Treaties and the rights of foreign arrestees

Re “Treaties shouldn’t trump U.S. law,” Opinion, March 8

Although Julian Ku hopes that the Supreme Court will not require police to refer foreign arrestees to their consulate representatives, the same argument means that Americans arrested abroad will be deprived of a similar right. In 2005, the Bush administration denounced the Vienna convention to which Ku refers, raising a similar question.

Perhaps Ku and President Bush should attend another screening of the movie “Midnight Express” to refresh their memories of Americans being arrested by foreign governments and denied competent legal representation.

MICHAEL HAAS

Los Angeles

*

Ku’s article is aptly titled because it uses the word “shouldn’t.” That’s because treaties do trump U.S. federal and state law; even a law student would know that. Therefore, Ku’s piece is nothing more that a partisan argument for changing international legal standards that make foreigners, like Americans, safer throughout the world.

Ku’s opening paragraph bemoans requiring a police officer to ask arrestees a few additional questions. The underlying implication is that nothing should get between an officer and his or her prey, least of all laws.

PAUL GARCIA

Whittier