[Nuclear1]

http://www.smartmoney.com/news/ON/?story=ON-20110128-000277&

MADRID - A Spanish judge said Friday he has set a March 1 deadline for the U.S. government to submit information ahead of a final decision on a controversial case targeting former top U.S. officials.

In a National Court writ, judge Eloy Velasco said the U.S. government must promptly state whether alleged human rights abuses in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp during the George W. Bush administration are being probed by U.S attorneys. In the absence of a positive response, he will decide whether Spanish courts must take on the lawsuit against former U.S. General Attorney Alberto Gonzales, John Yoo--author of the so-called "torture memos" on interrogation techniques--and David Addington, formerly a chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as three others.

In the writ, the judge said he requested information on any Guantanamo probes in 2009 and 2010 and he hasn't yet received a response. He also called on the plaintiff, a little-known Spanish association in defense of jail inmates' rights, to provide evidence that three former Guantanamo inmates, Hamed Abderraham Ahmed, Reswad Abdulsam and Lahcen Ikassrien, are Spanish citizens as claimed in the lawsuit.

[IronBeer]

Yes, because a random Spanish judge will convince the US government to fork over very touchy information on a highly controversial installation.

[Mikes]

Yes, because a random Spanish judge will convince the US government to fork over very touchy information on a highly controversial installation.

The more people that are interested, the better.

[Nuclear1]

Yes, because a random Spanish judge will convince the US government to fork over very touchy information on a highly controversial installation.

Well...then if the US doesn't, Spain hauls Yoo, Gonzales, and Addington off to be charged with war crimes.

[BlueFlames]

Yes, because a random Spanish judge will convince the US government to fork over very touchy information on a highly controversial installation.

Well...then if the US doesn't, Spain hauls Yoo, Gonzales, and Addington off to be charged with war crimes.

Then comes the tricky question of how.  Domestic Spanish law enforcement has no jurisdiction in the United States and a military deployment is out of the question.  Don't expect the UN to be of much use, since any motion to have an international force arrest the men would be shot down in the Security Council by the US.  From a practical standpoint, it just means that Yoo, Gonzales, and Addington won't be able to travel to the European Union.  While I don't keep up with their travel arrangements, something tells me that continental Europe isn't high on any of their lists for vacation destinations.

One trouble with international law enforcement is that individual nations tend to shield their citizens, especially those who are (or were once) powerful, whether they deserve to be shielded or not.

[MP-Ryan]

Then comes the tricky question of how.  Domestic Spanish law enforcement has no jurisdiction in the United States and a military deployment is out of the question.  Don't expect the UN to be of much use, since any motion to have an international force arrest the men would be shot down in the Security Council by the US.  From a practical standpoint, it just means that Yoo, Gonzales, and Addington won't be able to travel to the European Union.  While I don't keep up with their travel arrangements, something tells me that continental Europe isn't high on any of their lists for vacation destinations.

One trouble with international law enforcement is that individual nations tend to shield their citizens, especially those who are (or were once) powerful, whether they deserve to be shielded or not.

Spain is part of the EU.  Arrest warrants for extradition of those individuals would effectively make it impossible for them to set foot in any EU country.  The US may not extradite, but I don't see any of the EU countries flaunting their extradition policies for these three.

[NGTM-1R]

Considering who they were/are, I am not convinced they would be traveling much anyways.

[MP-Ryan]

Considering who they were/are, I am not convinced they would be traveling much anyways.

Well, no, but it's a symbolic gesture at the minimum.

[Flipside]

Considering who they were/are, I am not convinced they would be traveling much anyways.

Well, no, but it's a symbolic gesture at the minimum.

This. It's about getting something down in writing, I don't think a response is expected.

[esarai]

Unless of course there's an extradition agreement between Spain and the U.S.
And if all else fails, send the case to the ICC.