President Obama Votes Present on Torture Prosecutions

If there is anything the one hates, it is having make an actual desision.   Rather t han make a decison the allegationsof tortue duing the Bush administratin, the one has punted the decisino to Spain,   Scott Horton, Daily Beast:

Spanish prosecutors have decided to press forward with a criminal investigation targeting former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and five top associates over their role in the torture of five Spanish citizens held at Guantánamo

[…]

Both Washington and Madrid appear determined not to allow the pending criminal investigation to get in the way of improved relations, which both desire, particularly in regard to coordinated economic policy to confront the current financial crisis and a reshaped NATO mandate for action in Afghanistan. With the case now proceeding, that will be more of a challenge. The reaction on American editorial pages is divided-some questioning sharply why the Obama administration is not conducting an investigation, which is implicitly the question raised by the Spanish prosecutors. Publications loyal to the Bush team argue that the Spanish investigation is an “intrusion” into American affairs, even when those affairs involve the torture of five Spaniards on Cuba.

Either the torture allegations have merit or they do not.   If the allegations have merit, the Obama administration has a duty to investigate.   If the allegations do not have merit, the President has a constitution duty  to protect American citizens from a Spanish kangaroo court.    The President swore to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States.   Obama’s Oath of Office has no provision for outsourcing justice to Spain.   The President’s duty is clear.  Obama’s thought process, such as it is, is rather muddled.

Addendum:

David Corn, Mother Jones has a good question:

Obama could even conceivably have to contend with extradition requests. If any of this comes to pass, it won’t then be a laughing matter.

I it is gonna be tough for the one to vote present on an extradition request.