Don't Cry For Her, Argentina!

"The Argentine people should know that we're talking about a vulgar lie, of an enormous media operation, of a strategy of political destabilization and the biggest judicial coup d'etat in the history of Argentina to cover the real perpetrators of the crime."
Jorge Capitanich, Argentinian cabinet chief

"Moving the case forward represents a] clear manoeuvre to destabilize democracy. Regardless of which] it has no legal value. It does not matter."
Anibal Fernandez, presidential spokesman

Argentina’s president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner signals to supporters during an event announcing new government projects at the government palace. Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Ah, yes, the very picture of innocence, a victim of a conspiracy to unseat her government through claims that Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is not what she presents herself as. Listen up, critics, if she is guilty of anything it is of thinking of Argentina first and foremost; of leading her country out of its economic frailty to take its deserved place among the financial and social leaders of the free world.

So, a crime was committed. So long ago, it's history. Why not allow these things to just fade; after all, Argentina is not immune to having suffered through long periods of unfortunate government, but that too is all in the past, and the future beckons for Argentina. The extrajudicial killings and the tragedy of "disappearances" will never return to this proud democracy. With an estimated 30,000 Argentinians having mysteriously disappeared back then what's a bombing that killed a mere 85 people. And Jews mostly at that.

Not that Jews aren't patriotic Argentinians, citizens of the country proud to take their place among all others. But you know... First things first, the 1994 tragedy at the Jewish community centre happened, and it was unfortunate, but there is no real proof of who was involved, and so it should be treated like the proverbial sleeping dog. As for relations with Iran; remember that country generously offered to help Argentina in its investigation. And, as well, offered Argentina an enviable deal on oil that only an idiotic administration would pass up.

So, here we are, problems where we don't really need them, with the prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita's determination to advance with the case claiming that Ms. Fernandez and Hector Timerman, her foreign minister along with others of her administration brokered a cover-up when they knew full well who engineered and orchestrated that inconvenient bombing. Iran has denied involvement in that bombing, the Argentinian government has done nothing that any other responsible government would not also do, under the circumstances.

Prosecutor Pollicita has repeated the accusations lodged against the president by his predecessor in the investigation, the unfortunate Alberto Nisman who must have had many enemies for some arcane reason which escapes identification to cause his death only hours before he was set to present the evidence he claimed would prove his accusations. And now the very same evidence is once again to be presented to Judge Daniel Rafecas assigned to the case, who in his wisdom will determine to dismiss or to take it to trial.

It was then-President Nestor Kirchner, the current president's husband who had appointed Mr. Nisman in pursuit of justice, in 2004. It took two years to get all the pieces to fit the jigsaw puzzle, but when they did, they revealed that Iranian officials, including then-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani of having been involved in planning the attack. Evidence? wiretaps of administration officials speaking of a secret arrangement relating to the 2013 memorandum of understanding that Argentina accorded with Iran.

Justice will doubtless prevail; the innocent will be absolved of all charges, and the prosecution will hang its head in shame for doubting the veracity of the redoubtable and oh-so-credible President Fernandez de Kirchner.