How Do You Spell That?

That's why obeying things like the Vienna Convention is generally a good idea. Because it's a mild inconvenience when we give people their rights under it, and it really, really sucks if our people are denied their rights... I kinda wish our law enforcement officials kept this in mind. (Fortunately, other countries have not twigged on and started denying American citizens consular assistance.)

(Although, in this case, if the Elian thing had gone the other way, the kidnapper dad would just be wandering the Carribean on a yacht with his kids. Not great, but not a breach of international law, either.)