Posted on 07/28/2005 3:23:21 PM PDT by konaice
No Extradition No Aid, Congress Urges
Thursday July 28, 2005 11:01 PM
By JEFFREY McMURRAY
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States would deny foreign aid to countries that block extradition of criminal suspects under a measure approved by both houses of Congress despite objections from the State Department.
The provision, which must survive final negotiations between the House and Senate before it goes to President Bush, was partly inspired by the case of Josiah Ray Fulton of Hampton, Ga., a Marine, assigned to White House security, who was murdered outside a Washington night club in 2002.
Fulton's suspected killer fled to Nicaragua, which has refused to extradite him because life without parole was a possible punishment.
``That's a percentage of my tax dollars going to Nicaragua, and they're protecting my son's killer,'' said Fulton's father, David Fulton. ``To me, it's an admission of his guilt. If they thought he was innocent, send him back. Let him stand trial.''
As of Thursday afternoon, the Nicaraguan embassy had not responded to interview requests. The Organization of American States declined to comment.
Last week, the Senate approved 85-13 an amendment by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., to the bill that funds the State Department and foreign operations.
Under Chambliss' measure, a similar version of which recently passed the House, countries would lose their foreign aid money for refusing extraditions of any suspects facing life in prison or a lesser offense. Many nations block extraditions in death penalty cases, but Chambliss says an alarming number are trying to limit possible prison terms too - even for murder suspects.
That figures. This is the same State Dept. that considers the Chinese our best buddies, al-Jazeera to be a legitimate journalism source, and the Hamas political wing to be a peaceful, grass-roots organization for peace.
If the Dept. of State thought that this bill was a wonderful idea, then I would be worried about it.
So is it retroactive? Sounds good to me.
Why, what a novel idea! Expecting something from the countries we support with foreign aid. Heresy, I tell you; heresy!!
Wow, some very sensible legislation, therefore it probably will not become law. I would say include countries that refuse to extradite because of the chance of the death penalty (are you listening Mexico)
Whoever came up with this idea needs to be commended and those who vote against it need to be exposed to their constituents. Assuming there is no pork attached to this bill, this is the first positive emotion I've felt toward congress in years.
I have a hard time believing that this law would ever pass if it resulted in Israel having to choose between losing all its U.S. aid and extraditing shmekels like that crook "Crazy Eddie" and Maryland murderer Samuel Sheinbein back to the U.S.
Unfortunately you are probably right. We should pass theis legislation and if Israel balks tell them to go pound sand. IMO we have given them too much aid for too long, the PLO et al are bastards but Israel is in part responsible for the mess over there.
I think we have a lot of needs right here in America that we should spend OUR tax dollars on!! Who made us keepers of the world, anyway? I am sick to death of our high taxes!!
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