Spain drops case against Bush officials

[jtrockville]

Source: Herald Sun

A SPANISH judge overnight dismissed a complaint filed against former top US officials over alleged torture at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

Judge Eloy Velasco decided to throw out the case as he said the US justice system is competent to handle any such complaint.

He also argued that the Association for the Dignity of Prisoners of Spain which filed the suit "is not based in Spain".

The association had alleged in 2009 that six officials in the administration of former president George W Bush, including ex-US attorney general Alberto Gonzales, sanctioned torture against prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.



Read more: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/spain-drops-case-against-bush-officials/story-e6frf7jx-1226038832417

---

Looks like the "Bush Six" caught another break.

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Smirk." - xCommander AWOL (R)

[Drale]

2. Probably figured it would cost way too much

for something that is basically symbolic, because no one would ever go to jail. I only wish repukes here would stop waisting money doing "symbolic" things like reading the parts of the constitution they like, and voting to throw down laws that they no won't pass.

[gateley]

3. The US justice system IS competent to handle it, too bad it's compliant. nt

[ixion]

5. compliant... and corrupt

in every sense of the word.

[bluesmail]

17. +1

[bluesmail]

16. +1

[jtrockville]

4. Meanwhile.... from the Center for Constitutional Rights... (yesterday)

Obama Administration to Spanish Judge: We Won’t Investigate Bush Lawyers’ Role in Torture

Rights Groups Say Court Has No Choice But to Move Forward With Criminal Investigation

New York and Madrid, April 13, 2011 – After a two-year delay punctuated by efforts to undermine the Spanish judiciary’s independence, the Obama administration recently told a Spanish court that they have no intention of investigating six former Bush administration officials for their part in creating a legal framework that permitted the torture of detainees held in U.S. custody. The named defendants in the case are torture memo authors Jay Bybee and John Yoo, and David Addington, Douglas Feith, William Haynes and Alberto Gonzales.

In a seven-page submission in response to a request from Judge Eloy Velasco of the Audencia Nacional, the U.S. clearly demonstrated that it is not investigating or prosecuting the allegations and charges set forth in the March 2009 criminal complaint. Under Spanish law, Spain shall pursue a case when no other competent jurisdiction has initiated an effective investigation and prosecution into the punishable acts.

“Now that the Obama administration has made it plain it will not exercise its jurisdiction over very serious and well-documented allegations of torture, it is incumbent upon Judge Velasco to act,” said Katherine Gallagher, a senior attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights. “His is the court of last resort for the victims of the Bush administration’s torture program.”

....
http://ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/obama-administration-spanish-judge%3A-we-won%E2%80%99t-investigate-bush-lawyers%E2%80%99-role-torture

[Angry Dragon]

6. que sa tête décolle

[gimama]

7. time for more petitions/letters to Holder?

yeah, this time he will listen,
& do his duty.. :(

[gateley]

10. I don't think we have a chance in hell -- and it's not Holder's decision, IMO --

he works for Obama (as opposed to We The People). :grr:

[gimama]

14. there YOU go again!

tellin' the TRUTH..!.. much as it hurts, it needs sayin'.
I agree..the boss sets the standards..

hey, Gately ..:fistbump:

[Mosaic]

21. Bullshit

Bring them to justice, just like we did the nazis. There is no statue of limitations on murder.

[libodem]

8. Effing Damn

[L. Coyote]

9. One country down, one hundred and fifty to go.

Ooophs, make that two countries down, Obamaland and Spain.

[Rex]

11. And bears really do shit in the woods.

Had no idea the cartel held such power over the globe. Scary/amazing.

[frylock]

12. Obama and GOPers Worked Together to Kill Bush Torture Probe

http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/12/wikileaks-cable-obama-quashed-torture-investigation

[timo]

13. 10-4

each administration covers the lasts ass because each administration knows in their heart of hearts that they too will be engaged in some fucked up bullshit and no one wants to cast the first stone!!!

[bluesmail]

18. +1

[sabrina 1]

15. According to Wikileaks cables, the Spanish court was pressured

by this administration not to prosecute Bush's torturers. I guess they are still applying that pressure.

[buckrogers1965]

19. If we were competent

then we would already have them on trial. Please help us, rest of the world. We have criminals doing whatever they like and there is nothing we can do about it. It is up to you to bring justice to the international war criminals hiding in America.

[Solly Mack]

20. K&R

Snort. Whatever...

"US justice system is competent to handle any such complaint"