[PEN-L:569] Re: good news!

[knowware@xxxxxxxx (Tom Walker)]

>- Pinochet's defender decry, citing the "indignity" of serving the warrant
>at midnight, while he was in bed, and leaving him incomunicado for 2 hours!
>Pinochet, "disappeared" for 2 hours!

And that "indignity" is what makes it sweet. Logic tells me that Pinochet
will never have to face trial, let alone be convicted or sentenced for his
crimes (am I prejudging his guilt? You betcha!). Hypocrisy is too big for
that. But this thing plays out on more than one level.

On the symbolic level, Pinochet has already been publicly shamed in a way
that could only ever be erased if he was to stand trial so he could "clear
his name". But of course he IS guilty so he CAN'T stand trial. Pinochet's
will be the coward's defense of senatorial "immunity" -- an immunity
bestowed by himself upon himself ("and who appointed YOU?"). Surely the
authorities will find a loophole. Isn't that their job?

It is also the Europeanness of the arrest that makes it so grand. If
Pinochet had been arrested in Michigan on a warrant from some rogue judge,
so what? But to be arrested (and held!)in London, of all places. London!
Much worse, much, much worse than a pie in the face in San Francisco.


Regards,

Tom Walker
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