Spain: 'They Would Suspend Investigation If -AT ANY POINT-US Were To Undertake An Investigation'

[kpete]

UPDATE: In comments, Jim White highlights a fact from Horton's story that I intended but neglected to mention: the Spanish "advised the Americans that they would suspend their investigation if at any point the United States were to undertake an investigation of its own into these matters." As White points out, that is how war crimes investigations are intended to proceed under numerous treaty provisions by which the U.S. has bound itself: namely, the country whose officials commit the crimes have the primary obligation to investigate and hold the criminals accountable. But other treaty signatories are not only entitled, but required, to commence such proceedings if the violating country refuses or otherwise fails to do so.

Thus, the only way to object to what Spain is doing here is if one: (a) suffers from total ignorance of the basic provisions of Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture; (b) believes that the U.S. has no obligation to abide by its treaties even though the U.S. Constitution provides that such treaties are "the supreme law of the land"; and/or (c) believes that the U.S. need not abide by rules we impose on other countries, such as when we prosecuted other countries' leaders for war crimes in the past. None of those is a particularly noble excuse.

more:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/14/torture/index.html

[Echo In Light]

1. = their investigation will never be suspended

[pleah]

2. K&R

[Solly Mack]

3. K&R

[zipplewrath]

4. Some suggest that's the point

It has been suggested around here that Obama WANTS the spanish to take on this task to relieve him, and to some extent us, from the burden of having to sort through this. I remain dubious.

[Zodiak]

5. It is a pretty wild claim

However, if the claim were true, I can certainly understand the reasons, and I would welcome such a shrewd strategy. Our system is broken beyond repair when it comes to accountability.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. They can investigate all they want, but Obama will never allow them to be extradited

[ima_sinnic]

8. so, in other words, he'll remain complicit in war crimes himself

-- and people wonder why some former supporters have lost interest and don't care what his policies or programs are, or whether they succeed or fail.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Perhaps he does not believe that any war crimes were committed

[zipplewrath]

10. That'd be hard

Especially for a Constitutional Law Professor. His own AG has basically said that the crimes occured. We've convicted people before for what we've done. It takes a huge leap of denial to come to such a conclusion.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Then how will you reconcile that with the lack of prosecutions?

If it is such an open and shut case, why hasn't there been any indictments?

[hootinholler]

15. Spain can always obtain them via rendition.

Oh, wait.

-Hoot

[democrank]

7. I won`t hold my breath waiting for the U.S. to do something.

Apparently our cowardly politicians think certain war crimes can be overlooked. Shameful.

[theboss]

11. This is so silly

There are 30 different ways to object to this.

[Vidar]

13. K&R.

[malaise]

14. K & R

for justice