An "Impossible Dream"

Baltasar Garzón, the Spanish judge/prosecutor who went after Pinochet, much to the dismay of the spiritual heirs to Franco, is at it again, brandishing the "universal jurisdiction" spear, in the name of decency and human rights. But, now, he may be tilting at windmills, going up against the U.S. government for torture at Guantánamo.

The unwritten law that the United States lives by in the international arena is that it won't submit to any other country's jurisdiction no matter what, since that would go against its superpower image and practice. So, it is not surprising that it hasn't answered Garzón's initial queries, and will not do so. The only universal jurisdiction that it regards as valid is its own. To the U.S., Spain is a minor player in the international chess board and, therefore, not to be taken seriously in its attempt to play with the "big boys."

I'm afraid that, this time, Garzón's legendary dogged determination won't do him much good. Like his fabled countryman of old, all he'll end up with is a big lump on his head.

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