It is way past the time for us to face reality and take action!
The Bush/Cheney "crowd," past and present, have committed high crimes against the US Constitution, humanity, and the planet at the level of genocide. They have misused the powers that the US citizenry faithfully gave to them and paralyzed the economy and quality of life in the US. As such it is my firm belief that ALL of those who perpetrated these crimes against the US Constitution should be arrested and indicted. Impeachment is not enough!
Although these crimes are not limited to the myriad war crimes related to the illegal and undeclared Iraq war, particularly in light of all the senseless loss of life that has occurred while on their watch, I believe that arrest, indictment, conviction, and imprisonment after Bush and Cheney have left office is the only firm punishment for the whole lot of them.
When the US Congress was still under Republican oversight, a bill was passed that exempted the Bush/Cheney gang from being punished for war crimes committed against "detainees." But this does not exempt them from the World court AFTER they leave office. They have committed a merciless genocide of the morals, standards, and laws of the US and the World, as well as the lives of the people of the world. It is time to work to get them in front of The Hague after they leave office.
Here's part of what I have gathered to date from reputable sources that justifies the arrest and indictment of those in the Bush/Cheney administration who sanctioned or committed crimes against the US, humanity, and the planet...although there is much more!
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION Declined to sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to sign a World Health Organization treaty with the aim of reducing the 4-million people who die worldwide from tobacco related diseases every year. Bush and his administration did this because of the donations they recieved from the tobacco companies. The USA is one of the few countries not to sign.
Tobacco could be called the biggest weapon of mass destruction...
GEORGE W. BUSH CRIMES 1. Bush broke international law when he ordered the USA to attack Iraq without UN sanction.
2. Bush defied the UN again when he refused to close Guantanomo Bay prison after the UN declared the prison to be a torture chamber and in violation of international law.
3. Bush set up Guantanamo intentionally outside of US jurisdiction to try to avoid judicial oversight, implying that he knew that the activities there would be in violation of USA and international law.
4. Bush secretly and illegally wiretapped USA citizens' domestic communications, which is an illegal and secret invasion of USA citizens' privacy. These were undertaken without a judge being notified and without supplying legal oversight of wiretapping/phone/internet surveillance, which is in direct violation of USA law. Meanwhile, the Republican-led Congress tried to amend the law to make it legal for a president to conduct this sort of secret activity.
5. Bush and his administration condoned and created illegal, secret, overseas prisons where prisoners are held without due process and are tortured.
6. Bush created the Patriot Act, which sanctions unconstitutional invasion of privacy, secret requests for wiretaps, and other practices from secret judges. USA citizens and others have no knowledge of the invasion of their privacy, no access to records of activities, and no recourse when they are arrested and given no reasons for their arrests and denied access to legal counsell.
7. Bush has signed and continues to sign legislation that Congress passes, then, he adds personal statements that deny the implementation of the legislation or negate the laws.
8. Bush was told Saddam was not part of 9/11, was not part of Al Qeada, and was not trying to get nuclear material from Niger Africa. Yet, Bush lied to USA citizens and the International community when he claimed these accusations as true, or claimed that he been told these are true.
9. Bush was told the Iraqi situation continues to worsen. Meetings were held and graphs were presented that showed the grave increase in violence. Yet, such information was withheld from the USA citizens and the world, and Bush spokespeople have made counter-claims that the violence is decreasing.
Professor Nan Fandel teaches communications in Iowa. She is also a journalist who has been an op-ed columnist for theIowa City Press-Citizennewspaper. Also a poet and a Jellaludin Rumi scholar, Professor Fandel lectures throughout the world on the words, teachings, and life of this 13th-century Sufi mystic poet, who today is among the most popular poets. She has co-authored a book in honor of Rumi titled Mystery Box, which will be available in mid-2008.
Professor Fandel's goal as a teacher and journalist is to tell the truth about what is happening in our world. Oftentimes, as she writes or communicates with young students who are just learning about the world, she breaks their hearts with these truths. But in the end, most understand that if they don't act to right the wrongs, to live a life of benefit to all, they will become spiritually impoverished in a world of hatred. "Not on my watch," she says!
...for now is the time when the worst things happen. These crimes and acts of hubris by the Bush/Cheney gang that have escalated to the level of "the genocide of a nation," the destruction of World peace, must NOT be allowed to fade into history unnoticed by the people of the World...not one of them.
The time to act is always, and evermore will be, NOW, for every breath we take in and exhale becomes the past, too late, if we do nothing.
Breathe the truth; inhale and exhale justice, and we will certainly change for the better, for we will stop these people from EVER doing this massive harm again, regardless of whether they hold public offices.
Please join me in working to arrest them, indict them, and convict them in the World court.
Nan
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Professor Fandel (4 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 36 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 4:17:18 PM
9/11 was their most wicked criminal activity as it paved the way for wars of agression that brought destruction upon millions worldwide. The crime itself was horrendous and abominable. They murdered 3000 innocents in plain sight and outrageouly blamed it on Muslims who had absolutely nothing to do with it. Why accusing Muslims? Because Muslims happen to be sitting on oil reserves of the Mid-East that Bush/Cheney covet and crave for.
Not mentionning 9/11 and not putting it on top of the list is tantamount to cover-up. You are shamelessly turning our attention away from the main issue and this is dishonest, Sir.
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ramsheyi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 460 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 4:45:35 PM
What's "dishonest" is claiming that it's all about "oil".
Obviously, "oil" is not the primary motivation for Bush's atrocities.
BTW, as important as "9/11" was, the people of Iraq have suffered the equivalent of over 300 "9/11s" in 5 years; that's about one "9/11" every 5.5 days or so. Compared to the suffering that the U.S. has brought to Iraq (and Afghanistan too) our 9/11, as bad as it was, was a drop in the bucket.
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Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 469 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 5:41:14 PM
...when whether 9/11 was perpetrated by Bush/Cheney is speculative? That's a whole other op-ed piece, though I'm not saying it wasn't (I actually believe it might have been); I'm just saying where is the proof?
This article is all about shedding light on evidence, the points in history, the Bush/Cheney actions that allow me to be able to say with confidence that what we are witnessing is the genocide of a nation and a world by the outrageous acts of the ersatz leaders of the US. What have they done? What have they not done that they should have? That's what I want people to know about. And...that they should be brought before a World court AFTER they leave office as a result of these aggressions. I do not know for sure that they caused 9/11; if you do, and you have hard evidence, please enlighten me and I will include it in my list, gladly!
And by the way, I am not a "Sir," I am a "Ma'am." But how would you know?
All the best to you...fight the good fight.
Nan
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Professor Fandel (4 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 36 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 6:12:35 PM
That Oil is the #1 reason for the war the atrocities and the on going nightmare America faces.
It isn't about consumption of oil, or even oil in and of itself ,but rather it is about the sale of oil ,Which currency is used in the sale of it.
Will it be sold in US dollars or in euros.
Oil has been sold in US dollars for a long while now it has made America impervious to the amount of dollars it can print up.But if the sale of oil is switched to Euros then what becomes of the Us dollar?It has been printed far beyond it's capacity to be a stable money source for America .
In the event of the American dollar losing the hegemony it has world wide for the sale of oil which is very likely unless America is willing to go to war with Russia,Iran,Venezuela. Iraq already had it's oil sales switched to Euros,we can see today the outcome of that.
At any rate the back door that America is working on in the event they lose the dollar hegemony ( which I predict will happen this decade) is the North American Union and the Amero. The only option left for America should they lose U.S. dollar hegemony.
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dave stanley (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 286 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 7:35:10 PM
Notwithstanding the breathtaking irrationality of the approach, the notion that Bush's wars are primarily about propping up the petrodollar implies that Bush and his bloodthirsty Neocon handlers "care" about the U.S. in some misguided sense.
"We only did it because we love you America, and we care about you, and we don't want your dollars to be worthless and your economy in ruins blah blah blah...". Do you really believe that? I certainly don't.
The economic disaster that America might have had to eventually face, years down the road, had America not come to its senses, Bush has made almost a near-term certainty.
No, the PNACers that are pulling Bush's strings are hardly concerned about anything but their genocidal geopolitical agenda.
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Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 469 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 8:46:11 PM
Also, later this month an Iranian Oil Bourse is set to open where oil, petrochemicals and gas will be traded in various non-dollar currencies.
And earlier this week Israelis were told to prepare 'rocket rooms' as protection against a rain of missiles expected to be fired at the Jewish state in any future conflict.
Saddam Hussein’s decision to sell Iraqi oil in euros was perhaps one of the reasons the US wanted ‘regime change ? Oh, I forgot, he had weapons he was hiding and that is why we invaded. How silly of me.
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Munich (0 articles, 66 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 830 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 10:43:28 PM
Please show the relevant section in the relevant act
When the US Congress was still under Republican oversight, a bill was passed that exempted the Bush/Cheney gang from being punished for war crimes committed against "detainees."
I think you are correct in what you are asserting. I think you are referring to the Military Commissions Act 2006. But I'd like to see the actual section from you because there is a chance that I am looking at the wrong section. I'm looking at section 7. Habeus coprus matters.
There is another piece of legislation that is worth being aware of because it also may enable warcriminals in the Bush/Cheney administration to avoid prosecution. It is colloqially called the Hague Invasion Act.
All Presidential candidates running for office should be asked to give a commitment not to use the powers of the Presidency to give pardons or to override international laws to protect members of the Bush administration from prosecution from war crimes.
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Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1010 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 9:09:01 PM
...that is what I am referring to. Specifically, in Section 7 of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (the underlined part below) and any and all relevant parts of Section 8, noting the underlined part below. Here is the actual language, as you requested:
From Section 7:
‘‘(e)(1) No court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider an application for a writ of habeas corpus filed by or on behalf of an alien detained by the United States who has been determined by the United States to have been properly detained as an enemy combatant or is awaiting such determination. ‘‘(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 1005(e) of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 (10 U.S.C. 801 note), no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider any other action against the United States or its agents relating to any aspect of the detention, transfer, treatment, trial, or conditions of confinement of an alien who is or was detained by the United States and has been determined by the United States to have been properly detained as an enemy combatant or is awaiting such determination.’’. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to all cases, without exception, pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act which relate to any aspect of the detention, transfer, treatment, trial, or conditions of detention of an alien detained by the United States since September 11, 2001.
SEC. 8. REVISIONS TO DETAINEE TREATMENT ACT OF 2005 RELATING TO PROTECTION OF CERTAIN UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL. (a) COUNSEL AND INVESTIGATIONS.—Section 1004(b) of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 2000dd–1(b)) is amended— (1) by striking ‘‘may provide’’ and inserting ‘‘shall provide’’; (2) by inserting ‘‘or investigation’’ after ‘‘criminal prosecution’’; and (3) by inserting ‘‘whether before United States courts or agencies, foreign courts or agencies, or international courts or agencies,’’ after ‘‘described in that subsection’’. (b) PROTECTION OF PERSONNEL.—Section 1004 of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 2000dd–1) shall apply with respect to any criminal prosecution that— (1) relates to the detention and interrogation of aliens described in such section; (2) is grounded in section 2441(c)(3) of title 18, United States Code; and (3) relates to actions occurring between September 11, 2001, and December 30, 2005."
Thanks for asking.
Nan
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Professor Fandel (4 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 36 comments)
on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 12:07:53 PM
I have a hard copy of the Military Commissions Act 2006 in front of me.
From time to time I've thought to myself if only more people knew what steps are being taken by the current administration to evade justice and to evade the consequences of them having broken the laws against war crimes then more people would see how important it is to use the remaining available means to stop them - like impeachment.
Unfortunately the Military Commissions Act is written in a confusing way, and I suspect deliberately so. I don't think the President and his administration wanted to draw the publics attention to all the exceptions and softenings of consequences they were making for themselves.
Section 5 is about Treaty Obligations NOT being able to be used to establish grounds for certain claims - a person is not allowed to invoke the Geneva Convention as part of their appeal to be granted habeus corpus, or to pursue other actions like suing those guilty of harming them unjustly.
Section 6. Seems to be about giving the President the power to make words in treaties mean whatever the heck he wants them to mean - humpty dumpty fashion.
But the constitution says that treaties made are part of the supreme law of the land. The constitution requires 2/3 of the senate be involved in the making of a treaty because the founders didn't want to put too much trust in one bribe-able person who would only be in office for a short period and might be tempted to effectively sell favours whilst he was there in order to benefit himself afterwards. The founders had good sense about sharing risk around. Giving the President the power to interpret the meaning of words in treaties alone seems to fly in the face of that good sense.
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Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1010 comments)
on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 5:56:51 PM
...but, then, the US Congress also needs to declare war, not the president, and this has not occurred either...and the beat goes on. This group will do anything they want to the last day of their terms...and it appears that Congress will let them.
A $3.1 Trillion budget????? Uh huh. Sink the ship.
By the way, see my comments below to you and Dale.
Nan
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Professor Fandel (4 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 36 comments)
on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 9:30:21 AM
Because no one is going to hold these criminals accountable they have nothing stopping them from committing crimes that will make the fore mentioned look like misdemeanors.
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Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 1421 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 9:24:24 PM
Our Founders Gave 2 Civil Ways to Hold Governors Accountable
Everyone knows that the people are supposed to be able to peacefully remove bad leaders through elections. If you want to find out the other civil check on government abuse of power that our Founders provided for us, then read What Happens When the People Lose the Power to Control Government and What You Can Do to Take the Power Back? If you care about the safety of your family, read this article now, and send it to all of your contacts today. Now is the time for action! http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mark_ada_080204_what_happens_when_th.htm
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Mark Adams (16 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 181 comments)
on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 9:41:34 PM
Yes, I would like to see all these alleged crimes investigated in the criminal justice system, after they leave office, since impeachment doesn't seem to be likely. (Btw: love the sexism lesson here in the comments section.)
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Amy Fried (39 articles, 106 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 207 comments)
on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 9:22:42 AM
Paroxysm, the tantrum of the weak mind. This country in 1990s got afraid of itself. Diversity, human rights, energy, waste of Cold war, immigration, etc. It did seem that everything was to be reexamined. So, the elite concocted Clinton to calm the masses and destroy the Demparty and Bush to lead the paroxysm. It is not Bush who does all that. He is just a symbol. It is us. If in the country which sits on war for 5 years, killed about a million and bleeds to death they have the usual entertainment- then it is us. Bush is an evil moron. But evil morons are common nowadays. It is us. Now we have a deal between GOP and dems to get McCain as Pres and no one gives a damn. It is us.
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Mark Sashine (50 articles, 19 quicklinks, 244 diaries, 3453 comments)
on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 10:09:47 AM
It is important to acknowledge who is behind these men and
what are their goals.
I feel it is a disservice to others to focus the blame on Bush and Cheney as they are just doing the bidding of their masters. The public needs to know the truth, not part of the truth. These men will be out of office and we will assume that all is well? Their goal is to convince us that we are free. Our belief that is about Bush and Cheney and oil serves the ends of the men who are behind all of this.
These wars are not about oil and if you believe that, then, you are "buying their story."
Our country today is not about Bush and Cheney being bad guys or republicans or democrats or liberals or conservatives fighting over beliefs.
We must all research to see who and what are behind the hijacking of many governments and media. Not, just our own.
Please leave Bush and Cheney alone. Putting all the blame for our troubles on them is what the people in power want.
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tom storey (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 58 comments)
on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 11:12:43 AM
...read carefully, please. I am not targeting Bush and Cheney alone, and I am saying AFTER they leave office.
A big P.S. here: if they are, as you say, "doing the bidding of their masters," then, I say they have heaped a bigger crime on top of their obvious aggregious crimes: not saying "no" to people who may be telling them what to do when what they are asking them to do is illegal, unjust, or harmful in ANY way to any part of humanity and the planet. It is important to note that it is criminal for anyone (in this country, anyway) to perpetrate an illegal act in the name of "my boss told me to do it" in ANY way. If you did it, you did it.
Lemme put it this way...we'd all be in jail if we committed even lesser crimes. There are World sanctions in place to deal with leaders of countries who do commit crimes that rise to the level of those committed by Bush, Cheney, and/or ANY person inside or outside of their administration who upholds those crimes and perpetuates them on their behalf.
Enough said...you get the point, I hope. We all know there's people "behind the curtain" but that is not justification for criminal and corrupt actions. And I for one will continue to fight for them to be held accountable. The person who sits in the getaway car, waiting for the person who actually wields the sword of death to get finished with his crime, is just as guilty as the murderer.
Nan
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Professor Fandel (4 articles, 2 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 36 comments)
on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 1:01:47 PM
