Second, people reation will depend on the number of "mistakes" that can be proven. Most of Europe is not against torture or tough techniques per se but because they coudl be applied to someone who has nothing to do with the situation (we are not that liberal or enlightened in europe to be disgusted about the contempt for law).
US knows that, so their reaction will be to say that it happened but it only happened to the bad guys and Europe knew it.
Reagarding the group of people who think that this is a shame no matter what, we are minority and we will make noise, that's all.
In any case, an example of a mistake could make Europe face the situation and change the present dynamics.
A pleasure I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude
Apparently the Basque and/or left Nationalist parties (ERC PNV, EA, NB, BNG) have chosen not to take part in the celebrations in Parliament. Good for them, maybe they don't remember what happened to the constitution of 1931. guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
Thanks to the fact that the right at that time wanted to bite Felipe very badly all the illegal activities of GAL were knwown to everyone and there was a huge reaction.
Since then, I think, the spanish police has improved a lot. Actually I would say that there are no more torture or illegal treatment. It is good to remember how good was that for the fight against terrorism.
Police quickly adapted to new techniques, police, judge, attorneys..everybody work tough and under law... the results have been excellent.. more than excellent .. you realize that Spain is one of the few countries who is really fighting terrosims in a smart and strong way? We are the best on the game.. and we could make certainly a point that discovering GAL and the reaction against it was very important.
So fighting torture indeed helps security .. and this is something we could defend in this forum.
A pleasure. I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude
It was only after 1989, when PSOE had a thin (but absolute) majority and Aznar was leader of the reconstituted (post-Franquista) PP, that the right and El Mundo started using the court cases to bring Felipe down. In the end, Barrionuevo and Vera were found guilty of misappropriation of funds, but as much as Damborenea tried to argue that they (and Felipe) knew about GAL there was really no evidence of it.
It is telling that Galindo was "promoted" out of the Basque Country, which was also rather shameful but probably politically necessary. guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
In Berlin, Ms Rice and Mrs Merkel sought to dampen down the discussion about alleged CIA practices, the BBC's Ray Furlong reports.
Mrs Merkel said Ms Rice had given "important" reassurances that the US would use "every lawful means" to protect citizens from the threat of international terrorism.
Please Mrs Rice... Forget about our security, please...! Let us do it ourselves... "What can I do, What can I write, Against the fall of Night". A.E. Housman
