Robatoy wrote:
On May 21, 8:16 am, "HeyBub" wrote:
Robatoy wrote:
On May 20, 9:41 pm, "HeyBub" wrote:
Douglas Johnson wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote:

I'll grant you the Bush administration was arrogant - they all
are (see "Jane's Law"). But corrupt? Hardly. In the entire eight
years of the Bush administration, ONE person was convicted of
impropriety, and that for testimony about a crime that never
happened.

So far. The Spanish are considering war crimes charges against six
senior Bush administration officials:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009...bay-torture-in...

This is being done under the 1984 UN Convention against Torture,
signed and ratified by the US. This has the same legal basis as
the arrest of Chili's General Pinochet in Britain in 1998. He died
before going to trial.

I believe the US has tried and convicted nationals of other
countries under this treaty, so the precedent is solid. -- Doug

First, there's a difference as to whether the acts undertaken by
the U.S. constitute "torture" as defined by the treaty.

Secondly, there's a jurisdictional problem:

"The Convention requires states to take effective measures to
prevent torture within their borders, and forbids states to return
people to their home country if there is reason to believe they
will be tortured."

Any acts taken by the U.S. did not take place within the U.S.
border, so this part of the treaty doesn't apply.

Thirdly, Spain hasn't done anything yet. If they do, they'll regret
it.

...by doing what? Try to keep in mind that Spain is a member of the
European Union.... a whole different ball game than it was 70 years
ago.

Good question.

1. The U.S. could close its naval base at Rota, eliminating some
8,000 jobs that finance the local community. That's about $200
million a year in salaries alone. Other U.S. military bases in Spain
include:

Moron Air Base, Seville, and
Torrejon Air Base

2. We could dig up all the roads connecting Spain and the U.S.

3. Spain exports about $10 billion to the U.S. annually. Some of
that could be at risk.

4. Spain lost one war against the U.S. I don't think they'd risk
another.

And you'd do all that to protect your war criminals?

Absolutely.

In fact, I would not wait for the threat to become imminent. Think of it as
preemptive defense.