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Obama Protecting Bush from Spain?
Keith Murphy and David Swanson discuss this on the Urban Journal: Listen.
Updates below.
By David Swanson
The official story is that Spain has decided not to prosecute Bush's torture lawyers. Yet the known facts suggest something else entirely.
1-We know that the prosecutor who initiated this effort wants to prosecute Bush. He wrote about it months ago. We know that he and his colleagues see targeting the lawyers first as a step in Bush's direction and more likely to move forward than a case that starts at the top.
2-We know from Scott Horton's reporting that Spain and the Obama administration have been communicating about this case.
3-We know that the White House's press secretary was asked this week about those communications and avoided answering the question at all, rather than simply going with the story already reported that the U.S. was just observing and "gathering information."
4-We know that Obama wants to "move forward," does not want to prosecute Bush, and is going to extraordinary lengths to maintain and expand the power of the presidency (including the power to detain without charge, rendition, illegal foreign occupations and strikes, the power to make treaties without Congress, rewriting laws with signing statements, making laws with executive orders, keeping most of Bush's signing statements and executive orders in place, unprecedented claims of state secrets and classification and sovereign immunity and executive privilege, the power to fire whistleblowers, keeping memos and Emails secret, etc.)
5-We know that the top law enforcement official in Spain has made an argument for dismissing the case against the lawyers that an 8 year old would spot as an illegal absurdity, that was not a necessary argument for dismissing the case, but that would be a necessary argument for preventing a case against Bush. While he could have argued, like Doug Feith, that those engaging in the torture or ordering it were more culpable than the lawyers (as they are indeed), he instead argued that ONLY those present for the torture are culpable, thus exonerating Hitler, Pinochet, and every other official who has ordered a crime from a distance.
6-We know that if the top law enforcement official in Spain lacked the mental acumen of an 8 year old, Fox News would have pointed that out to us during the past couple of days of xenophobic screeching.
7-We know that the rightwing was preparing big attacks on Obama for allowing Spain to proceed, and that the official "left" was not going to have his back. Senator Russ Feingold said yesterday that Spain was behaving inappropriately.
These facts are at least extremely suggestive of a less than independent decision by the Spanish to deny justice and stick to "looking forward," a decision that certainly does not follow public opinion in Spain and was not predicted by reporters in Spain but was predicted by Doug Feith on Fox News:
"I hope and expect that the Obama administration will communicate to the Spanish government that they — that they do not view this as simply an attack against some former officials; they view it as an attack on the U.S. government — because as I said, the principle that's involved here would attack current officials as much as former officials."
UPDATE:
We do not actually know that these six men were never present for torture.
In the Pinochet case Garzon proceeded despite the opposition of the AG, but in this case there is a move to take Garzon off the case.
UPDATE:
ThinkProgress believes that Obama has hinted at a torture investigation underway in the United States. If so, the hint wasn't in what they quote or they're squinting harder than I am.
UPDATE:
Some hope remains that Judge Garzon will attempt to push forward.
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When Barack appointed Shillary to SOS, I knew it was an unholy bargain to avoid tearing the DNC apart, but I trust her not one bit. I can guarantee you she's had a hand in smacking down Spain's aspirations to uphold the rule of law. Additionally, Eric Holder, a Clinton appointment is a weak willed pussy and is letting Cheney holdovers punk his ass into this cave in. Even with all of these concessions to the rethugs, I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that Dawn Johnsen does NOT get confirmed at the head of the OLC now...
This is rapidly becoming insane. Can you imagine civil libertarians protesting Bush's war crimes (with Barack embracing them) and having to rub elbows with the totally idiotic tea baggers (protesting the rich having to pay higher taxes) out on the street in front of the Capitol? I can see the brawling now. I'm really starting to grow a grim distaste for our weak, cowardly president. This is tap dancing on my last nerve.
but not hatred
That's a bad choice of words for what I'm feeling. Hate is too strong a word at this moment in time. Extremely frustrated would be more precise.
What a cockamamie reason as legal grounds not to proceed. So, now Bush and Cheney are immune/impervious to any kind of prosecution because they were physically not there to witness the torture they ordered?
The right-wing "terrorists" are still calling the shots, it seems to me.
This is the most depressing of news yet. I think I am just about ready to give up hope that this country will ever get straightened out and the course of the past eight years will simply continue in its agenda. Failure to investigate and prosecute the war crimes of the Bush Administration, I believe, will be the unmaking of this country.
The streets are all we have!
Right-Wingers Are Desperately Trying to Destroy Obama, and the Cowardly Corporate Media Are Helping
By Robert Parry, Consortium News. Posted April 16, 2009.
The right-wing media still pull the reins in DC, where they could sink the Obama presidency and even stymie a Democratic Congress.
that war crimes/torture cannot be prosecuted unless the prosecution is against those actually doing the torture or witnessing the torture is also great? If war crimes are not investigated and prosecuted, then what's to keep other countries from engaging in atrocities of torture, renditions, "ghost detentions," and wars of aggression?
Could it be that the AG's recommendation was but a ruse of sorts? Why do I say that? Well, perhaps, Spain, too, was waiting to see if these memos were to come out. Afterall, the memos lend much additional credence to any International effort, making/paving the way a little easier! Am I dreaming? Maybe, just, maybe, I'm not!
Sad to say, but the U.S. is what is called a "polyarchy" by historians and sociologists: rule by the elite class with citizen involvement limited to voting in regular elections for pre-screened candidates from the two elite political parties.
Democracy is defined as government in which the citizens make the important decisions, either directly or through elected representatives accountable to them. Or as Lincoln said with simple eloquence government "of the people, by the people and for the people".
Nothing will bring our criminal government down without massive protest in the streets. Pakistan, Thailand and Greece have all recently had such protests. Trying to work within this two-party political system is an exercise in futility because both parties are beholden to the elite corporate dollar.
The American people, up to our ears in debt, afraid of our tenuous employment status and ignorant of the basic history of our country, are presently not up to or even aware of the challenge confronting us.
Nick Egnatz
Veterans For Peace
I have reached my limit--throwing in the towel. This country is beyond salvation and I will waste no more energy giving a damn or wasting my time "hoping" for real change. I am signing off of ADS and all the other websites I thought would be important in making a difference. It is NOT going to happen.
I learned a new word a little while ago, thanks to Nick: POLYARCHY. That about covers it and a polyarchy will NOT be overturned by peaceful means...PERIOD! They have the money, the guns, deaf ears, and the sheep to follow-the-leader behind them. WAY behind them.
I am retiring to the serenity of "NO NEWS, NONE OF THE TIME". Beat me up if you will but illusions are not realities. And the biggest illusion of all is in the White House. Gawd help you all.
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM: "People Before Profit!"
http://www.dsausa.org/pdf/widemsoc.pdf
Why not just take a few days off, and come on back when you feel like it? It can get to feel overwhelming, sort of like we're going to hell in a handbasket. Change your venue. Plant a garden. Get re-focused and refreshed.
I know the feeling, brother. You're not alone in your disgust, believe me. Whatever you want to do will be cool with me.
I for one hope that you only take a sabbatical, and that you shall return. Your contributions are valuable to me, and I know to others. Whatever is healthiest for you to decide for your mind, body and spirit is what I wish for you. Peace brother, sister yankhadenuf
ARREST BUSHCO & RICO PNAC/FARA AIPAC...PNAC is Bush/Cheney's "Helter Skelter" !
Apparently he's not aware of this little tidbit from the Daily Beast article that David links to above:
"In the Spanish criminal-justice system, the decision as to whether a criminal prosecution will go forward rests with the judge—not with the prosecutors or the attorney general."
Sorry to say it, but the Think Progress piece really seems like a desperate effort to prop up the trust that Obama is openly betraying.
Talking Truth the Talking Heads Can't Handle:
The Great Geithner Coverup
...."EXTRAORDINARY" Rendition, buying innocents off the streets
of Iraq for $20 - $25K per head and placing them in coffin sized cells in Guantanamo Bay, then we have the pre-redacted version of the Army Field Manual detailing the Battle of Fallujah and the US
Use of white phosphers in this battle, on and on.
Why should it be wrong for the Courts in Spain to proceed with charging ALL involved from #43's Administration, CIA and WHIG et al with Torture and/or War Crimes? Are we not part of the International Community? If the victims were US citizens, albeit we did this to 1 US legal and documented resident that we know of, would we not Demand{for that is our way as Supremacists in this International Community}retribution? We would of course.
In '06 #43 rewrote TITLE 18 - CRIME AND CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT, Chapter 18 - WAR CRIMES, Ss2241, pgs 531 - 534 of US Code, never allowing the citizenry to become aware of the ramifications until IT issued a PDD on 20 July 2007, this basically granted immunity to the entire Gang of Four, so to speak, if at a point in time Prosecution was taken off that GD table, ergo the redaction of Amendment.VIII., The UN Charter, Geneva Conventions CAT3 Torture Article as defined by the Nuremberg Principles.
1. www.ccrjustice.org achieved on appeal Torture charges against Rummy in France.
2. They again, on appeal, have pending War Crimes charges against, "I don't do Quagmire's " Rummy.
3. Spain being talked out of, by Obama, charges of Torture, not GD Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, not Enemy Combatants they are POW's!
FOIA is something we as a community ourselves, IVAW, VFP, VVAW, Goldstar Families for Peace, CodePink, the Socialist movement, Progressives and damn humanity and Friend's {cannot get more Peaceful than that} and the other gazillion groups of the Grassroots Movement if we became cohesive could as easily, hell it isn't easy, but can retain all of said documents the same way the ACLU or ccrjustice or www.eff.org can.
As for myself been at this since Vietnam and about ready to whip out me passport and scurry to the Netherlands but I know I must see this through. We must support each other, we care about each other so Haul Ass and Let's Do It! K? K.CONSTITUTIONALERT
Pleasant Torture by Yoo, And YOO Were Saying...
Peace
Rhoda. Veteran for Peace
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of Totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy.
Mohandas Gandhi
I KNEW as soon as he blabbed about an upcoming trip to spain that THIS was in the works. Blogged it. what a POS.
It's ONE THING to be a good for nothing SOB and not do it yourself but to promise another country whatever devil deal he made them in order to shut this down is F'D up beyond belief.
WE SHOULD IMPEACH HIM> NOW. RIGHT NOW. Ang get dennis kucinich or some other REAL LIVE AMERICAN IN OFFICE.
BO can go suck whatever he's after protecting bush.
Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.
Ex-Italy Pres - 9-11 Was
CIA/Mossad Operation
By the Staff of American Free Press
4-15-9
Former Italian President Francesco Cossiga, who revealed the existence of Operation Gladio, has told Italy's oldest and most widely read newspaper that the 9-11 terrorist attacks were run by the CIA and Mossad, and that this was common knowledge among global intelligence agencies. In what translates awkwardly into English, Cossiga told the newspaper Corriere della Sera:
"All the (intelligence services) of America and Europeknow well that the disastrous attack has been planned and realized from the Mossad, with the aid of the Zionist world in order to put under accusation the Arabic countries and in order to induce the western powers to take part in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Cossiga was elected president of the Italian Senate in July 1983 before winning a landslide election to become president of the country in 1985, and he remained until 1992.
Cossiga's tendency to be outspoken upset the Italian political establishment, and he was forced to resign after revealing the existence of, and his part in setting up, Operation Gladio. This was a rogue intelligence network under NATO auspices that carried out bombings across Europe in the 1960s, 1970s and '80s. Gladio's specialty was to carry out what they termed "false flag" operations-terror attacks that were blamed on their domestic and geopolitical opposition.
In March 2001, Gladio agent Vincenzo Vinciguerra stated, in sworn testimony, "You had to attack civilians, the people, women, children, innocent people, unknown people far removed from any political game. The reason was quite simple: to force the public to turn to the state to ask for greater security."
Cossiga first expressed his doubts about 9-11 in 2001, and is quoted by 9-11 researcher Webster Tarpley saying "The mastermind of the attack must have been a sophisticated mind, provided with ample means not only to recruit fanatic kamikazes, but also highly specialized personnel. I add one thing: it could not be accomplished without infiltrations in the radar and flight security personnel."
Coming from a widely respected former head of state, Cossiga's assertion that the 9-11 attacks were an inside job and that this is common knowledge among global intelligence agencies is illuminating. It is one more eye-opening confirmation that has not been mentioned by America's propaganda machine in print or on TV. Nevertheless, because of his experience and status in the world, Cossiga cannot be discounted as a crackpot.
Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com
we need to start one
nosnam
How come no one can charge Bush and Co. because they were not preset at any misdeeds carried out in their name, but billions can be spent and countless lives can be lost in order to bring Binladen to America to stand trial!!!!
DSM, you did not gain your ability to share your knowledge any other place but the internet. Our media sources do not allow us to think. In order for us to remain stupid we are not allowed to share thoughts (other than on-line). Rumsfeld whined about the internet years ago.
Through AD we will put Bush and Co. on trial. I would enjoy having Condi sitting next to the Judge and have her asked one question. "Why are you such a liar?". And after a few days of having her under oath and beating around the bush (pun) she will have to come clean. Yes, the prosecutor will say reapeatedly, "Let me reiterate, 'why are you such a liar?" The truth is she got a big boat named after her and this big boat is not worth one injury she perpetuated in Iraq.
EW
"EVERY gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."--President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953
torturers? USA is going to get its comeuppance someday, sooner or later, no matter how long it takes, the chickens will eventually come home to roost, again.
ARREST BUSHCO & RICO PNAC/FARA AIPAC...PNAC is Bush/Cheney's "Helter Skelter" !
will it's really simple how he is going get away with it. he has a bigger stick... you know for some time now i've been entertaining the idea that things really haven't changed that much in last 5000 years.
with regard to 9/11 all i needed to see is how fast that building fell... at freefall speed. it was the first building in history to fall because a plane crashed into it and planes hit buildings fairly often. some have burned for 20+ hours without falling. looking from outside the US i knew the day it happened it was all bullshit. there is no way a plane can bring a building down at freefall speed. it is just not logical. and well yea when you watch it falling in slow motion you can actually see minor explosions going off just below the falling parts of the building... demolition?
thanks Pistol
EW
"EVERY gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."--President Dwight D. Eisenhower, April 16, 1953