Spanish human rights attorney: ‘I would recommend that Mr. Feith…get a very good lawyer.’

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Spanish human rights attorney: ‘I would recommend that Mr. Feith…get a very good lawyer.’

Last week, a Spanish court agreed to consider “opening a criminal case against six former Bush administration officials…over allegations they gave legal cover for torture at Guantanamo Bay.” Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Doug Feith said the charges “make no sense,” adding, “they criticize me for promoting a controversial position that I never advocated.” Gonzalo Boye, one of the lawyers filing the complaint, responded to Feith, saying, “If they are innocent, they shouldn’t be afraid” to come to court:
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/03/30/2617763-lawyer-ex-us-officials-must-face-torture-charges

“I would recommend that Mr. Feith first of all read the complaint, and secondly that he get a very good lawyer,” Boye said. “If he is so sure of what he is saying — then the address of the national court is #22 Genova Street, second floor.”

Feith often expresses amnesia about his central role in approving torture. “I strongly championed a policy of respect” for the Geneva Conventions, he told Congress last year. In reality, British international lawyer Philippe Sands reported that Feith “took the steps to ensure that none of these detainees could rely on Geneva.”

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/03/30/feith-spain-torture/

[hobbit709]

1. I love it

The best part is this
“I would recommend that Mr. Feith first of all read the complaint, and secondly that he get a very good lawyer,” Boye said. “If he is so sure of what he is saying — then the address of the national court is #22 Genova Street, second floor.”

[asjr]

31. I hope those words are not just rhetoric. It

may take another country to hold those traitors accountable. We would maybe not be in the shape that we are in now if someone, somewhere had initiated proceedings 7 years ago.

[pleah]

2. K&R

[Odin2005]

3. Viva España!!! n/t.

[MrPerson]

4. Thanks but no thanks Spain - we'll try our own criminals

Or make sure our elected officials pay for not dong so.

[Bill McBlueState]

7. you're more optimistic than I am n/t

[MrPerson]

8. This sets a terrible precedent.

There are better ways to get this done.

[tomp]

13. such as? nt

[MrPerson]

16. Other countries charging Americans with murder

for carrying out death sentences on their citizens.

[hobbit709]

29. We evidently had no qualms about doing it to others.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[msanthrope]

61. Well, if we won't clean up our own messes, can we honestly expect

the rest of the world to allow violations of the Geneva Conventions to go unpunished????

And which American citizens do you speak of??? The Gitmo detainees were/are, by and large, not American citizens.

[tomp]

81. you missed the question.

what better way to get it done, with "president change" defending bush in court?

[zipplewrath]

34. Unfortunately a worse one is being set

The longer these crimes go unpunished, by anyone, the worse it is for humanities future. "Never again" is a common mantra, but in this case a better one should be "Not this time". They violated international law. Truth is that with a little work they might find someone with enough Spanish connections to justify criminal proceedings in a Spanish court.

[northernlights]

39. the precedent for trying war criminals was set long ago

The preferable alternative is to try our own war criminals. Since we can't be bothered, it falls to Europe. Thank goodness *somebody* is stepping up to the plate.

[newtothegame]

60. And who's gonna drag them to court? The UN? That's a frickin laugh...

If the UN could only write stern letters to Sadaam, they ain't gonna drag Bushie in.

[go west young man]

67. In case you missed it.... the U.N. was proven correct in that Saddam

was being contained. The weapons inspectors knew he had no WMD and had not reconstituted the program which was dismantled after the first gulf war. Kofi Annan declared publicly that the U.S. was engaged in an illegal war. The U.S. was bugging the UN and there was a broad effort on the part of the Neocons to undermine the UN through propaganda and policy change. The UN was on the right path containing Saddam Hussein. The US invasion has resulted in over a million Iraqi deaths and the displacement of roughly 4 million people over the last 6 years. Obviously the UN was a lot brighter in mind than the US was so how do you come up with your belief that the UN is irrelevant? There seems to be a better chance that foreign nations will step up to the plate in regards to the Bush/Cheney cabal than the US these days. I'd put my money on the UN before I would the US.

[Doctor_J]

69. I don't remember chileans complaining when Pinochet was brought to justice

by the World Court.

There are better ways to do this in theory, but none of them will be carried out due to the fascist rule here.

[Fovea]

9. I think Konrad Adenaur made the same point.

But without much impact, I suspect.

[MrPerson]

10. I think being occupied by us had something to do with that.

[Fovea]

97. I believe the tribunal used as it were

the scaffolding of international law, rather than nietzschean realpolitik advocated by Yoo et al.

In the global world, this is like a reverse exile.
They will be marginalized in their own nation, and unable to travel anywhere that extradites to Spain.

[atreides1]

14. Good Luck With That

You're going to need it!

[MrPerson]

17. Yeah. I know. That doesn't make Spain any less wrong.

[tabasco]

23. Why is Spain wrong?

Explain your position against a sovereign nation giving itself jurisdiction over war crimes and torture.

BTW - the Spanish courts have not made any ruling in this case, so far.

But I am curious about your legal theory.

[MrPerson]

26. The Slippery slope argument.

[Zhade]

84. ...is a coward's bullshit argument.

NT!

[MrPerson]

27. Also official immunity.

[intaglio]

35. As a signatory to the Geneva and Hague Conventions

All the US has to do to avoid this happening is to open meaningful enquiries into possible War Crimes AND have a proper trial. If the enquiries or trial are deemed deceptive, or if the US takes no action, other countries are obliged to begin proceedings.

Check out what happened with Pinochet

[MrPerson]

28. Should we not also prosecute everyone who voted for Bush?

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tabasco]

45. So, no nation has jurisdiction over war crimes?

Is that your theory?

[Zhade]

83. It doesn't make Spain WRONG at all. They're following international law.

NT!

[atreides1]

19. The US won't do it

The current administration along with the Democratically controlled Congress doesn't have the guts to bring the asdvocates of torture to trial.

They lack the courage to do the right thing for the right reasons. Everybody wants to "look forward not behind", and hopes that all the evil that was part of the Bush administration will be forgotten.

[MrPerson]

20. Then we protest their failure to act and vote against them.

[dbmk]

66. -

-

[Zhade]

85. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

You CAN'T be that fucking naive. Not after the last eight years.

[Alamuti Lotus]

91. only eight? who else is the naive one?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. ha ha! yeah. thats likely to happen

[L. Coyote]

24. That's a lot like saying only one person can go to any party

when everyone knows you want as many as possible

CIA Has 3,000 Docs on Torture Tapes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5303329

[TechBear_Seattle]

41. "Make sure our elected officials pay" how, exactly?

Threaten not to vote of Obama in 2012?

[fascisthunter]

42. uh.... who is "we"?

as far as I'm concerned and I think many will back me up on this, the America government has historically swept crimes under the rug, so I doubt anything would happen if we were hope someone in our government had the balls and princpaility to hold these traitors accountable. Since America isn'yt willing to deal with it's criminality others around the globe will have to.... we had our chance.

[dothemath]

47. We will????

When?

[GOPNotForMe]

49. Our officials will never be extradited.

But if they are indicted by Spain and step foot in Spain, then they can and should be arrested and held accountable for their INTERNATIONAL crimes. Implementing a war of aggression (Iraq), war crimes (Fallujah, Gitmo), crimes against humanity (Fallujah, Iraq as a whole). These are established international crimes -- America wants other countries to play by those rules (see, e.g., Africa) so long as WE don't have to as well. If we can't get the job done (indicting our war criminals), then other countries should.

[msanthrope]

62. Not just Spain--ANY signatory to the Geneva Conventions/Hague

Signatory can and will be pressed to extradite these bastards.

If these pricks can never leave America again, good.

[aquart]

51. When?

[grahamhgreen]

53. We need all the help we can get putting those who've tortured innocent people in jail.

[grahamhgreen]

54. oops

[sasquatch]

55. In a pig's ass we will

Nancy Pelosi would kill it so fast Usain Bolt would be impressed.

[bitchkitty]

57. LMAO! Thanks for the giggle.

Try our own criminals - as if!

[Doctor_J]

70. No we wont

on either count

[XXXMADAM]

71. Truth Commission is out of order

I just called the Senate Judiciary Committee 202-224-7703. The clerk said Senator Leahy's "Truth Commission" is not active at this time. I said this would seem to make Leahy complicit in a cover up.
Maybe they just need to get more people in place? The burning thread of Hope. : (

Tommorrow, March 31, live webcast
http://judiciary.senate.gov/

Agenda

I. Nominations

Tony West to be Assistant Attorney General,
Civil Division, Department of Justice
Reported by Unanimous Consent

Lanny A. Breuer to be Assistant Attorney General,
Criminal Division, Department of Justice
Reported by Unanimous Consent

[Zhade]

77. Yeah, because we sure did after Iran-Contra.

Oh, wait...

(For the uninitiated -- Feith was one of the criminals from THAT little traitorous adventure.)

[Fedja]

94. I wish

The problem is that you won't. How are the CIA agents doing that got sentenced in absentia for kidnapping people in Italy and shipping them to the ME to be tortured? Oh right, we forgot about those.

The US does NOT try its criminals for crimes committed abroad, especially not war crimes.

[fasttense]

5. I loved the comments at the link.

"Remember, Every time a troll is zinged an angel gets its wings!"

:rofl:

[babylonsister]

6. Rec'd. Just imagine the possibilities! nt

[bdamomma]

11. another country will step up against these criminals

and our own government won't. very sad indeed.

[indimuse]

12. HUGE KnR!!!

This is GREAT news!!!

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. Go Espana!

Since our current leaders seem intent on sweeping these matters under the rug, I hope you step up and do what is right.

War criminals must be called out and punished.

[indimuse]

18. ohhh...

here'z another...KICK! ;)

[Gman]

21. Indicting these guys will become viral in Europe

and across the globe. There will be no where they can travel without risking arrest and trial. The US will eventually have to acquiesce and turn them over to the ICC. I hope I live long enough to see it happen.

[Zhade]

86. Me too. That Obama and the Dems won't do this is a sign of their cowardice.

Sorry, I call it like I see it.

[acmavm]

25. WHOOOOO HOOOO! Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law!

Fry his ass, the smug bastard.

He NEVER thought he'd be facing justice.

[Piewhacket]

30. Hear hear. tap tap tap tap tap.(rec)

[lonestarnot]

32. Tee hee!

:applause:

[acmavm]

33. I loved this reader's comment:

<snip>

Badmoodman Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spanish human rights attorney: ‘I would recommend that Mr. Feith…get a very good lawyer.’

- - Fredo Gonzalez is still looking for work, Dougie. Oh wait, the judge said a “very good lawyer.” Nevermind.

March 30th, 2009 at 10:47 am

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Johnboi70]

36. Ding dong, the witch is dead!

[Amonester]

38. “If they are innocent, they shouldn’t be afraid”

hahaha

it sounds like “If you (mr. filth) haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear, don't ya?”

oh the irony

[chatnoir]

73. "mr. filth" lol!

Go Spain!

[lsewpershad]

40. Some really good news for a change.

[fascisthunter]

43. Good... because the American Government won't do Shit

about these criminals...

[vinylsolution]

44. Well done, Spain....

.... At least one country has the guts to do what's right.

Please don't forget to add Henry Kissinger to that list of war criminals.

[jeff30997]

80. I think he's already on a list.

Because of the role he played in overthrowing the Democratically elected Government of Salvador

Allende in Chile and putting Pinochet in charge.

[Zhade]

87. And Obama consulted with him.

:puke:

[Vinca]

46. Oh, my . . . this could get really good.

[catnhatnh]

48. If they had a brain in their heads they would flee to Spain...

...and throw themselves on the mercy of the courts. After all Spain is a civilized country and has no death penalty-not even a Federal death penalty for treason.

[Lena inRI]

63. Not so clever an escape, catnhat. . .

. . .are you familiar with the Spanish case against Pinochet, dictator of Chile? Seems the Spanish courts were intending to prosecute him FOR Chile so had they succeeded, the punishment could be determined by a harsher penal code of Chile.

What got Pinochet off was Jack Straw of UK and his (Pinochet's) heart attack after holding-off the Spanish-UK international justice procedure long enough to avoid any conviction anywhere.

This, I'm afraid, is the strategy of the Bush cabal. . .STALL FOR TIME. . .

I applaud Spain's expediency. . .I'm sickened by Obama's apparent contribution to stalling.

But like the Chilean people, we the people won't forget these crimes committed . . .and the clock is ticking. . .tocking for ALL those who are STALLING:

http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/chile/juicio/eng.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Pinochet#Arrest_and_trial_in_Britain



Hey, without the hat, kinda looks like Cheney!

:smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

[Zhade]

88. Obama's failure sickens me, too.

Letting war criminals walk is NOT the change I voted for.

[DesertDiamond]

50. Woweee! I LOVE the Europeans!!

[flyarm]

52. Thank you Espana!!! Come get these evil bastards!!

mi familia de maridos es de España..

We were in Barcelona in December..wonderful country, wonderful people!! My husband and I love going to visit his cousins there!!

Viva Espana!! no más tortura!!

Somos greatful a usted España!!!

Since our government doesn't have the stomach hold anyone accountable..we appreciate that you will !!!

Muchas gracias!!!

p.s.Oh and we miss you Felix!!

[grahamhgreen]

56. It's funny how goodness makes the rounds - hundreds of years ago, the Spanish led the Inquisition.

Now we are the inquisitors and they are on the side of decency.

[Hawkowl]

100. Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition!!!

HA!

[katty]

58. great news, this judge got Pinochet--very good news

[Supersedeas]

59. there is some courage on display in Spain; when will Eric Holder stand up for America?

[Zhade]

89. He's too busy breaking promises by letting the DEA go after medijuana clinics.

NT!

[Wizard777]

64. The Bushies need to quit making their case to the media and make it in COURT.

If they have done nothing wrong they have nothing to fear from a trial. But they all know they're guiltier than all of Hell.

[ClayZ]

65. Yay, Spain!

K and R

[Doctor_J]

68. Woot! I wonder if Spain needs math professors

who don't speak Spanish :-(. Feith and the rest of the murderers, traitors, and terrorists who worked for * will escape justice here. I wish the Europeans well doing we are unable to do.

[damntexdem]

72. Hurrah! Now, when do we get to the main event?

When will Dubya and Darth Cheney need those good lawyers? And where will they find friendly lawyers who aren't already indicted? ;-)

[jtrockville]

74. I hear former AG Gonzo's looking for a job. Maybe Feith could retain him?

Or would Gonzo need to recuse himself (conflict of interest)?

[Brother Buzz]

90. I'd rather see Yoo defending Feith

Dumb and Dumber. You know what I mean, Vern?

[winyanstaz]

75. I shall keep my fingers crossed...

If only the rest of the world would speak out too...as Americans cannot be heard in America I guess.

[Overseas]

76. K&R with lots of hope !! //nt

[BobTheSubgenius]

78. I hope this case has some legs.

Even if it comes to naught legally - and I really hope it doesn't - it will serve to keep the issue in the public eye, and perhaps tip other jurisdictions that were on the fence.

[sasquatch]

79. ¡Viva España!

¡Muerte al neo cons y el Sur!

[GETPLANING]

82. This makes me proud to be

a Spanish citizen.

[AllyCat]

92. Do you think the standard answer of "I don't recall" will fly in Spain?

I think not. The difference between a criminal court and testifying in front of a complicit Congress is that instead of a strongly worded letter, these crooks will get jail. I can't wait. Updating passports for the whole family to go enjoy this day.

[Buns_of_Fire]

93. A little unexpected, but then...

NO ONE expects the Spanish Inquisition!

(I'm sorry, but then, you knew SOMEONE was going to say it!:spank:)

[pam4water]

95. I was going to say dequisition! I'm still trying for one on "The Rain in spain fall mainly on the

plan."

[mod mom]

96. I wish there had been no warnings so these assholes would travel & have to face justice.

[snake in the grass]

98. This is slowly becoming a Fifth Freedom issue.

If these criminals are not taken care of now, they will be back with a vengeance.

[bottomtheweaver]

99. Feith said the charges "make no sense"?

Funny, that's just what the 911 trolls always say to the "conspiracy theorists."

:tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: