John Yoo & Others: Europe calls for arrest for war crimes
Thanks to the Impolitic Blog & Jay McDonough for talking about this.
Those that have been following the Bush administration's legacy of war crimes through the use of legal memos written by John Yoo & others, giving the Executive Branch carte blanche to torture anyone, US Citizen or not, and throw them into a legal blackhole and deny any and all rights. In fact, those memos gave the Bush Administration (and any subsequent administration) authority to overturn Congress, the Supreme Court, and the US Constitution and its amendments in its search for terrorists, even if the suspects are US Citizens. Goodbye, habeas corpus, hello Gestapo!!
Anyway, Spain is just a little bit pissed off about the US committing these war crimes. Especially when the US tortured one of their citizens for information when he was charged with terrorism, but later realized he was innocent and sent him home. That didn't go over so well in Spain. They know torture when they see it, especially with their history blighted with the Inquisition. The Chief Magistrate in the case, Judge Baltasar Garzón, is Europe's best known counterterrorism judges. He has been involved in prosecuting the Basque terrorist group, ETA, as well as al Qaeda affiliated groups residing in Spain and Morocco, as well as the prosecution of former Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet.
Under Magistrate Garzón, the Spanish court has forbidden cooperation with anything associated with Guantanamo Bay. After further investigation, Spain is likely to issue arrest warrants for many top Bush legal aids, including lawyer John Yoo and the Former Chief of Staff & Legal Counsel to Vice President Cheney, David Addington for drafting those memos. If those warrants are issued, John Yoo and David Addington would be barred from travel to Europe, since almost all of Europe is part of the European Extraditions Convention (and outside of that, most countries do formal extradition with Europe). If they were to step foot in Europe they would be prosecuted for war crimes.
Looks like we might finally be looking at some justice. Too bad no one has put Bush and Cheney on the list yet. That would be nice to see. We just might, though, with the news that even more damning evidence that the Bush admin tried to hide will be released. A New York federal judge has ordered the CIA to release all evidence about the torture that took place and the rationale for doing do. They have until April 9th to begin releasing the information.
I say Jamás to Hamas!
11 months ago
3 comments:
Every president has left the White House with a deficit, Obama has more than tripled what he was left with in a matter of a few months.He is doing a deplorable job so far,and seems to be getting worse!
It's turning to be most Americans worst nightmare!
I'm still trying to wrap my head around "a trillion". Democrats have already spent twice as much as the total cost of the War in Iraq. They are likely to spend 6 times as much as the total cost of the Iraq War before they are through with their bailouts. Obama will also announce tax hikes and more government programs in his talk today. And, he will blame Bush for the deficit he's tripled.
Last year a record $400 billion deficit was considered excessive and dangerous. What a difference a year and a incompetent president makes! This years deficit is estimated to be at least $3 Trillion dollars a record for any country in any year....Does that count as Music, Politics, and Life?
Since this is a repeat of what you wrote on Shaw's blog, I'll repost my response from there as well.
But first.
Yes, this counts as "Music, Politics, and Life." It's both life and politics.
Second.
This has nothing to do with my post.
Seriously.
Wordsmith: I'll respond in bold to what you wrote.
Every president has left the White House with a deficit, Obama has more than tripled what he was left with in a matter of a few months.He is doing a deplorable job so far,and seems to be getting worse!
Do you mean debt when you say deficit? Or do you mean deficit in the budget? Because if so, then Obama has not tripled the national debt.
His budget does have a deficit. But that's only for now. The Congressional Budget Committee estimates that his budget will actually decrease the deficit to 63% of GWB's.
It's turning to be most Americans worst nightmare!
No, its not. The majority of Americans supported Obama in huge numbers in the election, and still do. In fact, his approval ratings remain high.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around "a trillion". Democrats have already spent twice as much as the total cost of the War in Iraq. They are likely to spend 6 times as much as the total cost of the Iraq War before they are through with their bailouts.
Really? This again? The bailouts started under Bush. The bailouts that we have are bipartisan. In fact, many Republicans were wanting to let AIG keep their bonuses.
Obama will also announce tax hikes and more government programs in his talk today. And, he will blame Bush for the deficit he's tripled.
Obama has not tripled anything. I'd like to see some backing up of that. As for the doubled Public Debt, Obama did inherit that. But again, by the time Obama's term is up, the debt should be 50-63% of what it is. If that happens, Obama will most likely be reelected.
Last year a record $400 billion deficit was considered excessive and dangerous. What a difference a year and a incompetent president makes! This years deficit is estimated to be at least $3 Trillion dollars a record for any country in any year.
Again, where are you getting these numbers?
A year? Its been 60-something days. You conservatives haven't given him time to fix anything. You guys started trying to impeach him the moment he got elected. You're a ridiculous bunch of people.
Unless by "incompetent president" you were referring to Bush.
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