Spain to put Argentina "dirty war" suspect on trial, then extradite him

[Judi Lynn]

Source: International Herald Tribune/Associated Press

Spain to put Argentina "dirty war" suspect on trial, then extradite him
The Associated Press
Published: February 29, 2008

MADRID, Spain: Spain will put an important Argentine "dirty war" suspect on trial for genocide, terrorism and other alleged crimes, then extradite him to his home country to face other charges, the Spanish government said Friday.

Ricardo Miguel Cavallo is a former military officer who was considered a leading figure in the repressive military juntas that ruled Argentina in the 1970s and 1980s. He was extradited from Mexico City, where he was living under an assumed identity, to Madrid in 2003 after Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon charged him with genocide, terrorism and other crimes.
(snip)

Cavallo, also known by his nicknames "Marcelo" or "Serpico," has been in prison in Spain since June 29, 2003, when he was extradited from Mexico. He had been living there under an assumed name and running a motor vehicle registry. But a newspaper ran a front-page picture of him and five former political prisoners identified him as their torturer, leading to his arrest.

Cavallo was a navy commander in Buenos Aires and worked in the Navy Mechanical School — known by its Spanish initials ESMA — which became a notorious detention center in Buenos Aires where thousands of prisoners were tortured or executed.


Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/29/europe/EU-GEN-Spain-Argentina-Dirty-War.php

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U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger meets with Argentine foreign minister, Admiral Cesar Augusto Guzzetti, on October 7, 1976 (Photo courtesy of Clarín.com (Argentina)

KISSINGER TO ARGENTINES ON DIRTY WAR:
"THE QUICKER YOU SUCCEED THE BETTER"

Newly declassified documents show Secretary of State
gave green light to junta, Contradict official line that
Argentines "heard only what wanted to hear."

While military dictatorship committed massive
human rights abuses in 1976, Kissinger advised
"If you can finish before Congress gets back, the better."


Read the front page story, "Transcript: U.S. OK'd 'dirty war'
by Daniel A. Grech in the 4 December 2003 Miami Herald
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB104/index.htm

[Ghost Dog]

1. Don't expect to see Kissinger,

nor many others, setting foot on Spanish territory - without a rock-solid diplomatic passport, that is.