YOUR VIEWS

What I find amazing, is that Jason Moore finds Jaume Matas´s bail of 3 million amazing. Let's look at this from the judge´s point of view. 1. Matas has a home in the U.S. and until recently had a job there, possibly as the result of his extracurricular activities regarding the U.S. while he was supposedly working for the best interests of the people of the Baleares (note the possible connection with the U.S. in the Iraq war, and the use of Palma´s civilian airport for illegal renditions of American prisoners).

2. The U.S. does not have a good record when it comes to extradition to meet demands of our courts here - note that we have yet to see the CIA agents wanted for questioning in regards to the illegal use of our airport. So if the U.S. owes Matas favors if he made it to U.S. soil, he would be home free.

3. I have no idea what Matas´s qualifications are for his U.S. job, or what he did before becoming Balearic president, but suspect that his Spanish assets, Madrid flat, palaceta in Palma, house in Sa Coloni, plus the strange perks and questionable assets of his family (mother in a flat where the payments are greater then her pension). I suspect that while he might not have the cash on hand, his assets in Spain are sufficient to cover for his bail.

4. With the crimes for which he is being investigated sufficient to lock him up for 60 years, the judge has every reason to consider Matas a flight risk. For example, say he, his friends and family chip in to make bail, locking down his local assets, easily worth three million, he can easily cut the rest of his ties with Majorca, and return to the U.S and get off without ever being called on to answer charges.

Richard Goss
Porreras