International reaction to Bush administration torture

Spain's Judge Baltasar Garzon, the most prominent investigative magistrate in the country is opening up a case against former Bush administration officials for the system that they created resulting in torture that was "systematic and ordered at high levels of the US government." Read the article here.

This story is all the more intersting because Spain's court system has already used this "principle of universal justice" in an internationally high profile case against human rights abuses: that against the Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. And it was the same Baltasar Garzon who brought the case!

Although Pinochet died before he was convicted of his crimes his case was (in the words of wikipedia) "the first time that several European judges applied the principle of universal jurisdiction, declaring themselves competent to judge crimes committed by former head of states, despite local amnesty laws."

Quite interesting. We will see where this goes.

Rendition and State Secrets - Federal ruling says NO

Hey guys - here you can find the link to the article in the LA Times detailing the case Mohamed vs. Jeppesen Dataplan Inc. The case deals with five men who were abucted in the CIA Extraordinary Rendition program and held for years in secret black sites by the CIA. These men alledge that they were tortured and the Bush administration and now the Obama administration have claimed that the information in the case (apparently including the information of what was done to the men while they were imprisoned) should be considered States Secrets and therefore not allowed into the courtroom.

This is an important issuse that is directly connected with the Bush doctrine but more importantly it is directly connected to the CIA's illegal and inhumane practice of Rendition which has been going on since the Clinton Administration.

Basics from a good source on Palestine and Israel conflict

I am happy to provide you with the link to some basic questions and answers about the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The page comes from a SF based organization called Jewish Voice for Peace. They are a cool organization and I think they have put together a fair, thoughtful and well researched document here.

The importance of water in the Israeli Palestinian conflict

Here is a link to a pretty large report published by the World Bank on April 20, focusing on the different aspects of water sources and availablity to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. For a good overview you can skim the Executive Summary that is available at the beginning of the report. It is about 18 pages but much more consise than the 135 page original document :)

Ahmedinejad's speech at the UN Conference on Racism, April 2009

I have finally found a transcript of the entire speech given by Iranian President Ahmedinejad at the UN conference on Racism. As you likely know it caused quite a ruckus with many diplomats leaving the room. However, there was also loud applause during the speech from those left in the room. It is long but interesting and worth reading to have an understanding of what Ahmadinejad really said and what those who left the room did not hear.

Exclusive Interview Between ABC's George Stephanopoulos and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Here is an interesting recent exchange between George Stephanopoulos and the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. They talk about US Iran relations, Ahmedinejad's speech at the UN Durban conference, and if Palestinians accept a two state solution. Well worth reading.

Ginsburg, torture, foreign law and being the only female supreme court justice

Here is a short and interesting article, well worth reading.

Finally some accountability for Rendition?

Here is an interesting article that I found on Al Jazeera's english site a few days ago talking about how the UN is planning on investigating the US practice of extraordinary rendition! This would be great and an important step in learning more about the systems in the US and abroad that have allowed such illegal practices to go for years (since the Clinton administration). Here is also a link to my previous posts on the practice of rendition by the US government.

Backyard garden, White House showing the way

Here is a fabulous article about the garden that Michelle Obama has just helped to plant behind the White House. The article explains well a few of the basic reasons why it is so great to grow food close to home:

"Mrs. Obama stressed that the garden was an easy -- and inexpensive -- way for families to get fruits and vegetables into their diet. She asked the children to guess how much it cost to install the garden...The organic garden, which will supply fruits, vegetables and honey for the first family, White House staff and state dinners, cost about $200 to put in place."

"Weather permitting, Assistant White House Chef Sam Kass said the first crop of lettuce, spinach and herbs will be ready in about two weeks. When asked if the first family would be alerted when produce from the garden ended up on their plates, Kass answered: "They'll know. They'll be able to taste it."

Laila El-Haddad stuck in Egypt

I am writing this post to let you know about a women whose blog I have recomended a few times. Her name is Laila El-Haddad and she is a Palestinian mother and journalist who has been living in the states as her husband has been denied the right to live in Palestine. Laila was traveling to visit her family in Palestine and has been stopped in Egypt. She is being refused entry into Palestine because the Rafa checkpoint is closed. She is traveling with her four year old and her 15 month old baby. What is more, her US visa has expired and she was planning on renewing it after her time in Palestine by going through Beirut. She is really in a tough situation. Please, if there is anyone you know to contact do it now! She could really use our help. Here is a link to her blog and here is a link to her Twitter.

France taking a Guantanamo Prisoner - to put him in jail

Here is a link to the most complete article I found concerning Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement that France would be accepting an prisoner transfered to their territory from Guantanamo Bay. Unfortunately President Sarkozy clarified that Mr Lakhdar Boumediene (for whom the important Bouediene v. Bush case was named) will be going to a French prison! This seems outrageous to me. Boumediene v. Bush is the case that was overturned by the US Supreme Court in June 2008 allowing (finally!) for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay to demand writs of habeas corpus. It was a huge move for the court system and an important step in bringing our legal system into balance after to Bush years of the war on terror.

As you know if you have followed my blogging on this case Mr. Boumediene was captured in Bosnia (where he was living as a legal resident with his family) in 2002 upon suspicion of the US government that he was planning to bomb the US embassy in Sarajevo. After a four month investigation by the Bosnian police he was cleared of all charges put under humanitarian protection so that he would not be taken out of the country. He was then promptly handed over the American forces when the US threatened to break diplomatic ties with Bosnia. He has been held in GB since January of 2002. The US government quickly dropped charges for planning a bombing in Bosnia. However he has not been released.

You can read for yourself the article. I will try to find one in English.

The main point is: Why would he go into prison in France? The US government does not have evidence against him that allows him to be labeled an enemy combatant and he is, for all legal purposes, supposed to be released from prison. The Obama administration has said that they would share all information on the cases of particular detainees moving to European countries with their host countries. There should be no reason for Mr. Boumediene to be sent to prison upon his arrival in France.

I believe that the reason he would be coming to France is because he has Algerian origins (and likely speaks French). However this is only my assumption.

I hope Obama does something about this. We will see. Here is a link to an English version of the story, however they do not mention Sarkozy's final remark about sending Mr. Boumediene to a French prison. I will keep you updated on what I find.

Here is another short but interesting article about previous GB detainees in the French court system - perhaps Sarkozy is thinking that Boumediene's case will be reseen within the French court system?

Taliban, article venant du Monde

Ici ce trouve un article venant du journal Le Monde ce matain. C'est particulièrement intéressant comme l'homme qui est le sujet de l'article est un ancien prisonnier de Guantanamo. C'est un autre point de vu que je n'ai pas beaucoup présenté mais c'est aussi important.

Here is an article that was on writen for Le Monde, one of the most prominent French international newspapers. It is interesting for a number of reasons, one being that the subject of the article is a previous prisoner of Guantanamo. This is a perspective that I have not often posted but still an important one.

Warning!! It's in French. If I find an equivilant article in english I will post it.