Bush Faces Off With Texas Over Execution

Case Involves A Mexican Citizen Found Guilty Of The Brutal Murders Of 2 Teenage Girls

(AP)  To put it bluntly, Texas wants President Bush to get out of the way of the state's plan to execute a Mexican for the brutal killing of two teenage girls.

Mr. Bush, who presided over 152 executions as governor of Texas, wants to halt the execution of Jose Ernesto Medellin in what has become a confusing test of presidential power that the Supreme Court, which hears the case this week, ultimately will sort out.

The president wants to enforce a decision by the International Court of Justice that found the convictions of Medellin and 50 other Mexican-born prisoners violated their rights to legal help as outlined in the 1963 Vienna Convention.

That is the same court President Bush has since said he plans to ignore if it makes similar decisions affecting state criminal laws.

"The president does not agree with the ICJ's interpretation of the Vienna Convention," the administration said in arguments filed with the court. This time, though, the U.S. agreed to abide by the international court's decision because ignoring it would harm American interests abroad, the government said.

Texas argues that neither the international court nor Mr. Bush has any say in Medellin's case.

Medellin was born in Mexico but spent much of his childhood in the United States. He was 18 in June 1993, when he and other members of the Black and Whites gang in Houston encountered two teenage girls on a railroad trestle.

The girls were gang-raped and strangled. Their bodies were found four days later.

Medellin was arrested a few days later. He was told he had a right to remain silent and have a lawyer present, but the police did not tell him that he could request assistance from the Mexican consulate.

Medellin gave a written confession. He was convicted of murder in the course of a sexual assault, a capital offense in Texas. A judge sentenced him to death in October 1994.

Medellin did not raise the lack of assistance from Mexican diplomats during his trial or sentencing. When he did claim his rights had been violated, Texas and federal courts turned him down because he had not objected at his trial. Mexico later sued the United States in the International Court of Justice in The Hague on behalf of Medellin and 50 other Mexicans on death row in the U.S.

[Ellsbeth]

"...would harm American interests abroad,... "
NOW government''s worried about our interests abroad???
Reminds me of how Bush suddenly became budget conscience when it came to heathcare for the poor children. If this guy raped and murdered two girls, he deserves death NO MATTER WHAT HIS COUNTRY CAN DO FOR HIS SORRY ***!!! You come here, you go by OUR LAWS!!!

[Ellsbeth]

"...would harm American interests abroad,... "
NOW government''s worried about our interests abroad???
Reminds me of how Bush suddenly became budget conscience when it came to heathcare for the poor children. If this guy raped and murdered two girls, he deserves death NO MATTER WHAT HIS COUNTRY CAN DO FOR HIS SORRY ***!!! You come here, you go by OUR LAWS!!!

[michellem99-2009]

Bush has blood on his paws. He killed many with signing his name. They must get money. I don''t like TX as did live there but got out. There are those that need to be killed as they kill children and helpness people. America has the most people in lock up. Greed..

[hwy71so]

"If we expect to protect our citizens abroad from injustice and an unfair trial at the hands of any government in the world, we''''ll need to do to the Mexican nationals as we already do for the Canadians - who also walk through the borders but are allowed to come in ......... Cheers !

Posted by parrots7 at 11:12 AM : Oct 08, 2007"

I agree to some extint, but, first off, you start the ball by insulting me in my opinion. You, sir are an uncouth.

I agree that foriegn nationals should be afforded their contact with their dignataries. But, I think in return, Mexico or whereever they come from, should also support us in enforcing our laws.

[Krazcarl]

I stiil want to know why he sighned the order to kill that jesus freak lady that was cold even Pat said no, but I believe there is money to be made here and nothing to do with national security.

[klingon69]

But, he was just here to do the jobs that Americans won''t.

[klingon69]

since when does a President medal in State affairs
Posted by aznyron at 07:34 AM : Oct 07, 2007

Well, let''s see. The first time in history was the emancipation proclamation. The the passing of the Hamilton Marijuana Stamp Act, The IRS,...and many more times.

[hwy71so]

Mexico has no control over their nationals. They are constantly coming across the border committing crimes and to avoid prosecution they drop back down into Mexico where their mafia protects them. You want education? Try living in a Texas border town. Houston is just a stone''s throw from Mexico in Texas terms. The number of illegals in Houston, D/FW, and San Antonio is beyond any other major city in the US except maybe San Diego, Phoenix, or LA. Yet, the Mexican government could care less that their people are coming into our country, forming gangs, trafficking drugs, etc. When we try to do something about it, they cry foul. Actually, the consulates don''t have the manpower to support all these Mexican nationals. Anyway, if they''d come over legally, they''d know their rights. AND, the only rights required by law for the police to inform the detainee of is in their recitation of the Miranda Act.

parrots7
Your little "educated" remark shows your ignorance. Do you think everyone''s education is all encompassing? Are you really an ignorant or do you just play one on PC?

[hwy71so]

If these aliens want to play in our yard, they should follow our rules. Rape/murder is a capital offense in the state of Texas. The "man" was a gang member. He violated these girls intentionally, then put them in their graves.

The death penalty is justified in this case. Who cares what the other countries have to say about it. If Mexico didn''t want him being subject to OUR laws, then Mexico should have prevented him from coming to OUR country.

[starleo146]

Posted by SuhaAlNafa at 03:07 PM : Oct 07, 2007
+ report abu
Have you all missed coffe boy?

[starleo146]

I hope you will follow this because Wednesday this case has been sent to the Supreme Court and they will hear it Wednesday. Is there a message Bush is sending to the Supreme Court. YOU THINK

[toolmangler-2009]

And go here.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=15497

[toolmangler-2009]

Bushy_baby is trying to win point with the Fox cartel(mehico) so he can push his NAFTA, CAFTA, AFTA and Globalization efforts.
Go here, Watch this.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/300107Immigration.htm

[oletafive]

In reply to Yankeyrebel17,
You forget that Thomas Jefferson pointed out that some truths are self evident. Aesop pointed out that a leopard cannot change it''s spots.
George Bush has shown time and again that the law, truth, human rights mean nothing to him. George''s actions and his own words have witnessed the color of his stripe. Others don''t share your opinions, George''s opinions, or my opinion but the truth is its own integrity.

[suhaalnafa]

It`s to to go sleeping

[suhaalnafa]

no!!!!!

[gkc99]

"It`s a female name
I meant it`s not time to get fitted in my burquh"--Posted by SuhaAlNafa


Perhaps then it''s time to be fitted for your coffin?

[suhaalnafa]

It`s a female name

I meant it`s not time to get fitted in my burquh

[gkc99]

"No, it`s not [a woman''s name]"--Posted by SuhaAlNafa


If Suha Arafat was Yassar Arafat''s wife, I can take it that some with than name are female, unless Yassar was of the type that Ah-mad claims does not exist under Islam.

[suhaalnafa]

No, it`s not