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Needless Controvery

By standdown

That's the title of an editorial in today's Houston Chronicle on the controversial scheduled execution of Jose Medellin.  LINKIf Medellin is executed as scheduled on Aug. 5 without a review of his case, it will send other nations the message that they need not honor their commitment to afford detained Americans access to U.S. diplomats. If states or provinces within a nation have the right to ignore the treaty, the safety of U.S. citizens overseas will be jeopardized. The review of Medellin's case ordered by the World Court would likely have been a swift, pro forma procedure in which a Texas court reaffirmed his confession and conviction, allowing the execution to go forward. By defying international law and rebuffing President Bush and the World Court, Texas would set a precedent Americans traveling abroad will regret...continue to full post

Full post as published by StandDown Texas Project on July 23, 2008 (boomark / email).