Texas v. the Prez, a life and death issue

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Texas can execute a Mexican murderer being held on its death row. The case pitted President Bush against his home state in a dispute over federal authority, local sovereignty and foreign treaties...Medellin's lawyers argue he was not informed upon his arrest of his right to contact Mexican consular officials. Those officials were never able to meet with him until after his conviction. ###

So, the issue was who's law should the court use. Apparently what Texas did was in violation of a U.S. treaty, according to an international court. The Supremes said that wasn't domestic law and sided with Texas. I wish I had time to delve into this subject more. It is fascinating and no matter what choice you make can lead to unintended consequences. When I saw the story on CNN I immediately thought of the waterboarding issue which I just can't get out of my head. It really is the Golden Rule (no, not the one that says, "he who has the gold rules"). Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If an American citizen was held in another country would we want that government to subject them to waterboarding (aka torture) or to sentence them to death without being able to seek counsel from the U.S. upon arrest? I think not. Imagine your child in the military being subjected to waterboarding (Geneva Conventions?? To heck with them says Congress, Bush, Cheney, Mukasey, the lot) or being sentenced to death by a court that didn't follow our rules (say in Iran). Not a pretty picture. The whole reason for international agreements like the ones in question is to make a level playing field, to set rules for everyone. We are not an island unto ourselves and the sooner we understand that the better we will all be. I pray for this in my lifetime.