Spain / International Court to Criminalize Bush Administration?

New York Times ^ | March 28, 2009 | MARLISE SIMONS

[Bob Ireland]

LONDON — A Spanish court has taken the first steps toward opening a criminal investigation into allegations that six former high-level Bush administration officials violated international law by providing the legal framework to justify the torture of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba ...

The case, against former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and others, was sent to the prosecutor’s office for review by Baltasar Garzón... The official said that it was “highly probable” that the case would ... lead to arrest warrants.

The move represents a step toward ascertaining the legal accountability of top Bush administration officials for allegations of torture and mistreatment of prisoners in the campaign against terrorism.
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... defenders have said their legal analyses and policy work on interrogation practices ... are now being unfairly second-guessed after many years without a terrorist attack on the United States.
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The 98-page complaint ... is based on the Geneva Conventions and the 1984 Convention Against Torture, which is binding on 145 countries, including Spain and the United States.
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The other Americans named in the complaint were William J. Haynes II, former general counsel for the Department of Defense; Jay S. Bybee, Mr. Yoo’s former boss at the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel; and David S. Addington, who was the chief of staff and legal adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney.
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...Mr. Yoo defended his work in an opinion column in The Wall Street Journal on March 7 ... “If the {Obama} administration chooses to seriously pursue those officials who were charged with preparing for the unthinkable, today’s intelligence and military officials will no doubt hesitate to fully prepare for those contingencies in the future,” Mr. Yoo wrote.

[Bob Ireland]

The full article bears reading; there are caveats about the possible outcome of these charges. Still, if the Obama Administration allows these Bush Administration officials to be expedited to the World Court, patriotic citizens MUST be prepared to stand up against such attacks on our sovereignty.

Here is another piece from the article: '... that it was a near certainty that the warrants would not lead to arrests if the officials did not leave the United States.'

AND, can there be much doubt that these charges would eventually lead to charges against President Bush and Vice President Cheney?

This would result in criminalizing the defense of our country - at the judgment of unfriendly foreign powers.

[goodnesswins]

LET THEM TRY....

[DownInFlames]

Obama will be walking on dangerous ground if this proceeds. It will give US citizens the right to arrest him, his administration, and Congress on Constitutional violations by any US sovereign state.

[Bob Ireland]

Heads up.

[La Lydia]

It is ONE marxist judge in Spain, where the legal system is a direct descendant of the Inquisition. Altogether now.... and nobody ever expects the Spanish Inquisition.

[Matchett-PI]

bttt

[SandRat]

now why when I read that name “Baltasar” did I get immediately reminded of the rotten weasel SOB “Baltasar” from Battlestar Galactica?

[Califreak]

Book ‘em Dano...

[Tuketu]

The LEFT, risking their citizens lives, will never be indicted, only the middle or right for trumped up charges. BTW, define torture or is it a moving target to suit their needs?

[SECURE AMERICA]

Hey Spain. Does the phrase Kiss our ass resonate with you???

[Bob Ireland]

Bill Clintooon can make millions traveling abroad and speaking to foreigners criticizing the U.S. ... and Bush Adm. officials cannot leave their homes...

What is wrong with this picture?

[alloysteel]

They have not given up on trying to trap George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, but Dick Cheney may be beyond their grasp. General Augusto Pinochet, who was once the Chilean Commander in Chief and a member of the military junta that booted out the socialists that threatened to take Chile the way of Venezuela, was hunted down and dragged before this kangaroo court, charged with “crimes against humanity”. Mostly, it was the fact that he prosecuted and sentenced to prison a number of socialists, but no matter, this was all of “humanity”.

[Big_Monkey]

This is a pain in the ass right now. But, when Osama’s pals hit us again (and they will definitely hit us again, it won’t matter a lick. And, Barry’s going to have MUCH bigger problems than keeping his job in 2012.

[dragnet2]

Still, if the Obama Administration allows these Bush Administration officials to be expedited to the World Court, patriotic citizens MUST be prepared to stand up against such attacks on our sovereignty.

They'll be labeled, "Vigilantes" if they attempt this.

[Bob Ireland]

***MUCH bigger problems than keeping his job in 2012***

If we make it to 2012.

[alloysteel]

They'll be labeled, "Vigilantes" if they attempt this.

Then Vigilantes we shall be. The Second Amendment does not exist only for the rights of hunters, you know.

[Bob Ireland]

***They'll be labeled, "Vigilantes" if they attempt this***

I would love to see a few million Americans marching on Washington labeled 'vigilantes'. Our only strength now is in numbers.

[Big_Monkey]

"If we make it to 2012.

Yes. That is a big "if".

[Caipirabob]

Spain / International Court to Criminalize Bush Administration?

Why not? They've apparently already criminalized the use and production of testosterone.

[Beloved Levinite]

Don’t make me laugh. Spaniards blowing HOT AIR out of their collective BUTTS. Won’t amount to a hill of beans. (pun intended) They should be thanking GOD for GWB & should be checking their rail lines for terrorists instead of wasting their time on this NONSENSE.