US Soldiers Charged by Spanish Court

pegwinn

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Apr 17, 2004
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I vividly remember this incident. It's utter nonsense. If you are going to go into a hostile fire zone, then whatever happens is an act of God. I am really surprised that our government isn't cooperating though. Means there is hope for them yet.

Soldiers charged in journalist's death
Spanish judge issues international arrest warrant

From Al Goodman
CNN Madrid Bureau Chief


Wednesday, October 19, 2005; Posted: 6:51 p.m. EDT (22:51 GMT)

Spanish TV cameraman Jose Couso died at a hotel in Baghdad
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- A Spanish judge issued an international arrest warrant Wednesday for three U.S. soldiers, charging them with murder in the death of Spanish TV cameraman Jose Couso in Baghdad, Iraq.

Couso, who worked for Spain's Telecinco network, died at the Palestine Hotel on April 8, 2003, as U.S. forces advanced to take control of the city in April 2003.

Investigating magistrate Santiago Pedraz of the National Court will seek the extradition of the soldiers to Spain, a court spokeswoman told CNN.

They are wanted for "murder" and "a crime against the international community," according to the warrant, a copy of which was viewed by CNN partner network CNN+.

The warrant said the soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and identified them as Sgt. Thomas Gibson, commander of the tank that allegedly fired a projectile at the hotel where Couso was filming; Capt. Philip Wolford, Gibson's superior; and Lt. Colonel Philip D. Camp, the captain's superior, CNN+ reported.

It said the United States provided "no judicial cooperation" in trying to resolve the death of the cameraman.

The judge previously had sought to question the soldiers but received no response from U.S. authorities.

Couso's family has waged a campaign calling for an independent investigation into his death.

A lawyer for Couso's family told CNN+ she doubted the warrant would have much practical effect.

She said she understood the United States would not extradite the men and they stood little chance of arrest unless they left the United States.

And the National Court prosecutor's office said later Wednesday it would appeal the arrest warrant on the ground the magistrate has no jurisdiction in the case, Spanish news reports said.

It is understood the warrant remains in force until other more senior judges at the National Court resolve the prosecutor's appeal, expected to be formally presented Thursday.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for reaction to the warrant.

In the past, European courts have issued indictments for war crimes for U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Gen. Wesley Clark and other military officers. The United States does not turn over its soldiers.

Couso was one of three journalists killed in two different buildings that day in Baghdad.

Also killed at the Palestine Hotel was Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk, 35, a Ukrainian national based in Warsaw, Poland, the news agency said. Three other employees were wounded, it said.

Al-Jazeera television reporter Tariq Ayoub was killed at the Arabic language network's facilities on the other side of the Tigris River from the Palestine Hotel, near Iraq's Ministry of Information. Three other Al-Jazeera employees were wounded, the network said.

Telecinco said Couso died during surgery following the attack.

The U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces came under "significant enemy fire" from both buildings and responded "consistent with the inherent right of self-defense." (Full story)

Al-Jazeera said its facilities were deliberately targeted, an allegation denied by U.S. Central Command.

"We don't target journalists deliberately -- not now, not ever," said Central Command spokesman Brig. Gen. Vince Brooks.

Journalists from three Western television networks told CNN they were in the Palestine Hotel when the tank fired and saw no outgoing fire from it.

"These tragic incidents appear to be the latest example of the Iraqi regime's continued strategy of using civilian facilities for regime military purposes," Central Command said in a press release. The reference to regime was to the government of Saddam Hussein.

CNN's Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report
SOURCE
 
since when did Spain receive authority in Iraq or any other country outside their Jurisdiction...being a former Tank Commander...I say put a "Heat" round up the prosecutors arse! :death:
 
You know what? They're right. We're being jerks. Our soldiers shouldn't have fired at that hotel, knowing their could be journalists in there. Well, I can't do anything about it, so I say Spain should sanction us with their strong economy and might military. We all know that it takes a lot to break Spanish resolve and...and...and...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I just couldn't hold it in any more. Spain lost their credibility when they ran away with their tails between their legs after one terror attack. Cobardes! I spit on them and curse their yellow hearts which empower the most cowardly of the cowardly, the terrorists.
 
Mr. P said:
Does anyone REALLY need more examples of why we DON'T want the UN world court BULLSHIT!

Nope. This is the PERFECT example. Screw Spain ... Screw the UN .... and screw the World Court, and screw this Spanish judge who attempting to push obvious agenda by European nations to emasculate the US.

ANY US politician who signs on with this wins a nastygram e-mail and will NEVER get a vote from me.
 
Hobbit said:
You know what? They're right. We're being jerks. Our soldiers shouldn't have fired at that hotel, knowing their could be journalists in there. Well, I can't do anything about it, so I say Spain should sanction us with their strong economy and might military. We all know that it takes a lot to break Spanish resolve and...and...and...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I just couldn't hold it in any more. Spain lost their credibility when they ran away with their tails between their legs after one terror attack. Cobardes! I spit on them and curse their yellow hearts which empower the most cowardly of the cowardly, the terrorists.

It really is only logical. Al Qaeda told them who to vote for, they are the Spaniards' new masters. If they can pick who the Spanish choose as their leader, why is it a stretch to say that this judge feels it is his duty to preemptively do Al-Qaeda's bidding before they get punished again?
 
GunnyL said:
Nope. This is the PERFECT example. Screw Spain ... Screw the UN .... and screw the World Court, and screw this Spanish judge who attempting to push obvious agenda by European nations to emasculate the US.

ANY US politician who signs on with this wins a nastygram e-mail and will NEVER get a vote from me.
Yep..I'm with ya. :thup:
 
You should concern.

Spanish court decisions have effect in the whole world.
Even Augusto Pinochet had to experience this.

This decision is going to lead to troubles between Madrid and Washington, as Washington sees this decision as non-sense.

But maybe not and it is only a sign for Spanish people to show independency from Washington.
I can not really believe US-Soldiers being effected by this court decision.


As long as these 3 Soldiers never leave US-soil as private persons, nothing won't happen.
But when they leave US-land as private persons, Spanish judicary will probably get them.
 
Thats exactly why this is bullshit, now they arent free to travel anywhere outside the US.
I'm sorry but any journalist that was there at that time knew full well the dangers. I like how one of the reasons the judge is doing this is becuase the journalists inside the hotel didn't see any fire coming from the hotel. Excuse me how can people inside a building know there was no fire coming from it? These guys have x-ray vision and can see the entire exterior of the building from their room inside?

:bs1:
 
canavar said:
You should concern.

Spanish court decisions have effect in the whole world.
Even Augusto Pinochet had to experience this.

This decision is going to lead to troubles between Madrid and Washington, as Washington sees this decision as non-sense.

So?

But maybe not and it is only a sign for Spanish people to show independency from Washington.
I can not really believe US-Soldiers being effected by this court decision.


As long as these 3 Soldiers never leave US-soil as private persons, nothing won't happen.
But when they leave US-land as private persons, Spanish judicary will probably get them.

Armed confrontation between Spain and the US? Gee, wonder who will win .... :rolleyes:
 
So, Mighty Spain, home of the Spanish armada...... oh wait they took an ass kicking.........

So, Mighty Spain, oh wait, Al Qaeda bombed em and they got rid of their government and pulled out before the finish.

So, Mighty Spain is gonna confront the USA? Pardon me while I quake with fear. OK, moments over.
 
pegwinn said:
So, Mighty Spain, home of the Spanish armada...... oh wait they took an ass kicking.........

So, Mighty Spain, oh wait, Al Qaeda bombed em and they got rid of their government and pulled out before the finish.

So, Mighty Spain is gonna confront the USA? Pardon me while I quake with fear. OK, moments over.

:eek: Not the armada ..... whatever shall we do?
 
yeah i can see this happening... not.
hand them over and your going to be opening a huge can of worms. other countries will be trying to get on the band wagon then. we'd have like 8 people in military then.
 
Johnney said:
yeah i can see this happening... not.
hand them over and your going to be opening a huge can of worms. other countries will be trying to get on the band wagon then. we'd have like 8 people in military then.
Well, we don't need a military. The Europeans, the UN and NATO will protect us. I mean just look how much they all did for us before 911!


Sarcasm, folks.
 
CSM said:
Well, we don't need a military. The Europeans, the UN and NATO will protect us. I mean just look how much they all did for us before 911!


Sarcasm, folks.
i dont know which one would scare me more being in charge...:laugh:
 
I think what Spain fails to realize is that the three guys they're trying to arrest were part of a strike force that took Baghdad before the Imperial Guard could even load their weapons. These three guys could take and hold Madrid by themselves, and if their battallion was with them, they could take every inch of territory captured by the U.S. during WWII without losing a single man. That's like Whistler's Mother trying to kidnap Jackie Chan.
 
GunnyL said:
None of those three are EVER being in charge of me. I'll gather up my toys and play isolationist/survivalist in Utah somewhere first.
save room for me
 

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