No sirree, bub, no we don’t. And we really don’t need the Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Greek to you, eh? That’s all right; you’ll probably never need it. The chances of getting thrown into a foreign jail are pretty slim, after all. But if you do, wouldn’t it be nice if someone from your government could come visit you in the hoosegow? Maybe try to run a little interference for ya? Sure it would. I mean, we holler all the time when when our embassy and consular officials are denied access to Americans in foreign jails, right?
Well, we’ve (I don’t know why I say “we’ve”. It had nothing to do with “me”, after all. I just live in this country and have to put up with all the ignorant, short-sighted choices my government makes.) just withdrawn from it. Doesn’t that give you a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling? It’s so nice for our government to look out for us, isn’t it?
Oh, I know, they’re talking about representatives from other countries visiting their citizens in OUR jails. It won’t affect any of OUR citizens at all. Nope, not AT all. No siree, bub.
I was kinda wondering what would happen if the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Medellín in Medellín v. Dretke. That would mean that a foreign judicial body could Constitutionally overrule any court in the US. I’m ok with the way they reconciled the issue.
Trust me, if you are denied counsular contact in the 30 percent of countries still in agreement with that setup, pressure from the ICJ will not get you anything. It’s the same pressure from your government that gives you those rights in the 70% not part of the agreement.