La Inquisición, Alive and Well in Spain

The Spanish government seems to be ready to attempt a return to some semblance of judicial sanity and to tackle the issue of “universal justice.” This concept has allowed judges in Spain to issue arrest warrants against foreigners such as Pinochet and now against seven Israeli soldiers accused either of disproportionate responses or crimes against humanity in Gaza. This selective judicial activism is notable for its lack attempts to bring to justice any leftists nor anyone from Hezbollah or Hamas.

Now foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, himself a socialist, has promised Tzipi Livni to look into reforming the type judicial process that allows the Spanish judicial to get involve in cases dealing with non-Spanish issues. I hope he succeds, but if the past is a model, I really doubt it.

In any case, the reform would would not change Spain’s right to arrest anyone deemed as having participated in genocidal activities once they step on Spanish soil. This seems just, but only until one begins to realize how broad is the brush with which genocide is painted, and how selective Spain has been in selecting whom to accuse of this crime.

In the last couple of decades, Spain has emerged as a most radical and virulent country, full of love for the Castros and Chavezes of the world and full of hatred for those who treasure freedom and democracy. The Israelis are up there among the most despised of all. It is so sad that the genetic pool of Spain has had so little infusion from Cervantes and so much from Torquemada.