Spanish Torture Inquiry is Back On
In some countries, they apparently take this sort of thing seriously:
In a ruling in Madrid today, Judge Baltasar Garzón has announced that an inquiry into the Bush administration’s torture policy makers now will proceed into a formal criminal investigation. The ruling came as a jolt following the recommendation of Spanish Attorney General Cándido Conde-Pumpido against proceeding with a criminal inquiry, reported in The Daily Beast on April 16.
Judge Garzón previously initiated and handled investigations involving Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, Argentine “Dirty War” strategist Adolfo Scilingo and Guatemalan strongman José Efraín Ríos-Montt, often over the objections of the Spanish attorney general. His case against Pinochet gained international attention when the Chilean general was apprehended in England on a Spanish arrest warrant. Scilingo was extradited to Spain and is now serving a sentence of 30 years for his role in the torture and murder of some thirty persons, several of whom were Spanish citizens.
Garzón's ruling today marks a decision to begin a formal criminal inquiry into the allegations of torture and inhumane treatment he has been collecting for several years now.
Now, Garzón has announced a preliminary criminal inquiry into the Bush administration torture policy, specifying the evidence that a crime had been perpetrated against Spanish subjects, but not yet specifying the specific targets of the investigation. Judge Garzón’s decision revealed a deep engagement with documents which had been released in Washington in the last two weeks, particularly a group of memoranda prepared by lawyers in the Bush Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) a report of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a memo released by the Senate Intelligence Committee, making it likely that he would focus on the authors of the torture memoranda and other lawyers who worked with them.
But why do Spaniards hate freedom?
It's a shame that we have to rely on a foreign govt to do the dirty work to clean up our messes. Shame on Obama and Holder for lacking the courage to step up to the plate.
I agree. Didn't President Obama say he wasn't going to push for any investigations, but said that Holder was free to deal with it how he felt fit. Holder in turn didn't say he would or wouldn't, but said it was still on the table.
Government + the Federal Reserve = organized crime
Oh the Elites don't prosecute themselves that's right.
Is Rice part of Bush's conspiracy to commit torture?
If so she should shut up and get a lawyer before she ends up in prison for life.
Torture is the ultimate extortion. Way to go rice.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Why does it take other countries to do the right thing?
Even Italy with the fascist Berlusconi running things froze the assets of JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, Depfa Bank, and UBS for their involvement in the derivatives scam.
One of the rationales offered for not joining the International Criminal Court was that we don't do war crimes and even if we did, our much-vaunted legal system would handle them. Wrong on both counts!
That was the justification given by the Bush Administration.
They disavowed the World Court because the KNEW they were going to commmit war crimes.
In their twisted logic, I'm sure they felt that by delegitimizing the World Court, that they could then extend the argument to include saying that "quaint ideas" like the Geneva Conventions, aren't legitimate either. For example, what do you think this whole..."we're now in a post 9/11 world" really meant? It was a way of saying that none of the old rules applied anymore.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
I agree totally that this was what they were up to... corrupt traitors that they are.
Don't forget that Cheney and Bush have documents PLANNING torture prior to 9/11.
I guess they must be psychic...
'The devil crept into Heaven, God overslept on the 7th, the New World Order was born on Sept 11th.' - Immortal Technique
The big picture is undeniable. They will deny it, but the picture is beyond doubt now. Cheney and bush are like rotten teeth - they have to be removed or else!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
One of the rationales offered for not joining the International Criminal Court was that we don't do war crimes and even if we did, our much-vaunted legal system would handle them. Wrong on both counts!
Apparently he doesn't have the international sway that he thinks he has.
I've been waiting for Bill O's head to explode for some time now... he must be really cranky to be around these days. Things just aren't going the way he wants to see them.
should be listed as a weapon of mass distraction.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
...the SPANISH TORTURE INQUIRY!
(too soon?)
I think the original line works better.
at least someone somewhere's got a pair from which the rule of law can hang.
AMEN. I am so puzzled as to why, since President Obama states that waterboarding IS 'torture', he keeps reneging on just stating it needs to be investigated...but then, it did look like 'w' was trying to get real 'cutsy' before he took office.
get away with the Inquisition? These guys tortured with some of the most gruesome devises every made.
Google Spanish Inquisition Torture Devices
than those who wrote the books.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
on crimes against humanity how they slide?
How typical, and American making a joke about the Spanish inquisition. I mean, it is not like Spain hasn't managed to do anything else in their many centuries of history, right?
through history, they always seem to be in one country somewhere.
Now they are here in the US and we LOVE SPAIN FOR HELPING US!!!!
We need you!
Spanish fly.
Did you think that all by yourself, or did you require weeks of preparation to come up with that.
LOL.
Well personally from my research as a teenager I remember the rack, the Iron Maiden, the Boot, the Strappado (with or without additional weights), Thumbscrews and the Clyster.
That might explain why I didn't get too many dates.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
and what happened if you didn't have your shirt tucked in, refused to wear gym shorts, or any other numerous infractions.
They still do that in Korea. And more.
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
doesn't mean they can't stand up against torture now... we were supposed to learn something from the past/history, weren't we? I'm just frickin' glad SOMEBODY is doing something about it and not pretending what is, isn't!
Pretty much.
Back in those days, the Church basically ruled Europe, so I'd be going after the Pope/Church. Kings and queens feared excommunication.
"If the US government enforced its banking laws like it did its park regulations, we wouldn't be
in this damn park in the first place." OCCUPY.!!
Esto es bueno!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLgL_P5uacA
(Okay, so sue me, they're playing French).
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Pourquoi devrais-je vous engager?
the Spanish Inquisition, except it was pre-announced and brought to you without commercial interruption.
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
sponsored by Sensodyne , the toothpaste 9 out of 10 tooth grinders prefer. Now in strawberry flame and wild mint.
a President, a Congress and a Judicuary worthy of those titles here we'd take the law seriously too.
for the complacency.
After all, what could possibly be more important then BUSINESS AS USUAL?
The RULE OF LAW?
Fat chance!!!!!!!!!!!!
________________
common sense matters as much as truth
and the el bullshito goes forward , i dont believe the bush administration was involved in any criminal acts , a quote from barack obamas own mouth, what did he know ? and when didnt he know it!
Obviously he knows this country could erupt in smoke and flames at any minute if the wrong people got excited.
if only Rush would get excited and erupt into smoke and flames.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
The headline for this post - "Spanish Torture Inquiry is Back On" - is misleading.
This is a NEW investigation, not related to the previously announced investigation into the role Bush Administration lawyers played in crafting the Torture Policy. And it is a MUCH broader investigation.
AFP states:
Recall the Spanish Attorney General recommended against Garzon pursuing that investigation, so that investigation of the Bush Legal Team was put before another judge.
The Guardian states:
This investigation is MUCH broader in scope.
AFP states:
Sources:
AFP: Spanish judge opens probe into Guantanamo torture
Guardian: Spanish court opens investigation of Guantánamo torture allegations
Democracy is too important to be entrusted to politicians.
Rise Up!
Protest!
Biden backs off statement about avoiding planes, subways.
Isn't flip flopping back and forth a form of torture?
Only when a chiropracter does it to you.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Let's hope that Garzon doesn't stop with the various consigliere and go after the godfathers of Bush torture. Otherwise there really won't be any deterrent effect since these sorts of guys are all too willing to fall on their swords for their bosses (reminds me of suicide bombers dying for the "greater good").
It's sort of odd how squeamish they get about prosecuting criminal former heads of state. If they start convicting and sentencing them, maybe we'll stop having so many criminal heads of state in the future!
paydirt, baby. its time for the bounty to be officialy set up.
private bounties are legal in the USA. i am currently supporting one that will reward whomever lets us know who our local spray paint artist is.
how can it be illegal to support a private bounty in another country? when will the international bounty on this bunch of crooks be issued? how do i support it? if they open a paypal account, i will happily give them $50 a week and build the pot until somebody snatches them off the street and ships them to spain for the reward money.
i wonder how long Gonzo and feith will be walking the streets with a million dolar bounty hanging on them? i hear blackwater has laid off hundreds of US mercenaries. this should get interesting
This just emphasizes something that I've been saying since the Bush cabal decided to invade Iraq. We are all so fortunate that the Marshall Plan worked post WWII. Western Europe is now composed of strong, independent democratic states that act as a counterbalance to the U.S. So, as our own democracy has been wavering from its core principles and values, Europe has been there as an example to us and the rest of the world how things might be.
The irony is even more delicious when you consider that Spain was previously under the fascist dictator Franco. Thank you Spain for showing us what we ought to be doing ourselves.
They were actually the only Western European country left out of the Marshall Plan.
It is ironic, or maybe expected, that it is Spain who is carrying this deal out. After all, they owe literally jack shit to the US.
And, yes, it does make it all the more ironic. Now, if only our government would take notice and do the right thing.
Finally, a country with guts and class!
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Oh man, I would LOVE to see some of these Christian terrorists extradicted and forced to do the duckwalk on their way to Spanish prisons. Oh man, and to be on the Jury that convicts these Bush terrorists! What an honor to be remembered in the history books.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. Although torturers especially, should.
"Well, that's another fine mess you got us into, Cheney."
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2003/09/26/images/200...
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
...you must be dreaming!
This damned freaky waiter rightly called Garçon (!) is another reptilian castilian terrorist who has been condemned by the European Tribunal for Human Rights in Strasburg for putting into the castilian jails the peaceful CATALONIAN Independentists who were terribly tortured by the castilian police before and during the Barcelona Olimpics in 1992.
Subsequently that death-serving waiter Garçon has been doing the same, day in day out, giving to the castilian fascist police lots and lots of innocent people, among whom a slew of freedom-fighting BASQUES and CATALANS, plus all type of left-leaning activists, so that the terrorist castilian fascist cops torture and kill them.
This torture-dealing waiter Garçon has never been after any of the Francoist criminals who are tranquilly dying in their beds still now; he's never done anything in favor of the left, he's a damned fascist.
He pretended to prosecute Pinochet knowing that he had no possibility to succeed.
He has no guts. Judge Guzman from Chile prosecuted Pinochet in Chile. That takes guts.
Garçon never prosecuted any of the military and political criminals in his own sewer of a country, Castile. That would have taken guts.
He is all façade, he's a rotten skull painted like a gaudy whore.
And now, what a raucous laugh! Prosecuting Americans!!
Nothing will come off of it. He's just another reptilian castilian trying to fool the fools.
There's no democracy in Asspain. There's a nazi king appointed by the fascist Franco. The laws are all warped so that they favor the castilians. There is widespread torture. There is no freedom. They torture the Catalans, they torture the Basques, they torture the leftists. Asspain is a nazi hell, albeit with the façades whorisly painted: imagine a bullfighting ring: the same tragic put-on, a lot of noise and bunting to hide the coward murder of a tortured beast.
Who on earth can be so stupid and deluded as to believe any of the cheap tales that come from the propaganda departments of such a stinking place? Garçon is a criminal. He's a torturer himself. He's a damned murderer.
Come on. Wake up!
what a clown LOL.
European Tribunal for Human Rights. Using 'Baltasar Garzón "European Tribunal for Human Rights"' at google, it comes up with no results. Do you have a link documenting his condemnation by this tribunal?
I'm not trying to be a snot here; I just can't find anything that backs up what you say. I don't doubt that there is a huge, centuries old problem in the area of which you speak. But I'd like to see where there is a report on this judge behaving in a shitty way toward Basques and Catalans. Or anyone else, for that matter.
me-oww!
I am half Basque. Mr. Peret is the protypical jackass who would not know "opression" if it bite him in the ass. Which is disgusting, because his and his ilk attitude of "victimization" diminishes the real suffering of those who are really oppressed.
See, right now Mr. Peret, if he lives in Catalonia (by that name I assume it is the case) he can: speak in his own language (he doesn't even need to learn Spanish), he can have all his services written and spoken in his own language (again without needing to read/write/speak Spanish), he can even vote for independence parties, he can... if he so chooses go on any public forum and defecate on Judge Garzon's family if he wants to. And on, and on...
Clearly the word "oppression" does not mean what Mr. Peret thinks it means.
The ironic part is that Peret can tell with a straight face how in Spain "they torture leftist" when the current party in power is the Socialist Workers Party of Spain. So in Mr. Peret's feeble mind, a leftist party in power is "torturing" leftists. These idiots are nothing but professional victims. And they make as much sense as some of our domestic wingnuts. It is clear to me, the more you go to the extremes of the political spectrum... the more they start to look the same.
I don't know. Though the baddie judge was Garzon.
Found easily this:
Ta-ra!
Who knows. There might be plenty more. You know how governments have those organs of disinformation and how they fight to pass the right kind of turd.
Found it from here:
Da-dee!
Good.
with the ruling that you posted?
LOL.
And since when have personal opinions in blogs been used as reliable references on any subject?
If the only way some of these professional victims can make their points stand is by claiming that: victimhood. Chances are that their points never held that much water on their own...
Even if what is being said is true, does it mean THIS particular action is somehow not necessary, or bad, or a fucked up thing to do because THIS guy is doing it?
Don't make me laugh. This country is ALL about that shit. If we aren't going to do the right thing, at least this guy has the brass ones to get the thing started, and it's put out there in the public's consciousness.
me-oww!
I wonder if Obama pushed for the release of the documents - but not for prosecutions - for just this purpose. Let Spain have the evidence it needed to try, and whatever happens can set the tone for future domestic prosecutions.
I don't know. Seems plausible, though.
He wants to "look" forward...but that doesn't mean that other countries can't or shouldn't look into the past administrations war crimes.
Bush always tried to look forward....but he still kept driving his car into closed garage doors or run over policemen with his bicycle.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
It is a national disgrace that a foreign country is the first to start a criminal investigation into the psychos that took over the White House and the Pentagon for so many terrible years. The Congress of The United States stand in my disgust and they should hang their heads in shame for letting the Constitution be trampled over by the likes of bush, cheney, rumsfeld, bybee, yoo, rice, powell, etc, etc.
I would venture that you will never see or hear about this in the main stream media. Instead you will hear how bad the swine flu is (not) and what Michelle is wearing and why the President hates America because he was courteous to a foreign dignitary.
The lack of cajones , except for a few women in congress, is appalling. These people are not law makers but law benders and greedy slime.
Ask me later and I will tell you what I really think of them.
Just this morning I was made damned near homicidal by some idiot that calls himself a republican. He just came right out and said that he is all for the US torturing any enemy they can get their hands on. Not necessarily to get information but to simply torture them. With idiocracy running rampant like that.....................I am at a loss for a comparison.
There has to be a way to get these dolts in congress to wake up and smell the shit pile that comes from the white house. There may be a new occupant but until this is cleaned up there will be a stench that is simply too unbearable for the Constitution to handle.
Livid in Liberty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcl-uofCzRc
And I think I'll move to Spain!
Yo quero Taco Bell?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
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