I assume you know that Bush had to cancel a trip to Switzerland last week. Why? The Swiss say the trip was canceled for security concerns but the real reason is that he would be arrested the minute he placed a foot on Swiss soil. Torture is illegal, even if Americans are too stupid to understand this fact.
From today's Counterpunch:
Bush is a criminal and Obama is guilty of collusion in his crimes. They both deserve harsh repercussions for what they've done, and not done.
From today's Counterpunch:
The human rights community promised to pursue Bush and the other human rights violators whenever they leave the US. Katherine Gallagher and Claire Tixiere, the lead lawyers authoring the 2500 page criminal case in Geneva stated: “The reach of the Convention Against Torture is wide – this case is prepared and will be waiting for him wherever he travels next. Torturers – even if they are former presidents of the United States – must be held to account and prosecuted. Impunity for Bush must end.”Until they're all jailed, every one of them, this isn't my United States. This also highlights how Obama has let the country -- and the world -- down. It is his failure to prosecute the human rights violations of the Bush administration that gives Europe the right to prosecute him. If we had pursued criminal charges against our Animal House version of a former president, the proceedings would have occurred on U.S. soil. But Obama's abject failure to pursue charges against Bush, especially after Bush admitted ion his book that he authorized waterboarding (which is firmly established in the law as torture) is what gives Europe the right to go after him now.
Bush is a criminal and Obama is guilty of collusion in his crimes. They both deserve harsh repercussions for what they've done, and not done.
4 comments:
And is there no one else in this country that can brings charges? If this power rests solely in the office of the president, we are then in deep shit.
I understand your impatience in this matter, I have my own list, but I find it hard to believe that all this power rest with just one man / one office.
If that is indeed true, than it is this word that must be spread to the people - from every corner the call should come, not against just one man but against the power of that one man's office.
From everything I've read, this decision does seem to rest with Obama. We know the Justice Department should be independent, but of course it isn't. It will do as he wishes. So in practice, it is in Obama's hands, though not in actuality.
No one anywhere in government is pursuing this in any way, so we can say the blame extends to them all. But we know the reality: the administration makes the rules on issues like this. They all take their marching orders from the president. I'm sure you don't doubt this. If Obama wanted this prosecution to happen, all he'd have to do is say so in his public speeches. That would cause it to take place. But he backs away completely every time it comes up. Yes, I blame Obama. And of course, he's pursuing the same practices Bush did in every major area: torture, rendition, arrest without charges, etc. He is every bit as bad as Bush.
I think in arguments such as this and if change is the goal, it's better step aside from personalities and speak of position of authority. People tend to dig their heels in with personality attacks, even when the ultimate goal is the same.
That is not to say Bush should not be charged with war crimes/human rights abuses. For me the ultimate goal would be that the Office of the President not have this power to begin with that could go unchecked - that's what I would really like to see changed.
I don't disagree with you at all. Good points, all.
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