First: Conde-Pumpido is probably the most partisan Attorney General -not the maximum judicial authority- in our Democratic history, abolutely leftist, pro-socialist, and pro-government. Some of his recent greatest hits include letting terrorist leaders out of jail, persecuting the Spanish conservative party charging them with feeble corruption charges, and stopping corruption investigations on the socialist government. Luckily for the US, our President is willing so much to be friends with Obama that put a stop this nonsense investigation.

Second: Spain is the most antiamerican country in Europe. Yes, more than France. You cannot imagine how popular this investigation was. Bush is the devil here. Obama is truly the Messiah. Expect more like this.

Third: Do not believe for one moment that one whack of a judge speaks for all of us Spaniards. So please, do not call me an Aztec murderer, or remember me that Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition! I am absolutely pro US. But just a little perspective: 1.157 people have been executed in the US since 1.977. In 250 years, the Spanish Insquisition killed at most 5.000 people.

Fourth: There are lots of thing to criticize Spain for (our surrender to Politicla Correctness, our concessions towards enemies of the West, our sympathies for such thugs and ignoramus as Hugo Chávez, Fidel Castro, or Evo Morales). Do that. Do not criticize our past, or say Franco did better. I prefer the democracy I live in (stinky as it is).

Fifth: No need to bring Franco to trial in the US. We already tried to do that here, and most of his supporters. But they were dead (AND THIS IS NOT A JOKE).

Sixth: No, Spain does not believe it is entitled to universal justice. Spain believes it has some kind universal jurisdiction for all “crimes” it can charge only on pro-Western governments. We will never bring charges against Castro, against Kim Jong Il, or against Iraq. I wonder if we would ever bring them against Obama whatever he did.

In short: bash Spain for what it is, not for what it was; do not believe for a second that Conde-Pumpido has done this out of greatnes or love for the US; and expect more friendly actions from a country -and a government- in love with President Obama.

BTW, Having the most anti-US country in Europe admire President Teleprompter so much should give you something to think about …

Defector01 on April 16, 2009 at 1:33 PM

Noriega was charged with 10 counts of drug trafficking, conspiracy, money laundering and aiding and abetting violent crimes. Some of these were committed against US persons, the US still having possession of the Panama Canal Zone at the time.

Charles Taylor’s crimes in Liberia were indeed crimes against humanity, as were Jerry Rawling’s crimes in Ghana. The Rwanda atrocities speak for themselves. As do those in Darfur.

What Spain is attempting to do (or at least one of its prosecutors) is not at a level that a rational observer could construe as crimes against humanity.

They never gave up the notion that they are Grand Inquisitors I see.

TheBigOldDog on April 16, 2009 at 10:17 AM

+1

Seems that in the long run the Falangists lost after all. A recurring theme in Europe…from one extreme to the other.

I doubt if Franco would have had troops in Iraq in the first place, but if he had and they had bombed Madrid, I don’t think they’d have pulled out.

The judge could still order the prosecution, although with this recommendation it’s unlikely. If Spain moves forward, the Obama administration must defend American sovereignty by imposing stiff diplomatic consequences for this national insult.

Yeah, right. Wont lose any sleep waiting for that to happen.

Spain likes to consider itself omnipotent in criminal matters. They have the notion that they can apply “universal justice” by trying people for crimes committed outside of their own sovereignty.

True, but nobody complained when General Pinochet was extradited to Spain on “war crimes” charges in 1998. (Chile has no extradition treaty with Spain.) That set a precedent for over-excited magistrates to extend their jurisdiction beyond sovereign borders. President Clinton should have objected to it at the time, but didn’t.

GREATEST NAME EVER.

Other than that it is utterly and completely irrelevant.

Ares on April 16, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Such a direct attack on US sovereignty is anything but irrelevant. It is an act of war, whether people want to acknowledge it, or not.

Other than that it is utterly and completely irrelevant.

Nothing was ever going to come of this except to a) make a few lefties chuckle and b) get a few right wingers hackles up.

fogw on April 16, 2009 at 11:32 AM

Mr. D on April 16, 2009 at 11:35 AM

Only if I get first dibs on Ibiza…

I think it would be fun to go to war against Spain.

Blake on April 16, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Teddy Roosevelt had a grand time doing it.

I think it would be fun to go to war against Spain.

Only for a day or two.

How does one go about telling the Spanish government “Go f#ck yourselves”.

GarandFan on April 16, 2009 at 11:07 AM

¡Vaya tornillo usted mismo!

If Spain moves forward, the Obama administration must defend American sovereignty by imposing stiff diplomatic consequences for this national insult.

RIIIIGGGGHHHHHTTTT. Obama would open the justice department & all necessary agencies to Spanish investigators with Pelosi,Reid & Co. volunteering to hold the doors open for them.

How does one go about telling the Spanish government “Go f#ck yourselves”.

GarandFan on April 16, 2009 at 11:07 AM

Recalling our ambassador would be a good start … but our Precedent was probably excited about working with the Spanish to get the prosecutions rolling, as he is on the other side, too.

We would like to, however, resolve that Penelope is quite swell. Keep more of that coming please…gracias.