Spanish judge sends Guantanamo inquiry

[cal04]

Source: AFP

A Spanish judge will ask the United States if it plans to probe alleged torture at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp before deciding whether to open his own inquiry.

Judge Eloy Velasco from Spain's top criminal court will make the request formally in a letter to officials in the United States, according to a copy of the document obtained on Tuesday.

The National Court is considering a complaint filed on behalf of a rights group that alleges that six officials in the administration of former president George W. Bush sanctioned torture against prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Spain has since 2005 operated under the principle of "universal jurisdiction", a doctrine that allows courts to reach beyond national borders in cases of torture, terrorism or war crimes.

Read more: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/spanish-judge-sends-guantanamo-inquiry-20090506-au6r.html

[alfredo]

1. Holding Holder's feet to the fire.

[kpete]

2. Spanish judge asks US if it will probe torture

Source: Associated Press

Spanish judge asks US if it will probe torture

By DANIEL WOOLLS – 9 hours ago

MADRID (AP) — A Spanish judge said Tuesday he will ask the United States if it plans a probe of six senior Bush administration officials accused of creating a legal framework for torture of terror suspects, before deciding whether to open his own investigation.

Judge Eloy Velasco said Spain can act only if the United States has not conducted a torture investigation of its own and does not plan one.

Velasco is handling a complaint filed by human rights lawyers under Spain's principle of universal justice, which holds that grave crimes like terrorism, genocide or torture can be prosecuted here even if alleged to have been committed abroad.

"As we are in a preliminary phase, it seems more in line with our complex system of universal prosecution" to ask the Obama administration what its plans are for the six Bush administration officials named in the complaint, including former US attorney general Alberto Gonzales, Velasco wrote in a five-page ruling.

Court prosecutors and the Spanish attorney general recommended in a nonbinding writ last month against launching such a probe here, saying such a procedure is up to the United States. But Velasco — who was assigned the case when original judge Baltasar Garzon handed it back to the court — has not formally dropped it.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gw5KhIf6dRlptgQeY7ytP_39edTQD9803BI84

[ixion]

3. Don't hold your breath, Spain... we've been barking up that tree for years now

so I'd just go ahead and start the prosecution.

[Critters2]

4. Yep, Spain. If you want anything done right, you gotta do it yourself. nt

[Solly Mack]

5. ...

...

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Is The Pope Jewish?

Does a bear surf the web in the woods?

[Senator]

6. K&R

[IDemo]

8. Don't they realize that "universal jurisdiction" is a one way street?

The US exercises it over the rest of the universe.

[Demeter]

9. Now That's European Culture of Civility

Polite requests for information---not illegal invasions, torture and war.

Spain has come a long way in 500 years....hope it doesn't take us that long to get back to what we were designed to be.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. FYI - USA is EXACTLY what it was designed to be - takes a lot of research

.
.
.

But the USA was planned centuries ago to be just a "base" to take over the World.

Sounds absolutely crazy doesn't it?

Funny thing is - that's precisely what the USA has been doing for almost half a century now;

spreading its powerful War-Machine across the globe as soon as they can glean the taxpayers dollars to fund it.

Proof is in the pudding they say, someone prove me wrong . . .

PLEASE!!

[Wednesdays]

11. K&R

:kick:

[kpete]

12. Spanish judge sends Guantanamo inquiry

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Spanish judge sends Guantanamo inquiry
May 6, 2009

A Spanish judge will ask the United States if it plans to probe alleged torture at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp before deciding whether to open his own inquiry.

Judge Eloy Velasco from Spain's top criminal court will make the request formally in a letter to officials in the United States, according to a copy of the document obtained on Tuesday.

The National Court is considering a complaint filed on behalf of a rights group that alleges that six officials in the administration of former president George W. Bush sanctioned torture against prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Spain has since 2005 operated under the principle of "universal jurisdiction", a doctrine that allows courts to reach beyond national borders in cases of torture, terrorism or war crimes.

Read more: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/spanish-judge-sends-guantanamo-inquiry-20090506-au6r.html

[seemslikeadream]

13. Philippe Sands told the congress this would happen

[AndyA]

14. And here we go...

I think this could very well be the final card play that forces the United States to take action, or risk having a former President tried for war crimes in another country.

I don't believe Obama and his AG will allow that to happen. This will allow them to say, "We didn't plan on going down this road, but we have no other choice..."

Go, Spain!

[Gregorian]

15. A hearty recommendation in the name of justice!

[No Elephants]

16. Too late to recommend, but kicking