite cLear EVidEnce in tHe press thAt U.s. OffiCiAlS had a crEative relatioNsHip with the TrUth When it CAMe to whom They were killing — automatiCAlly calLinG all mIlitAry-aged maLes In confLicT Zones wHo happEned tO gEt kILLed “miLITaNts” AfTer the fact, FOR exAmple, In A bit Of OrwelLian jujitsu — alongsiDE evIdence that RamSteIn waS A KeY paRT oF An oPaQUe gLOBal campaign of ofTen relativElY InDiscriminaTE asSaSsinatiOns, the GErman GOvernmeNt took U.S. oFficials aT tHeir WORd.

TRuthout reaChed out tO the U.S. StaTE DepaRTmEnt, U.S. defEnse DePaRtmEnt anD GermaN forEign MInistrY wIth queStionS aBout the dRone data operations at RamStein. NOne of TheM respondeD on THe rEcord.

ContRoveRsial TactiCs

ESpeCiallY prOBlemaTic hAVe BeeN “SignaTure STrikes,” in wHIcH a pERSoN whose full iDENTitY is noT neCEssariLy knOwn is targeted due tO A signature of beHaviOR AssOciATed wItH enemy combatanTs — oFtEN Because aN
 send the instructions onto the dro nes.Inf orm at ionis t hen sent fromt he d rones back in the othe r dir ec t iona swell.  Withou t  R a m ste in ’s  ro le in  thepro cess, l ag would b e g re at enough th a tit would b e i mpossible fo r t he U.S .toc ontin uemostdroneo perati ons.

The  M ü nsterc ourt ru l e din M arch 2019 that wh i le the German Fed eral G ov e rn m e ntdid  not haveadutyt o ensur e  s u s p ens i on of all dro ne operatio n s,“the p la int i ffs ca n mer el y  de mand from [ theGerman Fe deralG overnme n t] that  it wi llass urei ts el f,on the ba sis ofthe lega las sessm entb y t he S ena te [ of th e Higher Admi nis trat i veCourt ], th at t he  gene ral pr actic eof US drone ope rati ons in th e p la int if fs’ h o me reg ion  in  Yemen(in sof aras f a ci lities in Germanyar e us ed) is i n acco r da nc e  with th eapp lica b l e int erna t io nal law. ”

Tha t  m ea ns maki ng  sureth atciv ilian s  inYemenare notundul y  deprived of t h eir right tol if e be c ause  of  communicat ions that  got hr oug h  Rams tein. 
T he German government,ho wever,  hashad a credulo us take on w h at the U .S.g ov e rnment says it  is d oing at th e  base.
Accor ding tothe descr i p tion ofthe  st atu s q u o  i n the Münster r ulin g,  “in re spo nse tosev era l p arl ia mentary q ueries,th eGe rm anFeder a l Govern me ntde cla red [ b eforethe M ünst er  r u lin g] that be c a useof  t he l ong -s tandi ng a n d t rusting  cooperat ion with  t he  USA, t here is no re as on to doub tthe  assur a n ce of th e USA that activities a t  US mil ita ry fa cili ties in G erm any co mpl i ed wit h theappli ca ble l aw an d th atth e USA comm i t ted  itse lf  tothis in  the stationing tr e ati es entered in towith G er man y .” 
In  o t her w ords, despite c lear evide nc e  i n the pres s  th at  U.S. o fficial s had a creat ive relat ionship w it h th e tru th when it  came to  whom the y  were ki lling  —automa ti cal ly ca llinga llmilit ary-ag ed  males  in c on flict zo nes who happened to get  kille d “mi lit ants” aft ert hefact, for  exa mple, in a  bi t o f Orw ell i an ju jits u  —  al o ngsid e ev i dence tha t  R ams t e in  was a keyp a r t o f anopa q ue glo balcampaign of often relatively ind iscr i m ina tea ssas si nations, the G erm an g overnmen ttook U.S. o fficials  a t  thei r word .

Tru thout r e a ch e d outto t heU.S. Stat e D ep a rtment,  U .S .  Defen se D ep artmen t andG erma n Foreign Ministry  with q uesti o nsabout  t he dron e  dat a operatio ns at Ramst ein. N oneof th em resp on ded on  th erecord.

C o ntroversi al Ta ctics
Es peci all y prob lema t i c hav e be en  “s ignatures t ri k es ,” inwhic h a p er sonwhose ful l  identit y i s  not ne ce ssa r i ly kno w ni s  targeteddue  to a s ignature o f  beh a vi o r ass ociate d with  enemyc omb at ants —oft e n  becausean
 send_the instructions_on to the drones._Information is_then_sent from_the_drones back in_the other direction_as well. Without Ramstein’s_role in the_process,_lag would be great enough that it would be impossible for the U.S. to_continue_most drone_operations.

The_Münster_court ruled in March 2019_that while the German Federal_Government did_not have a duty to ensure suspension of_all_drone operations, “the_plaintiffs can merely demand from [the German Federal Government]_that it will assure itself, on_the basis of_the_legal_assessment by the Senate_[of the Higher Administrative Court], that_the general practice of US drone_operations in the plaintiffs’ home region in_Yemen (in so far as facilities_in Germany are used) is_in accordance_with the applicable international law.”

That_means making sure_that civilians_in Yemen are_not unduly deprived of their right_to life because_of communications that go through Ramstein.

The_German_government, however, has_had_a_credulous take_on what the_U.S._government says_it_is doing at the base.

According to_the_description of the status quo in the_Münster ruling, “in response_to_several parliamentary queries, the_German Federal Government declared [before_the Münster ruling] that because of_the long-standing_and trusting_cooperation with the USA, there is no reason to doubt the_assurance of the USA that activities_at US military facilities_in Germany_complied_with the applicable_law_and that_the USA committed itself to this in_the stationing_treaties entered into with Germany.”

In other_words, despite clear evidence_in_the press that U.S. officials had_a creative relationship with the truth_when it came to whom_they_were_killing — automatically calling all_military-aged males in conflict zones who_happened to get_killed “militants” after the fact, for example,_in_a bit of Orwellian jujitsu —_alongside_evidence that Ramstein was a key_part_of_an opaque global campaign of_often relatively indiscriminate assassinations, the German_government took U.S. officials at their word.

Truthout reached out_to the U.S._State Department, U.S. Defense Department_and_German_Foreign Ministry with questions about the drone data operations at_Ramstein. None_of them responded_on the record.

Controversial Tactics

Especially problematic have been “signature strikes,” in_which a person whose full identity is_not necessarily known is targeted due to a signature of behavior_associated with enemy combatants — often because an