Why does the US not want to have anything to do with international tribunals? Namely, because anti-Americanism in the world leads to acts of judicial tyrrany, such as this. Spain seems to be the worst of the lot these days. Make sure you check out the military reaction to the Spanish inquiry. Kind of makes you proud to be an American. Swiss Info:

A Spanish judge wants to question three American soldiers as suspects in the death of a Spanish cameraman who was killed when a U.S. tank fired on a hotel housing foreign journalists during the 2003 assault on Baghdad....

The American soldiers would be questioned as suspects for murder and crimes against the international community, which carry sentences of 15 to 20 years in jail and 10 to 15 years respectively.

Pedraz is prepared to send a request for U.S. cooperation in the investigation, but is still in the initial stages of the investigation and is several steps away from bringing charges.

"It would be a very, very cold day in hell before that would ever happen," said a State Department official, who asked not to be named. "I just cannot imagine how any U.S. soldier can be subject to some kind of foreign proceeding for criminal liability when he is in a tank in a war zone as part of an international coalition."

UPDATE: I just found this post at The White Peril which has a pretty cogent analysis.

Mark Noonan over at BFB also has some interesting thoughts. Sir George's thoughts, over at AIR, are more along the lines of kick-ass than interesting.

Posted by: Rusty at 03:00 PM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
Post contains 303 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Since the Spanish are a bunch of Appeasing cowards who fold faster than the french, this Judge can go f himself.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at June 08, 2005 03:10 PM (yBHNA)

2 >>>"Spanish Judge Wants to Question US Soldiers"

Him and whose army? Oh, he doesn't have an army? Then I second Filthy Allah-- he can go fuck himself.

Posted by: Carlos at June 08, 2005 03:12 PM (8e/V4)

3 We have a 2nd motion for the Judge to go F- himself. Rusty, would you formalize this motion?

Posted by: Filthy Allah at June 08, 2005 03:15 PM (yBHNA)

4 All in favor, say "Si".

Si.

The Si's have it.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at June 08, 2005 03:17 PM (JQjhA)

5 Perhaps we can send this Judge a letter telling him of our motion

Posted by: Obsnooks at June 08, 2005 03:17 PM (yBHNA)

6 Well, since we're following Robert's Rules we better appoint a committe to draft a memo.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at June 08, 2005 03:20 PM (JQjhA)

7 Is that military quote kind of like the famous WWII quote "Nuts" or what???

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 08, 2005 03:40 PM (x+5JB)

8 Si here as well.

Posted by: Howie at June 08, 2005 03:40 PM (D3+20)

9 Sign me up. But tell me, why do we need a committee to draw up a memo that consists of two words?

Posted by: Oyster at June 08, 2005 03:51 PM (fl6E1)

10 it's actually three words, and Leftists love reading from memos.

Posted by: Carlos at June 08, 2005 04:04 PM (8e/V4)

11 another reason I'm glad we pulled out of the "world court"

Posted by: dave at June 08, 2005 04:10 PM (fsJ2z)

12 Si!!! Si!!! Si!!! I say we send the Mexican dwarf bullfighters as our contingent.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050607-0500-mexico-bullfight-dwarfs.html

Posted by: Editor at June 08, 2005 04:20 PM (adpJH)

13 I say Si too, ole!

andyx

Posted by: andyx at June 08, 2005 04:43 PM (Tgsjh)

14 So, now that we're all 'macho' and full of 'bravado' does any one have this guy's e-mail address? (notice the espanola ling?)

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at June 08, 2005 04:45 PM (JQjhA)

15 Rusty,

you forgot "cojones".

Posted by: Carlos at June 08, 2005 05:35 PM (8e/V4)

16 Hope that this 2 murders will get a death penalty.

Posted by: tim at June 08, 2005 05:50 PM (jw0u5)

17 Ah, Tim, and just what do you base your slander upon? Besides whatever you pulled out of your backside?

Posted by: SPQR at June 08, 2005 05:55 PM (xauGB)

18 I say we send a Marine Expeditionary Force along with the 82nd Airborne, and he can ask all the questions he wants.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 08, 2005 06:41 PM (0yYS2)

19 Isn't this Spanish judge the same one who always threatens to do the same sort of thing to any world figure he doesn't like?

Oh, no - I misremembered. It was a different Spanish judge that had Pinochet arrested in Britain back in '98.

Nonetheless, it seems odd to me that judges might instigate this sort of action on their own, rather than rely on a formal investigative/prosecutorial team. Thank G-d we don't have activist judges here....

Oh.

Well, not like that, we don't. Not yet.

Posted by: Russ at June 08, 2005 07:35 PM (zShs1)

20 I think the families of the soldiers accused should sue the Spanish judge for pain and suffering, libel, loading in a no loading zone, driving under the influence and any other damn fool thing they thing they can get away with. Or hell, maybe just anybody should sue this dickwad.

Posted by: vivi at June 08, 2005 08:49 PM (syZA+)

21 Not only do I support the move that we tell this judge to fuck himself in a well written letter, I move to deport Tim to Cuba from 30,000 feet.

All those who say SI

Posted by: Filthy Allah at June 08, 2005 09:04 PM (cgKSA)

22 Judge Baltasar Gorazon is the one who had Pinochet arrested. He's also been one of the staunchest prosecuters of accused terrorists in Europe - ones involved in 9/11 and ones involved in Madrid as well. He's a relative bright spot in the sea of denial and appeasement when it comes to Europe and the WoT. So let's calm the rhetoric about all Spanish judges. The article gives no indication if this is the same judge.

Regarding this one incident, I've already read about it several times, although I'm not going to dig for links. It was well publicized and then got a lot of replay during the Eason Jordan affair. It's already been investigated and the soldiers were backed up by a Boston Globe reporter who had been embedded with the unit and fighting with them the whole day - reminds you that not all MSM journalists are vile. Verdict: Accidental mistake made in the heat of a battle plus exhaustion from long intense fighting.

One thing is clear, the International Left is launching an all out war on the War on Terror and their targeting the military, now that their preferred target, Bush, has proved hard to get.

Posted by: John in Tokyo at June 09, 2005 03:08 AM (rh782)

23 Yes, Garzon had this case briefly and didn't do anything with it. He is a serious anti-terrorism judge and I don't think he wanted anything to do with this case. Probably needs good working relations with the US. Never heard of this judge. I know the family wants compensation and this could be part of that effort. The interesting this is this could totally ruin what's left of Spain/US relations if Spain plays this one wrong. I don't think the US cares one way or the other and will not take it seriously.

Posted by: Kate at June 09, 2005 04:07 AM (tEo0x)

24 The spanish are cowards like the french. F- them. I hope they get bombed again. Degenerate Appeasers.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at June 09, 2005 07:50 AM (yBHNA)

25 The Spanish court system, I believe, makes the judge very much like the eqivelant of a prosecutor. That is to say, judges are not 'neutral observers' of a conflictual fight like in the US. So judges have broad investigative powers...which sometimes, like here, they obvioulsy abuse.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at June 09, 2005 11:47 AM (JQjhA)

26 Hey, hey, hey. Let's leave the French alone.

Let's not forget they were right about WMDs in Iraq.

Posted by: Robert at June 09, 2005 02:38 PM (ByaZN)

27 Filthy

F*** em I hope they get bombed again!

That not a bit harsh. The spanish people dont deserve to be punished because their government are fools, Have you not had your Scott Biao fix this morning

Posted by: sparky at June 09, 2005 05:58 PM (F1nba)

28 I´m witting from spain, thank you for your hopes "Filthy Allah"... nice words...

About de Spanish court system you´re right about the judge, here we have examining magistrate who makes the investigation and gets the evidences, but when he finish the investigation is other judge or a court (it depends on the possible condemnation) who pass the sentence.

About judge Baltasar Garzon he is teaching now, I think in US.

Posted by: ARM at June 09, 2005 06:06 PM (mvC+Z)

Hide Comments | Add Comment