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Just WHY did GW Bush and Dick Cheney say we had to bring down Saddam again?

...did we not hear about torture and rape rooms?

...Myyyyy how easily you ignorant, inhumane torture mongers on the right forget...

Just because we lowered ourselves to the level of evil of our enemies doesn't make us guilty of anything. Besides, it wasn't "waterboarding," it was "restrained bathing."

Are we a Nation of Laws or not ?

This does not mean a separate set of laws for the poor or working middle class, and a separate set of laws for the wealthy and politically connected.

We are Not above the rest of the world. Remember the words – that all men are created equal.

Whoever broke the rule of law, whether about torture, or our invasion of Iraq should be tried and sentenced accordingly, or our Constitution is from now on, irrelevant.

After the big train terror debacle in Spain, you'd think they would keep their nose in their own country!

If so many Republicans wish to stand up and argue a case for torture then perhaps the GOP should make torture a part of its official party platform. While we are at it the GOP can also make a decree that the US and its citizens are vastly superior to everyone else and hence we can do whatever we want. It seems that it is only right wing extremists left in the party now anyway....

Spain needs to look themselves, they are responsible for slaves and slave trade and have never aplogized. This is not to say I agree with torture but Spain needs to shut up and mind their own business.

What I want to know is why a foreign judge is the one with the cajones big enough to put war criminals on trial instead of American judges.

Sorry spainish people.... back off! your court has do nothing with america's soil.

We should against spain for their famous "spainish virus" in 1920's... kill 20-30 millions people in wideworld!

I dare anyone to call me soft, liberal, a lefty or any other name that seems so popular out there. All you need to understand is that we have a Consitution, and that we as a nation sign things called Treaties and Conventions, and that these are as binding as any Federal Law ever passed. If laws were violated then those that violated the laws should be held accountable in a court of law. You also need to understand it would appear that our laws apply to those in our custody, we don't have little no law zones that we can behave in any fashion we want. If international laws were violated and we can not police our own, then the international community should as with any rouge state take action to bring violators to justice. NO ONE is above the law. No Action taken for what ever reason, is above the law.

You don't want an other nation investigating charges of torture, and other acts that violate international Treaties and laws, then get off your chair and demand that we investigate the matters and get to the bottom of it.

You can bet Obama and his band of incompetent, spineless apologizing traitors will kneel down and give these America-hating elitists exactly what they want. Obama is for anything that will weaken the U.S. That's his mission. Iran will probably be the next foreign government to request "propaganda assistance" against the U.S. and they'll likely get it.

I would have loved to have heard Cheney's response if these America-haters would have asked him for documents.

Ok folks, if we are going to hiod trials for torture, Obama needs to step up and add the following to the US urt docket.

North Vietnam needs to go on trial for torturing and killing many of our Vietnam POW's/. where is the outrage here my fellow citizens?

North Korea needs to be put on trial for the attrocities in the Korean War.

It is not too late to bring Japan to trial for the Death March on Bataan, is it?

China is also guilty of torturing many US soldiers in their Army prisons.

And lastly, France needs to go on trial for torturing the world, with their arrogance - simply because it is France.

The US should be held accountable for their actions. Do not use patriotism as our defense because these actions were just down right arrogant.

I agree with Spain...

They should start with Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry, Byrd and all the other intell comittee members that were briefed... since 2002

@ Tulsa says,

"let them Put Bush, Chaney, Rumsfield, Gonzales, and all the rest on trial.."

---

"All the rest" would include leading Democrats since they were repeatedly included in the briefings and not one raised an objection.

Do we also include the judiciary who rendered their best legal opinion on this matter?

How about the CIA and soldiers who were given legal cover by Obama?

(eyes rolling)

People like you, Tulsa, are WORSE than the terrorists trying to kill Americans. You're the type of anti-American who was HAPPY to hear of American casualties in Iraq – because of your anti-war stance and believing us to be "invaders and occupiers".

You're the enemy within.

@ Lynda/Minnesota,

My take on why we're in Iraq really doesn't matter, does it? The fact is that a majority in congress approved of the action. The dems (Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, who was for it before he was against it) were part of that vote as well.

But for the record... I look back to March, 2003.

I remember a lot of national pride at the time. 9/11 was only a little over a year past. Lesson here – pride comes before the fall.

I remember the majority of Americans approved our action in Iraq. Lesson here – when things are going your way, it's easy to jump on the bandwagon. We Americans are a fickle sort.

I remember the belligerence of Saddam Hussien in the face of the UN inspectors. I remember the fact that we basically told him we were coming at hin at least 6 months before we did. Lesson here – don't telegraph your moves to your opposition. If he had something to dispose of, he had pleanty of time to do so.

I could go on and on...

Spain needs to worry about its citizens and US will take care of their own. The Spanish have only one gear in dealing with terrorism reverse. The President should tell Spain to back off.

Question: If the torture worked, why is Bin Laden still hiding out in his cave?

Following Spain's logic, Pakistan should now step up and put President Obama on trial for mass muder as he ordered the predator missle strikes into the soverign nation of Pakistan which killed many innocent women and children. Shame on you Mr President – innocent women and childrens; Pakistani blood on your hands in just the first 100 days in office

Please libs, prosecute the Bush administration. We want to show the world how immoral, stupid and dangerous you dope smokers really are.

For all of you Ignoramuses out there. Yes, Spain has every right to investigate prosecute convict and confine Bush and everybody else who was involved with torture....

Since Spain has decided THEY are now the World Court.... when will they be opening trial against the REAL terrorists:

- those that decapitated journalist Daniel Pearl
- Hamas & Hezbollah for sending suicide bombers to kill innocent women and children on Israeli buses and malls
- Osama Bin Laden
- Chinese human rights violations
- Castro imprisoning political dissidents
- etc etc etc

Oh wait.... this is really just a dog-and-pony show attempting to embarrass the US. Spain could care less about REAL terrorism and justice.

Let's watch Obama sit back, without dissent, and allow this to happen.

"Lawrence April 29th, 2009 12:49 pm ET
It is a sad day in US history when a US President says nothing when a judge from Spain says he wants to investigate our violations of human rights and international law. Shame on Obama. Obama has squandered our moral authority."

Dude, where have you been for 8 years? Obama is building our moral authority back up, after Bush and Co completely detroyed it, by all accounts. (minus Faux News of course)

Should Obama go on trial at the ICC for ordering predator missle strikes into the soverign nation of Pakistan? Thanks a lot Obama for taking a page out of the Nixon playbook...when Nixon ordered bombings in Laos during the Vietnam War.

It is amazing how so many want to (just like they did with the Constitution) just forget about the Geneva convention, which we signed and hold other countries to its standards. If I'm not mistaken the geneva Convention gave us the right to try the Nazi's for their war crimes. So many of you would just like us to further strain our relationship with our allies and protect criminals. Typical rethuglicans.

I'm puzzled why so many infantile torture apologists seem to believe that enforcing US and international law is the same as coddling terrorists.

I am an American. I believe in standing up for my country, and it's actions....when we are in the RIGHT.

To An Attotrney's Explanation ":It comes down to this – if America claims a right to judge foreign terrorists for their acts . . . then other countries claim a comparable right to judge Americans for their acts of torture.

Deal with it."

In this particular case, I could'nt have put it better myself.

Judge, go back and try yourself for the Spanish Inquisition ..and sentence your entire country to life in jail, or worse, life in Spain.

What about the torture by the Taliban? Spain is too afraid to touch that one.

What about the bombing of NYC by Osama Bin Laden – too afraid of the Muslims to do that one.

What about the Israel bombings of civilians in Gaza. Spain is afraid of that one too.

What about the family honor rapes in Pakistan and India; the beatings of women in Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the genocide in Darfur? Spain is too afraid of those too,

No, this judge is seeking publicity only, and will probably write a book bashing America. Obama will say nothing as he wants to be loved by Europe.

I say we charge the Spanish government for the Spanish Inquisition.

Lawrence,

Obama must be too busy focusing on promoting the completion of his first 100 days in office. So unless his teleprompter tells him to comment on this subject don't expect to hear anything. We already know he isn't capable of thought, just acknowledge it for what it is.

How pathetic is it that we are too cowardly to pursue justice, and other nations are having to do it for us. Why is the Republican party becoming the "Party of Torture?" Why is the press pretending this is a right/left issue when it is simply definitional, and already settled US and international law?

This is simply the world responding to our outrageous actions during Bush's administration. If the US can put the Japanese and Germans on trial during WWII, why should we expect the world to accept our commiting crimes in the name of government and have no consequences? Let them investigate and extradite Bush, Cheney, Gonzales and Rumsfeld. They commited the crimes and let them be held accountable.

"Typical republican mentality. Unbelievable. You should be arrested for being so stupid."

The average Democrat wants Islamic terrorists who want to kill innocent civilians to go free, and for all Americans who are republicans to be locked up. Almost every single one feels this way, they even just come out and say it straight up. I guess they don't have any remorse in saying it because they've been conditioned by the lib media to live a life based on hate and they now have a president who feels the same way as they do.

So B.O. is now taking his marching orders from Spain. Wonderful.

Spain has no govererning authority so if any of you left wing American hating scum think this will happen your ignorant.

I'd love to see Dick Cheney in a Spanish prison.

What is the definition of IS! I have no recollection of those events. Make sure to try William Ayers right along with them.

to Lynn ... it is sometimes called patriotism.

Torture is a crime against humanity and a violation of international law. Every judge in every country should be calling for an investigation into these heinous acts ordered by a corrupt and immoral American administration. This Spanish judge has every right to call for an investigation since an innocent Spanish citizen was tortured at Guantanamo. Also, J.P. is a racist. Mississippi Mike is an Ostrich with his head in the sand. TomJay is a moron.

If we have the right to put people from another country on trial then they have the right to do the same to us........We don't practice the old Bush tactics anymore (Do as we say, Not as we Do) when we try to tell other countries what they can and cannot do then we are coming off as Over Powering and being a Big Bully..........so what goes around comes around......let them Put Bush, Chaney, Rumsfield, Gonzales, and all the rest on trial, isn't that what we did to the Nazis after WWII......

3,000 people, from evey continent, including Spaniards, were murdered in the most horrific manner on September 11th. I would think investigating those horrendous crimes would be Spain's priority. And if the terrorists don't cooperate, or answer questions, then what. Governments need to keep their focus, rather than be diverted by such navel gazing! I'm not saying that no investigation should take place, but wonder about the proportionality of Spain's actions. Rather than fiddling Rome or the Twin Towers burn, governments need to take REAL ACTION to defend their citizens. After the horrendous train bombings in Spain, I would have expected that the Spanish had their eyes open to the real danger!

@J.P.,

Where is your hero Hannity? Has he set the date to be waterboarded yet? You know, for the troops?
__________________________________________________

@Fair is Fair:

What is your take on why we are in Iraq?

Some of the comments made on here is exactly why Americans are viewed so negatively around the world. If all of these memos are true the US violated UN laws/rules. The US is not better than any other country in the world that is part of the UN. It is immoral and unethical for us not to investigate & prosecute these crimes. If anything Spain is trying to say that we need to get our butts in gear and do what needs to be done to find out what really happened.

Americans need to step away from the mentality that we are better than everyone else in the world. Just like any other country we have our faults.

If one US citizen is extradited to Spain (or any other country) for a show-trial... ALL-HELL will break loose in this country.

Certainly our justice system is not perfect... but it is sufficient to judge our own citizens. We will not stand to see an American paraded in another countries court.... EVEN IF IT WAS NANCY PELOSI.

Thanks the Lord that there is SOME judiciary left in the world with the moral judgement to bring these criminals to justice.

Spain should prosecute itself for its treatment of the Basque first. What hypocricy.

Also, I suspect life was infinately better for any Guantanamo inmate as compared to living in the Afgan caves without food or water. Get a grip. All the infintile liberals on this blog believe war criminals bent on the destruction of America deserve the same freedoms and priveleges that American citizens do. They dont. Read the Constitution. IF you belive it, thats fine, but its just your belief, like Scientology.

This is evidence enough that the release of memos was a grave mistake. Now US should have to spend tax payers dollars in defending its actions to the world. What a shame?

Has Spain actually convicted any terrorists???

This is our (USA) business... they should mind theirs!

It is a sad day in US history when a US President says nothing when a judge from Spain says he wants to investigate our violations of human rights and international law. Shame on Obama. Obama has squandered our moral authority.

How quickly people forget about what these terrorists did to us and continue to do around the world.

Yes, your honor, I was tortured. Tortured, I tell you!
j.p.
It is true I was forced to eat three culturally-sensitive halal meals each day. It is also true I was subjected to the torturous rigors of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. I was forced to NOT live in a cave in the elements. I was forced to use modern, indoor plumbing and use some devil creation I'd never heard of before called "toilet paper."

I was even subjected to the use of a prayer rug and my book of worship. And worst of all, I did NOT have my head sawed off while other stood about me chanting praises to God. Oh the horrors of these Western Devils!
____________________________________________
Like the slaves right j.p. They got a free cruise, they were fed and given shelter what he hell do they have to complain about. Typical republican mentality. Unbelievable. You should be arrested for being so stupid.

Who gives a tinkers darn what any Spanish judge says about the US. If they want to convene an investigation, they can pound sand ...... The last country the US should be listening to are the Spainards -- we should expel their diplomat form the US

And if Obama does not stand up and say something, he is crazy. No foreign country should be allowed to investigate any former US president's administration. It is a dangerous precedent to be setting

Wake up Oblamo and defend your country and its former Presidents

I'm an attorney. I'll try to explain.

Jurisdiction is the issue causing confusion. In other words . . . what power does a Spanish court possess, to try Americans for allegedly-unlawful conduct?

Answers exist. Complicated rules have been worked out. They were necessitated, in the wake of war crimes committed by the Nazis during World War II. American courts possess power to try non-Americans, regardless of whether physical custody of them is obtained. This was done . . . following 9-11 . . . following the Iranian hostage situation in the late-70s . . . and following the Holocaust.

So, deal with it. American courts aren't the only courts with jurisdiction to try Americans . . . just as Iranian courts aren't the only courts with jurisdiction to try Iranians. It comes down to this – if America claims a right to judge foreign terrorists for their acts . . . then other countries claim a comparable right to judge Americans for their acts of torture.

Deal with it.

LOL and this is coming from a nation that gave us the Spanish Inquisition.

If Spain which to investigate countries that use torture then they should first look at Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations that still use electric shock, acid baths, blinding, amputations and other fun means of torture which makes us look like amateurs

TomJay we should make clear that US is not above the law

Just out of curiosity. Do all the people who are ready to hang the people from the previous administration also agree that if any detainee released from Guantanamo Bay commit a terror act against the United States, then Obama should be tried as an accomplice to a terror act?

I am confident Obama will apologize to Spain, and take whatever action is needed to subjugate past elected and appointed leaders of the United States to Spanish, or any other law. After all, Spain has been an honorable and great country since it’s founding, and has never had any problems with treating poor innocent combatants or political challengers with anything more than a very polite "please" and "thank you".

All it takes to believe this is a blind eye to World History (Spanish Inquisition, Spanish Conquistadors, Socialism in Spain,)

What the Spanish think this Kangaroo court will accomplish is beyond me. America is and must remain sovereign under the laws of it's Constitution and not bow down to international law, which is what the Obama Admin wants to do.

The Bush Admin would be prosecuted under the Geneva Convention Agreement Against Torture and would be held up by the United Nations. I would like to see Cheney rot in a third world prison cell. Oh that would be tasty!

what authority to we have to prosecute other countries citizens.....for example, the somalian pirate? I'm guessing Spain is using the same rules we are.

I hope they succeed and Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, etc are all brought up on charges of war crimes!

If Spain or any other country had taken American citizens or soldiers, rendered them to another country and toutured them and held them for years, would we want justice? I think the Bush admin is going to find out that having a prison not on American soil will come back to haunt them. As this was not done in our country, the people responsible are open to prosecution by the world court.

J.P.- Couldn't have said it any better.

Can't wait to see what the international courts say about this. If international law was broken then too bad so sad for the Bushies and all of his little branches. To Jail with them all.

Hey Spain,

48 hours before the invasion of Iraq, it was YOUR president, along with Bush and Blair, who gave Saddam Hussien the ultimatum to leave Iraq. The ultimatum was issued from the soil of YOUR country.

May I suggest, therefore, putting YOUR president on trial for aiding and abetting?

STAY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS.

One thing you can count on from Republicans: there is no country they don't hate!! You haters love to criticize every other country but fail to realize the wrongs America does as well!

Spain has enough atrocities in their history against mankind not to be casting a stone against other nations.

"Remember the Maine".

re: "President Obama should make it clear to these Spaniards that there will be no persecutions of American citizens in Spain."

No, President Obama should make it clear to these Spaniards that when President Bush said, "We don't torture" he was lying through his teeth.

We need to let the world know - in a CLEAR and HONEST voice - that WE DON'T TORTURE!

The Spanish are demonstrating something that our US judicial system and legislative branch doesn't seem to have right now – Courage to seek the truth in the face of right-wing lunatic fringe mocking and sheep-like bleets of anti-Americanism.
Bottom line: If we don't have the moral certitude to look into the allegations war crimes of those we freely elected the rest of the world will do it for us...

Honestly, while I agree that they need to be prosecuted, I'm curious as to what exactly a spanish judge thinks he can do about a foreign nations behavior.

I remember when we were considered part of the civilized world. It seems so long ago now.

The party of No can now be known as the party of torture.
rip Gop.

Spain has every right to prosecute its own citizens or those that harmed citizens of Spain. Since none were involved, they need to mind their own business.

Maybe the Spanish courts should take a look at the Spanish treatment of the Basque?

I say try the Bush Administration officials who approved torture in an International Court, just as any war criminals deserve. Let them pay the price for their decisions.

Uh.... Yeah... We'll get right on that.

Time to cancel that vacation.... Guess we'll be visiting another country.

Who the hell is Spain? They are nothing and what authority to they have to prosecute American citizens.

The Spanish judge is telling us that "the emperor may not be wearing any clothes!"

If laws were broken then those who were responsible should be punished. Isn't that how it is supposed to work?

If we didn't want to abide by our international obligations then I guess we shouldn't have signed the treaty!

Here's a phrase you Bush officials better become familiar with quick:

I have no recollection of that your honor.

this judge should be careful not to outshine the world's eminent leader, Obama

It is a sad day in US history when we must rely on Spain to investigate our violations of human rights and international law. Shame on us. We have squandered our moral authority.

This is wonderful news. Cheney needs to go to prison.

Yes, your honor, I was tortured. Tortured, I tell you!

It is true I was forced to eat three culturally-sensitive halal meals each day. It is also true I was subjected to the torturous rigors of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. I was forced to NOT live in a cave in the elements. I was forced to use modern, indoor plumbing and use some devil creation I'd never heard of before called "toilet paper."

I was even subjected to the use of a prayer rug and my book of worship. And worst of all, I did NOT have my head sawed off while other stood about me chanting praises to God. Oh the horrors of these Western Devils!

Europe investigated Hitler and the Nazis, why should Bush and his Administration be subject to anything less?

President Obama should make it clear to these Spaniards that there will be no persecutions of American citizens in Spain.