Franco Is Alive and Well and Living in Rajoy

Starting with Pinochet, Spain has tried, either successfully or unsuccessfully, to bring foreign officials to justice for crimes against Spanish nationals in other countries. Currently, it is seeking the extradition of two Americans and 13 Salvadorans in the military for the deaths of five Spanish priests in 1989.

Let me make a prediction here and now. As soon as Mariano Rajoy takes office as Spain's President, the matter will be dropped. Easy: the man is a Franquista at heart, and this kind of digging in the past reminds everybody too much of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime. Also, Rajoy won't do anything to upset the U.S. directly or indirectly, given the fact that the Americans supported the Salvadoran military in the war that ravaged that country.

So, the Americans and the Salvadorans don't have to lose any sleep over the extradition requests.

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