Lately when I've pondered what to blog about, the topic of war crimes keeps popping into my head.
I suppose I could make my case by writing a studious summary of who and what and when the Bush administration has approved criminal activity toward "the enemy," but there are thousands of sites that do that. Just Google "war crimes" for a comprehensive list.
Let's just assume the Bush administration okayed and even prompted various war crimes, starting with Abu Ghraib and rendition, and branching out in all directions from there.
America does not exist in a vacuum; the whole world knows chicken hawks Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld's bloodlust resulted in countless civilian human rights violations and war crimes.
Thanks to Bush, America is one of the world's most hated nations. There is much Obama needs to do to restore our global credibility.
He's entering office with a looming economic depression, record deficits, two unfinished wars and a crumbling infrastructure.
Yet he must make time to deal with the criminal activities of his predecessor and his cohorts.
If Obama wants to restore our nation's reputation for democracy and legitimacy in the world, he must launch an investigation into (at least) the major actions of the former Commander in Chief and his Secretary of Defense.
We all know Podunk privates would not have tortured and humiliated detainees in Abu Ghraib without authorization from their superior officers. And they wouldn't have okayed it without the same. And the list climbs all the way to the Pentagon and the White House, whose gross under reaction to the events shows disregard so blatant it rises to the level of complicity.
Any investigation would conclude the same, and they deserve a fair trial, but they need to be tried and Obama needs to make time to see that they are.
Platitudes and moving speeches are one thing, but in this case I think the world needs to see swift American justice in action. Obama has the power to make that happen, and he should.
The world needs to know America does not tolerate sadistic torture from any of its citizens- not even the president and his cabinet.
9 comments:
Note: Obama has said the GOP would interpret investigations into Bush's war crimes as a witch hunt, and implied that he's got too much on his plate to deal with it when he takes office.
Hell, the GOP interprets EVERYTHING as a witch hunt, so who cares what they think?
They sold out the country for their own party decades ago-they have no credibility left. So fuck 'em--I say let the investigations begin.
THanks so much for your take on this and well said, KZD!
I think this is so worth posting on as well. It's epic, it's huge, it must be done.
And your comment up here- indeed, fuck 'em!! The GOP is irrelevant, they should be treated that way, instead of continuing to be treated with kid gloves as the dems are in the habit of doing.
Obama is going to be under serious pressure to investigate and also not to investigate, and from what I'm seeing from Obama so far I truly think, given the choice, he would opt not to.
However, I don't think he will have a choice once the international community starts upping the pressure. How can he possibly refuse? He would further embarrass the US and besmirch his own administration.
Here's one of the things I find truly stunning in this whole situation: It's obvious dead-eye dick doesn't think anything will happen to him. He's practically BEGGING to be investigated! Have you seen his televised interviews lately? The guy has the unmitigated gall to sit there and smugly confess war crimes, looking oh-so proud of himself. He's either delusional or he really REALLY believes that he won't ever be investigated or prosecuted.
The idea of the myriad deals and politics behind this must be staggering, and I would pay good money to know what's REALLY going on. My curiosity meter is on full tilt.
All I know is this is going to get huge. I already stumbled onto a comment site of RedSTate (blarff) on this unintendedly homoerotic* post some wingnut did on this subject, Sadly,No linked to today. These idiots are calling for revolution if the shrub & dead-eye are investigated AND crowing about the fact their side has the most guns.
Not kidding. In any case, it promises to be interesting times, eh?
*wingnuts don't seem to ever realize when they are giving Freud a field day.
The Bush Administration must be held accountable or we can't really call ourselves a nation of laws.
I agree wholeheartedly. I realize Obama's got a ton on his plate, but this is an issue that CANNOT be ignored if he truly wants to change America. We've all been tainted by BushCo war crimes and sense of lawlessness, in soooo many ways. To me, it should be the FIRST order of business to get us back on track to being, as Lisa said, "a nation of laws." Otherwise, the rest will just be window-dressing on a condemned slum.
I disagree, Sis.
Part of Obama's appeal is that sense he gives us that he'll care for us and protect us.
He cannot maintain his credibility if he fails to bring Bush to justice and punish him for his many horrendous crimes.
We can say 'adios mofo' to creeps and losers who annoy us. We must insist that criminals get prosecuted if we intend to remain a nation of justice for all.
Amen and amen sister.
Great ideals, but I think that your sis is pragmatically correct, if not ethically so.
I long to see the Destructive Duo in the slammer. They certainly belong there. I just don't think that it's going to happen.
Did you ever notice that CEO types have a pattern of fucking up companies, being bought out for sums that the rest of us could only dream of as a lottery pot, and going on to fuck up yet another company for yet another obscene fortune??
Now, THAT'S the American Way, I'm sorry to say.
p.s. If Obama can't even deal with Lieberman's committee chairmanship, I don't think that he can hold Dubya accountable.
Obama, to his credit and my dismay, is far more temperate than I.
If I were in his shoes, going after BushCo would be priority #1.
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