A Mexican man was arrested for a terrible murder by the State of Texas.
The US has signed internal agreements that US citizens arrested abroad will be given access to US consul staff; and the US will provide foreigners it arrests access to their consulate.
Texas, in what can only be described as mindless, childish, idiocy, decided it didn't want to.
Then-President George W. Bush ordered the state he had just been governor of to follow the law. Texas refused.
Early court hearings limited the power of the federal government, until new legislation is passed, to intervene. The US government understands the risks this places on US citizens.
President Obama asked Texas to delay the execution until January. Texas said no.
The Supreme Court voted on whether to take action - and voted 5-4, on the usual lines, not to do so, and the man was executed yesterday.
Texas accomplished nothing good by their actions. They have dishonored the word of the United States and given foreign countries the justification not to honor US rights.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/07/07-2
(This is the same state and governor who executed what evidence strongly shows was an innocent man, ignoring evidence.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barry-scheck/innocent-but-executed_b_272327.html)
The US has signed internal agreements that US citizens arrested abroad will be given access to US consul staff; and the US will provide foreigners it arrests access to their consulate.
Texas, in what can only be described as mindless, childish, idiocy, decided it didn't want to.
Then-President George W. Bush ordered the state he had just been governor of to follow the law. Texas refused.
Early court hearings limited the power of the federal government, until new legislation is passed, to intervene. The US government understands the risks this places on US citizens.
President Obama asked Texas to delay the execution until January. Texas said no.
The Supreme Court voted on whether to take action - and voted 5-4, on the usual lines, not to do so, and the man was executed yesterday.
Texas accomplished nothing good by their actions. They have dishonored the word of the United States and given foreign countries the justification not to honor US rights.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/07/07-2
(This is the same state and governor who executed what evidence strongly shows was an innocent man, ignoring evidence.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barry-scheck/innocent-but-executed_b_272327.html)

