ABC on Sunday night jumped to beat the other networks with the news that a judge in Spain may issue arrest warrants charging several former Bush administration officials with violating the Convention Against Torture. World News Sunday anchor Dan Harris announced: “Six former high level officials of the Bush administration are being targeted tonight by a court in, of all places, Spain. This court is considering whether to open a criminal investigation into allegations that the six officials gave legal cover for the torture of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.”
Narrating off-camera from London, reporter Hilary Brown began with how “the six officials named in the case include Alberto Gonzales, the former Attorney General who famously described parts of the Geneva Convention as 'quaint' and 'obsolete.'” She outlined the case: “The Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzon, says he has the right to prosecute American officials because four Spanish citizens formerly held at Guantanamo say they were tortured there. And Garzon says the U.S. officials broke international law, specifically, the 1984 Convention Against Torture, which the U.S. signed.”
Brown conceded it's unlikely any arrest warrant would be enforced by the U.S., but she saw a benefit, nonetheless, as she suggested “this case may end up putting pressure on the Obama administration to open its own investigation, something it has resisted so far.”
Brown led her online posting: “In what may turn out to be a landmark case...” The ABCNews.com story: “'Torture' Could Haunt Bush Officials: Spanish Judge Who Went After Pinochet Considers Charges for Gonzales, Others.”
A Sunday New York Times article, “Spanish Court Weighs Inquiry on Torture for 6 Bush-Era Officials,” with more on the matter.
The story on the March 29 World News Sunday on ABC:
DAN HARRIS: Six former high level officials of the Bush administration are being targeted tonight by a court in, of all places, Spain. This court is considering whether to open a criminal investigation into allegations that the six officials gave legal cover for the torture of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Hilary Brown has that story.
HILARY BROWN: The six officials named in the case include Alberto Gonzales, the former Attorney General who famously described parts of the Geneva Convention as “quaint” and “obsolete.”
ALBERTO GONZALES, JANUARY 6, 2005: I think the decision not to apply Geneva in our conflict with al Qaeda was absolutely the right decision for a variety of reasons.
BROWN: Others include John Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer who wrote the so-called "torture memo" justifying water-boarding and other extreme interrogation methods. The Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzon, says he has the right to prosecute American officials because four Spanish citizens formerly held at Guantanamo say they were tortured there. And Garzon says the U.S. officials broke international law, specifically, the 1984 Convention Against Torture, which the U.S. signed. A lawyer close to the case says arrest warrants could be issued within weeks. But, if so, would these officials be extradited?
KENNETH ROTH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: I think it's unlikely that the U.S. government will turn over a former Bush official who is ultimately indicted for torture. But an Interpol arrest warrant will be issued, meaning that these officials cannot travel any place without risking being arrested.
BROWN: This is not the first time Judge Garzon has gone after officials from other countries. In 1998, General Augusto Pinochet, former dictator of Chile, was detained on a Garzon arrest warrant while visiting London. But after two years, he was eventually allowed to go home to Chile and died peacefully eight years later without being convicted.
But this case may end up putting pressure on the Obama administration to open its own investigation, something it has resisted so far. Hilary Brown, ABC News, London.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center





HILARY BROWN: The six officials named in the case include Alberto Gonzales, the former Attorney General who famously described parts of the Geneva Convention as “quaint” and “obsolete.”
BROWN: This is not the first time Judge Garzon has gone after officials from other countries. In 1998, General Augusto Pinochet, former dictator of Chile, was detained on a Garzon arrest warrant while visiting London. But after two years, he was eventually allowed to go home to Chile and died peacefully eight years later without being convicted. 














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Spain and torture
March 29, 2009 - 23:03 ET by merlin61Oooooooh, I heard this yesterday, I think I
read it on the Fox News crawl-line. If they love
the terrorists so much, maybe they need another
attack like they had on their train a few years ago.
Have they forgotten that? I don't wish that on them, but, what a load of crap this charge is, and
naturally ABC jumps on the hopes that Obama
should pursue charges because of BDS. Is it
never going to end? We have a president now
who is ruining this country and they want to
persecute Bush. God help us all, I pray!!!!
merlin61, their panties are in a wad...
March 29, 2009 - 23:21 ET by Mother...We the people are watching in horror as our very societal structures, rules and laws are torn asunder.
Sometimes I laugh to keep from crying.
Let me see if I have this
March 29, 2009 - 23:54 ET by CaligulaLet me see if I have this one straight. "The Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzon, says he has the right to prosecute American officials because four Spanish citizens formerly held at Guantanamo SAY they were tortured there."
Hmmm. I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but was there any proof of this alleged torture, either in court or anywhere in this story? Or do we now just get to say things about "bad people we don't like" to a judge and get the po-po to pick 'em up?
Is that how Spain rolls? One hopes not.
Clinton a War Criminal?
March 30, 2009 - 08:22 ET by allanfGenerally Federal Government officials can only be prosecuted in US District Court for their actions. If indicted on state charges, the defendant can petition for removal to the district court. Medellin V Texas made clear the reluctance of the US Supreme Court to allow foreign courts any jurisdiction over actions of US and State Officials.
If the Obama Administration wants to lend legal credence to this "judges" egotiscal claptrap it should first send Bill Clinton off to serve his sentence for War Crimes He was duly convicted and sentenced to 20 years in another foreign court.
Perhaps some Basque
March 29, 2009 - 23:52 ET by MidAmericaPerhaps some Basque separatists detained by the Spanish government might be willing to talk about treatment they received.
Please try it Spain.
March 30, 2009 - 00:09 ET by ConservativeRexPlease try it Spain. Seems to me we have to kick Spains ass every hundred years or so when they forget who they are and who they're dealing with. And lose track of their place in the world. It oughta take about a week and a half.
Re Please Try It
March 30, 2009 - 09:52 ET by slickwillie2001Hey, you're right; in fact they are a few years overdue for another beatin' aren't they? No matter though, when the Euro Muslim civil war starts, there's a good chance it will start in Spain.
Not this garbage again.
March 30, 2009 - 00:42 ET by zfNot this garbage again. Ever notice how it's always former Gitmo inmates that make this claim? Gee, suppose it's because large sections of the world has branded Gitmo as some massive torture chamber and terrorists know they'll be believed sorely if they use the world Guantanamo? And how nice of us to tourture these folks, only to let them out so they squeal about it.
Or maybe like Susan Crawford, they consider solitary confinement, cold temperatures and the horrors of being naked as torture.
You know, me and my friends used to hold our nose, close our eyes and dunp water on each other and pretended we were diving underwater. Who knew that we were really guilty of tourturing each other?
And people wondered why the CIA destroyed the interrogaton tapes? Because of bullshit like this, that's why. I wish the world would wake up and realise this war is not some glorified police investigation where the criminal has rights up the wazoo and all the mind-numbing paperwork must be signed before anything is allowed to happen, this is a bitter struggle against the most brutal enemies we have ever faced.
"Remember The Gitmo"
March 30, 2009 - 07:20 ET by SickofLibsIf and when we ever shut Gitmo down, I'm sure we'll be seeing the Dems pushing for some kind of monument on the site: "For all the innocent souls who perished or were tortured here."
And it'll probably be done before anything ever goes up at the WTC site.
Back in the US
March 30, 2009 - 08:31 ET by allanfI'm sure a lot of inmates in the US say they were tortured and mistreated in jails. Should we start indicting governors and sheriffs?
Spanish judge...?
March 30, 2009 - 00:55 ET by superconPfffttt...why must they embarrass themselves like this?
Because with a name like Obama... you know it has to be good.
supercon, LOL!
March 30, 2009 - 02:50 ET by MotherEXACTLY!
Double post strip tease time...
March 30, 2009 - 02:52 ET by MotherDah dunt da daaaaaaa da dunt da dahhhhhhhhhhh... *kicks high leg up* Da dunt da daaaaaaaaaa *oops did I hit one of you in the head with one of my shoes?* Oh fuss and bother ... Da dunt da daaaaaaaaa... Da dunt! Cha choo! Da dunt! Cha choo! Da dunttttttttttttttttttt. *takes a bow and scuffles away with all the money in my thong thank you very much*
Señor Loco...
March 30, 2009 - 02:48 ET by Mother...needs to lay off the laced brownies.
Is this Judge for real? What a doof! PUHLEASE! How many 'tax dollars' are going to be sunk into THIS fiasco? PUHfreakin'THETIC.
Give them their due
March 30, 2009 - 04:37 ET by FranksamHey, come on now. people! If anybody knows torture, certainly it's the Spanish. Torture is perhaps the only thing in which they have excelled. Of course, I mean other than bull fighting and tight pants loaded with sequins.
only thing they excelled at
March 30, 2009 - 07:23 ET by SickofLibsYou forgot 'Spanish Fly', every schoolboy's fantasy.
Let the salivation commence
March 30, 2009 - 05:48 ET by SickofLibsOh, its gonna be a BIG day for the MSNBC allstars, a big day indeed!
Let me get this right.....
March 30, 2009 - 06:10 ET by NavyBuckeyea Spanish judge wants to charge U.S. officials with breaking the Genevea Convention on turture? Yet, the hundreds of tapes of kidnappings and beheading of innocent people (after they are tortured) are not being mentioned.
It must be the masks...mabye Bush's cabinet should've worn black masks, used 6 year old video cameras and praised Allah as they did the so called toruture. Then they would get a free pass.
Or better yet, resign from the U.N. and issue a retraction to our signing of the Genevea Agreement. Then the rest of the world can come begging at our door step for some more money.
The kills two birds with one stone. We avoid BS like this and we can now fight the terrorists the same way they fight us. Because isn't that the world's excuse....the Genevea Convention doesn't cover the terrorists?
Oh if we only had the cajones.
“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter” - Thomas Jefferson
Resign From The UN
March 30, 2009 - 06:41 ET by GeneralAlHey Navy, I like your idea! Lets resign from that worthless organization and kick them all out of our country! Maybe they can find a home in Iran or North Korea since they love to kiss up to this crowd! Better yet, go to Zimbavwe [My spelling could be wrong here, but I could care less], where they have confiscated all the property of white people in the name of reparations. [It didn't matter that many of the people whose property they confiscated had supported their revolution.] Anyway, get this Comunist front group off American soil and save us a few million!
Resign from the UN? Fat
March 30, 2009 - 07:44 ET by rimskyResign from the UN? Fat chance of that ever happening.. especially with the Dems in control of everything.
Put Them On trial!
March 30, 2009 - 06:32 ET by GeneralAlThe libs want all these guys on trial so lets put them on trial! It will be on live TV which will be the libs worst nightmare! They will be exposed for the Communist wolves in sheeps clothing they are. The truth will exonerate all of these people. When we're done, we'll take Chriss Dodd, Barney F..., John Conyers, Morticia Pelosi, Digger O'reid, and Eddie Haskell Durbin and try them before the public! When the truth comes out regarding these lying accidental births, we'll have to prevent a lynch mob!
Don't give away my country
March 30, 2009 - 06:52 ET by rightwingchefSounds as if the Socialist country of Spain has been making back door deals with terrorist to protect their own bacon. I sure hope we get a Reagan ellected in a few years to show these idiots that American does not bend over for any country. This new cabinet has done nothing but appologise for everything America stands for. I gave 20 years of my life for her, and it makes me sick hearing our elected officials selling us down the river, I think our founders would feel the same way. We deserve better that what they are giving us.
But is Generalissimo Francisco Franco still dead?
March 30, 2009 - 07:09 ET by SickofLibs"This case may end up putting pressure on the Obama administration..."
Yoo hoo, Hilary Brown: it's not a "case", you moron. They are merely bloviating at this point, so take off the drool bucket.
This is just one more effort by the globalists to poke...
March 30, 2009 - 07:54 ET by ThalpyThis is just one more effort by the globalists to poke the United States in the eye. Their moral equivalency and cafeteria approach to justice has no bounds. Our country remains the United States of America, a sovereign nation. In the report Hilary Brown stated, “The Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzon, says he has the right to prosecute American officials because four Spanish citizens formerly held at Guantanamo say they were tortured there. And Garzon says the U.S. officials broke international law, specifically, the 1984 Convention Against Torture, which the U.S. signed. Garzon does not have the "right" to prosecute an American citizen, although this is no doubt disappointing to ABC News and to the Obama administration.
Never happen...
March 30, 2009 - 08:26 ET by HillbillyKingAll this is such a joke. NO administration, whether Repub or Dem, is EVER gonna let some foriegn country prosecute former guvment officials. And President Obama will NEVER allow charges to be brought against former Bush admin officials. Why? Simple, cause in 4 (hopefully) or 8 (God forbid) years his ass will be out of office and more than likely the Repubs will be back in power and there is NO way that he wants to risk them going after his ass.
Remember, one the major rules in D.C. politics is CYA. Always has been, always will be.
If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you.
Don Marquis 1878-1937
CNN Ran a Similar Piece
March 30, 2009 - 08:27 ET by allanfCNN ran a similiar piece. At one point it was the lead story on its website.
CNN wrote:
For a major network like
March 30, 2009 - 08:28 ET by sam12663For a major network like ABC to report on this story, and not give details like Spain can't prosecute American citizens just shows how they don't really care to report fully, its all about the 'gotcha'.
President Obama is nothing more than a empty suit; a Hollywood style special effects smoke and mirrors show that has shown itself to be a total fraud.
WAKE UP AMERICA! SAVE OUR CONSTITUTION!
Belgrade sentences Nato leaders - Clinton & Blair
March 30, 2009 - 10:55 ET by Gary HallBBC - 21 September, 2000 Belgrade sentences Nato leaders - Clinton & Blair.
And ABC and the US MSM was jumping all over that "little" bit of news right?
PS - Our MSM also skipped out in reporting condemnations from two of their idyllic politicians:
Jimmy Carter – On Kosovo, New York Times, May 27, 1999
President Nelson Mandela, at a press conference in Budapest on May 3, 1999:
(;~/ gary
WLW Radio
March 30, 2009 - 11:02 ET by cvgbuckeyeYeah. The local Cincinnati WLW radio has a local lib morning man, Jim Scott with the most predictably, left wing, Bush hating, America hating Linda Albin that calls in every morning with the latest in America bashing. She was obviously thrilled to report this, this morning.
She was born and raised in Chicago. I am glad that she moved out of the country and hope that she stays in Britain. I wish Jim Scott would join her.
I can tell that they monitor this site because after a posting about them, the lib witch in Britain mecifully shuts her trap for a day or so. I am shocked that Billy Cunningham doesn't rip them both a new one. Cincinnati is not exactly a bastion of liberal passion.
Nobody...
March 30, 2009 - 12:28 ET by CobraMan...expects the Spanish Inquisition! Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to The Obama, and nice black robes.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Idiots don't listen to me. I have already spoken on the issue.
March 30, 2009 - 16:12 ET by JWFI have already spoken. This issue is closed. Spain needs to shut up.
The link he provided to the U.N. Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
The relevant articles are 1 and 16.
article 1 defines torture as SEVERE pain or suffering.
article 16 states parties shall UNDERTAKE to prevent acts not amounting to torture. (cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment)
How cruel, inhuman, or degrading is it to make someone THINK they are drowning for a few minutes? Methinks not very.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jack-coleman/2009/03/27/maddow-guest-turns-hanging-judge-zeal-bush-show-trials#comment-889171
Sincerely,
a Veteran of a 1000 psychic wars.
Spanish Court (Pres.Bush) Oh! Torture.-
March 30, 2009 - 18:13 ET by Charles H. GarridoHello! Brent Baker Columnist Thanks.-Torture six.-Oh! God look what Spain did since 1492 what happens after....The Spanish Judge from Galicia (Gallego).-How stupid, stupid, stupid, Maybe, Judge!, remembers!!"What was done" Killing & Rape "LA "CONQUISTA" torture, INDIANS, and stole GOLD plus, Robbing the land.- (depending what goes around comes around) Thanks & Cooperation
Charles H. Garrido
Miami Fla.-
Spanish Court (Pres.Bush) Oh! Torture.-
March 30, 2009 - 18:14 ET by Charles H. GarridoHello! Brent Baker Columnist Thanks.-Torture six.-Oh! God look what Spain did since 1492 what happens after....The Spanish Judge from Galicia (Gallego).-How stupid, stupid, stupid, Maybe, Judge!, remembers!!"What was done" Killing & Rape "LA "CONQUISTA" torture, INDIANS, and stole GOLD plus, Robbing the land.- (depending what goes around comes around) Thanks & Cooperation
Charles H. Garrido
Miami Fla.-
He probably wants to
March 30, 2009 - 18:30 ET by RR GOPHe probably wants to prosecute the manufacturers of the explosives that killed those poor bombers in Madrid, too.
Man, this level of justice is just so inspiring, I, I think my eyes are starting to well up...I have to go now...
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
Torture is watching the ABC
March 30, 2009 - 18:43 ET by rbosqueTorture is watching the ABC news day after day.