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Edited on Fri Dec-15-06 09:53 PM by pat_k
The run up to the war is actually the weakest of the high crimes. We know they terrorized the us into war with their threats of mushroom clouds in 45 minutes, but they have an escape route in their claims to have deluded themselves. Although a case can be made that such self-delusion is criminal negligence, we have other more compelling and clear cut abuses and high crimes for which articles of impeachment could be introduced on day one of the 110th Congress.
We know they are conducting a criminal domestic surviellence program. It's public record.
We know they nullfiy the principle of consent with their Un-American and Unconstitutional claims to "unitary" power. Once again, their numerous declarations are public record.
Of all the crimes, it is their War Crimes that are the most compelling, and urgent -- particularly for members of Congress.
Failure to stop war crimes when you have the power to do so, is itself a war crime.
Bush and Cheney have made it clear that the ONLY thing that will stop them is removal from office.
When the 110th Congress convenes in January, the Democratic leadership has the power to lead the fight to end to the war crimes by impeaching and removing Bush and Cheney. If they refuse to take up the fight, win or lose, they don't just become morally complicit, they become war criminals themselves.
There is a reason that violators of Geneva are subject to the death penalty -- to give those with the power to inflict torture or wage a criminal war of aggression a compelling motive not to step anywhere near "the line." And to give those with the power to stop the crimes a compelling motive to do everything in their power to do so.
When Bush and Cheney arbitrarily and unilaterally attempted to "redefine" the Geneva conventions, they demonstrated their intent to violate those conventions. But, it doesn't matter if they have actually deluded themselves into believing that their war crimes aren't war crimes. Although their own actions demonstrate their consciousness of guilt, their state of mind is irrelevant.
All that matters is the reality: under the orders of the bushcheney WH, Americans are violating Geneva. Impeachment and removal (or resignation) is the only way to end the torture and unequivocally repudiate the war criminals in chief. Members of Congress can save their own necks -- and the nation -- by impeaching and removing.
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