| An international court based in Argentina is hearing | | | | understand why it is politically disastrous for the |
| the charges of human rights abuses under the military | | | | Obama administration to go after them-because it will |
| regime of Francisco Franco during his time as leader | | | | be seen as simply the other side attacking their |
| of Spain from the 1930's to the 1970's. To this point, | | | | political enemies. |
| Spain has given amnesty to all the actions done | | | | However, at some time, and at some point, the |
| under Franco's regime in order to try to bring peace | | | | minimum of an investigation and a case needs to be |
| between the deeply divided nation. However, as time | | | | held. The goal is not revenge or satisfying our anger. |
| has passed on, more and more people are unsatisfied | | | | Ultimately, what the American people need is not for |
| with that response- they are seeking some type of | | | | Rumsfeld or Cheney to go to jail, what they need is |
| justice, or at the minimum recognition, for the great | | | | the truth to come out and at least be acknowledged. |
| human rights abuses which were committed under | | | | People need to have the comfort and realization that |
| Franco's rule. Peace and harmony is deeply important; | | | | in the end, even government officials will be held |
| but justice and the truth cannot be sacrificed in order | | | | responsible for their actions and that no one is above |
| to avoid any type of disharmony in the country. | | | | the law. I hope that the court in Argentina opens up |
| I think there are large parallels to the last Bush | | | | these cases, because they are important for the |
| administration's actions and the issues of amnesty | | | | cause of justice and human rights. In the future, the |
| and justice. While the Bush Administration came | | | | violations caused under the Bush Administration |
| nowhere near the human right's abuses of the Franco | | | | should also be brought to the light and judged, |
| Administration, there were certainly U.S. and | | | | because by refusing to do this, we are making a |
| international laws that were defied during their | | | | mockery of our system of law and justice, more |
| administration- whether it was through the use of | | | | importantly we are diminishing the importance of |
| torture, defying the Bill of Rights, or dishonesty about | | | | international human rights and making it easier for |
| the events leading to the attack on Iraq. I also | | | | these abuses to occur in the future. |