Best News of the Day: Spain to proceed to indict Gonzales and five others

[xiamiam]

"Spanish prosecutors will seek criminal charges against Alberto Gonzales and five high-ranking Bush administration officials for sanctioning torture at Guantanamo. By Scott Horton.

Spanish prosecutors have decided to press forward with a criminal investigation targeting former U.S. attorney general Alberto Gonzales and five top associates over their role in the torture of five Spanish citizens held at Guantánamo, several reliable sources close to the investigation have told The Daily Beast. Their decision is expected to be announced on Tuesday before the Spanish central criminal court, the Audencia Nacional, in Madrid. But the decision is likely to raise concerns with the human rights community on other points: they will seek to have the case referred to a different judge."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-04-13/the-bush-six-to-be-indicted/

[Usrename]

1. It looks like somebody will finally do something.

It's probably a good thing that our own courts haven't had a stab at this case. The SCOTUS has only gotten worse since they decided Bush v Gore.

I'm almost certain that they would decide torture is perfectly fine and dandy. Then what?

[spag68]

2. Hooray for Spain

The day these creeps are exposed even if it is not our courts that do' will be my happy dance in the streets day.

[BuyingThyme]

3. Viva le.. Umm, la... No... A little help?

:applause:

[Loki]

4. The new and improved Spanish Inquisition.

How ironic that the old inquisition tortured it's victims, and the new one will prosecute the torturers.

[Duer 157099]

5. Imagine how much fun Gonzo et al will have with the pun

about not expecting a Spanish Inquisition!

Sometimes irony like this just can't be bought at any price.

[DCKit]

6. With all the articles written about this, this is the first time I've seen the "why".

Guess I shouldn't be surprised that W took five Spaniards hostage too.

On Edit: It's also good to know they've got a firm claim for jurisdiction.

[Generator]

7. Best paragraph of the day in relevance to US And Obama

Snip

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-04-13/the-bush-six-to-be-indicted/

Announcement of the prosecutor’s decision was delayed until after the Easter holiday in order not to interfere with a series of meetings between President Barack Obama and Spanish Prime Minister José Zapatero. However, contrary to a claim contained in an editorial on April 8 in the Wall Street Journal, the Obama State Department has been in steady contact with the Spanish government about the case. Shortly after the case was filed on March 17, chief prosecutor Javier Zaragoza was invited to the U.S. embassy in Madrid to brief members of the embassy staff about the matter. A person in attendance at the meeting described the process as “correct and formal.” The Spanish prosecutors briefed the American diplomats on the status of the case, how it arose, the nature of the allegations raised against the former U.S. government officials. The Americans “were basically there just to collect information,” the source stated. The Spanish prosecutors 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. They pressed to know whether any such investigation was pending. These inquiries met with no answer from the U.S. side.



Cue no reply at all.

[Voice for Peace]

8. yippeee go Spain!

:thumbsup:

[ixion]

9. I'm glad someone is doing something... it's sad that we can't handle this

ourselves. :(

[Occam Bandage]

10. That's impressive. nt

[Webster Green]

11. Why are the chimp and the big dick not being indicted?

:wtf:

[xiamiam]

12. inevitable...now..nt

[Blackhatjack]

13. When Spain moves to extradict these Defendants Obama will be forced to open a US investigation...

Why?

Because a US investigation provides control over information and individuals within the US, and it will be primary to compliance with any lawful requests for information from another country, Spain in this case.

The question becomes what kind of US investigation will be conducted, how open and transparent will it be, and if there is obvious evidence in the public domain will the US deny there was wrongdoing --casting doubt on the US moral standing in the world.

IMHO if the Obama Administration is given no other option than to investigate the Bush 'War Crimes' Cabal, I believe he will insist that it be a legitimate investigation, and the outcome will hinge on what sanctions are to be imposed and how much information will be released to the public.

Or in other words, I agree with Jonathan Turley --it will be one of the shortest investigations in history given all the evidence already identified in public statements.

[Blackhatjack]

14. Key Paragraph.... LINK

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-04-13/the-bush-six-to-be-indicted/

"...Shortly after the case was filed on March 17, chief prosecutor Javier Zaragoza was invited to the U.S. embassy in Madrid to brief members of the embassy staff about the matter. A person in attendance at the meeting described the process as “correct and formal.” The Spanish prosecutors briefed the American diplomats on the status of the case, how it arose, the nature of the allegations raised against the former U.S. government officials. The Americans “were basically there just to collect information,” the source stated.The Spanish prosecutors 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. They pressed to know whether any such investigation was pending. These inquiries met with no answer from the U.S. side."

MORE

[norepubsin08]

15. It's an honor to recommend this...

I hope they get them and I hope they nail those fucking bastards!!!