Accused of torture: Gonzales, Addington, Yoo and co

[Gadfly]

That bothersome Spanish judge is at it again. He wants to bring Gonzales, Addington, Feith, Haynes, Yoo and Bybee to justice. Good luck with that.

Spanish judge accuses six top Bush officials of torture | World news | The Observer

[East Coast Elitist]

It might not go anywhere, but that doesn't mean it's useless. Garzon didn't go for Bush/Cheney, which--while maybe arguably appropriate--would've looked a little crazy. An effort to prosecute Alberto Gonzales & Co. looks bold, not nutty. The threat of prosecution is also, of course, a challenge to American dominance. And just in time for the G20 meeting.

So yeah, good luck with that. But also well played.

Good op-ed from Nicolas Krugman on American hegemony in yesterday's NYT:

America the Tarnished

[seanciaran]

That bothersome Spanish judge is at it again. He wants to bring Gonzales, Addington, Feith, Haynes, Yoo and Bybee to justice. Good luck with that.

...."bothersome"? Those countries who torture their prisoners are committing war crimes. That's a fact. It's also a fact that the US tortured their prisoners thru' the use of 'waterboarding' etc. The aforementioned members of the Cheney/bush government stand accused of war crimes. Apart from Gonzalez who's a semi retard and was just a lackie (but still guilty), the others, especially Yoo and Addington are reported to have played a major role in developing the policy. Fair dues to the judge, but I'm surprised that Cheney is not on the list.

[East Coast Elitist]

Report Calls CIA Detainee Treatment 'Inhuman'

Medical officers who oversaw interrogations of terrorism suspects in CIA secret prisons committed gross violations of medical ethics and in some cases essentially participated in torture, the International Committee of the Red Cross concluded in a confidential report that labeled the CIA program "inhuman."

[corelli]

Interesting. I would not totally dismiss it as a ploy. The House of Lords twice upheld the legality of extraditing Pinochet in the face of allegations that he tortured Spanish citizens. Pinochet's extradition did not go ahead obviously, but for medical reasons.

As 6 spanish citizens were held in Guantanamo the Spanish side of matters is quite clear.

Am not sufficiently clear on the American legal system but I don't know what type of Soverign Immunity they could claim for mere functionaries and presume they have an existing extradition treaty with the US.

It would be extremely difficult politically for the present US administration to refuse to extradite, or in the alternative, conduct a criminal investigation of it's own.

Fun times ahead perhaps.

[He3]

meanwhile back in Leinster House the government has set up a committee to figure out how (not) to deal with inspection of US planes through Shannon