Spanish Court Weighs Inquiry on Torture for 6 Bush-Era Officials

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/world/europe/29spain.html?ref=europe

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Subject: re: Spanish Court Weighs Inquiry on Torture for 6 Bush-Era Officials
To: letters@nytimes.com


To the Editor:

 Although it took us five years, the U.S. did sign and ratify the 1984 Convention Against Torture. As you note "[c]ountries that are party to the torture convention have the authority to investigate torture cases, especially when a citizen has been abused." More importantly, we have the obligation to investigate and prosecute or extradite those who committed such crimes. It is praise-worthy that president Obama has not launched partisan attacks on the former regime. If we are to have a "government of laws, not one of men", it remains incumbent on him to enforce the law, even when it is not politically convenient.

Barry Levine