Thank you Rep. Jerry Nadler! Bush Era War Crimes Must Be Investigated

[sabrina 1]

Rep. Jerry Nadler is demanding a Special Prosecutor to look into Bush's public admission of autorizing torture.



Nadler: Bush Book Admits Torture Crimes

Far from rebuilding President Bush’s image, Manhattan Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler thinks the 43rd President’s new memoir proves his administration sanctioned the “criminal use of torture.”

And that, said Nadler, requires the appointment of a special prosecutor.

“I am outraged by President Bush’s own admission in his newly released memoir that he personally authorized the use of waterboarding on detainees while in office,” said Nadler in a statement this afternoon.

Bush also defended the use of waterboarding in a interview promoting his memoir, “Decision Points,” saying, “Three people were waterboarded and I believe that decision saved lives.”

“This admission, delivered without remorse or regret, reminds us disturbingly of the persistent lack of accountability and resolution in confronting the crime of torture committed by our own government,” said Nadler, chairman of the subcommittee on civil liberties and the Constitution. “The only way forward is to appoint a special prosecutor with a broad mission to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute these known cases of torture.”

This book contains the confession of a war criminal.

What will America do about it?

I hear people say it would be difficult to gather evidence against these war criminals. I don't think so. They are arrogant, boastful about their crimes, the evidence is available, it is the will that is not there.

The Bushes have made their fortunes from the blood and suffering of other people. Starting with the victims of the Nazis. How much longer is the U.S. going to pretend to be a civilized nation while protecting and even, sickenly, honoring war criminals?

Waterboarding has long been considered torture - a view shared by the Obama administration - and committing or ordering torture is a severe crime under both international and U.S. laws, for which we have convicted foreigners and Americans in the past,” said Nadler. “The President is bound by the Constitution to ‘take care that the laws be faithfully executed.’ Failure to order a criminal investigation would be a serious dereliction of duty. With President Bush’s admission, no further excuses or evasions are conscionable.”

Plus, Nadler argues, evidence of American torture that is not punished undermines the country’s standing in the world.

One voice expressing outrage over torture is better than none. But it is a sad thing how little outrage there is in this country over these despicable crimes.

So, Republicans want investigations every day? AG Holder, how about we take them at their word and start the ball rolling with a thorough investigation of the Bush Administration's War Crimes?

[msongs]

1. meanwhile repubs are threatening to investigate obama for anything and nothing at all nt

[sabrina 1]

2. Which is why Holder should strike first.

Republicans won't hesitate. Obama has already stated that waterboarding is torture and illegal.

If they don't act now, we will face Repubican investigations of trivia until the next election.

[amborin]

6. totally agree;

but this admin won't even all Mr. Arar's case to be heard

[sabrina 1]

7. Yes, that was truly disappointing not to mention unjust.

Worse than that, is the fact that they allowed the trial of a tortured child soldier to go forward against all rules laid out in the Geneva Conventions.

The Obama administration will be trapped into being part of these crimes if they do not stand up, and as Nadler said, do their duty. History will not be kind to torturers, it never has been.

[SusanaMontana41]

25. Just another example of Obama hypocrisy.

If Bush is put on trial at The Hague —as he should be — Obama should be right beside him. By not stopping the torture/black sites, Obama is guilty too. And it makes me SICK to say that.

I voted for a torturer in 2008. And I'll have to live with that somehow.

[savalez]

26. Oh please.

Was that you I saw in front of the post office holding a photo of the Prez with a mustache?

[Lord Magus]

39. Except that he has stopped the torture.

Unless you've got some super-secret evidence to the contrary. Perhaps it's like those secret files that Christine O'Donnell was given about China's secret plot to invade America.

[deminks]

3. K&R # 5

[sabrina 1]

5. Thank you, there should be a chorus of voices raised

condemning this outrage. It is shameful that so far only one member of Congress, as far as I know, is asking for action to be taken. At least in Britain, war criminal Tony Blair had to stop his book signing events as a result of major protests.

[molly77]

20. Shameful , yes

But thank Goddess Jerry Nadler has no fear. He constantly surprises me.

He is putting himself and his family in harm's way to speak out in Fascist Land.

[sabrina 1]

27. Yes, I worry about him sometimes. He's not bombastic, but

he's been a consistent voice for upholding the Constitution and he knows it inside out. I am glad to see that others are beginning to react to Bush's confession. I didn't want him to be out there alone. :-)

[Solly Mack]

4. k/r

[sabrina 1]

10. Thank you ~

[Solly Mack]

13. Thank you for posting it. :)

[rurallib]

8. Far out question: Could there be a class-action suit against W

by a group of citizens for violating our laws?

[sabrina 1]

9. That is an excellent question. If the government won't do it, then

it really is up to the people. I wonder if it's possible? We are 'people of standing' and we are being hurt by the image that has been created of this country.

One question though, as was pointed out above, the U.S. government has refused to allow torture victims to take their cases to court here. Could they stop the American people?

History will not be forgiving of the American people if they do not do something. Unless things change drastically in this country, countries guilty of war crimes are not treated well by history.

It's a great question though. Maybe the ACLU would represent the American people ~

[Turborama]

11. K&R & Thank you, Sabrina & DU's 'Buddy' system, otherwise I may have missed this

Any coverage of Nadler's reasonable demands in any national media?

Check out the only 2 comments so far below the article...

morristhewise
November 10, 2010 10:56 AM
The use of water boarding is a great crime stopper and it also helps catch criminals who have escaped punishment for crimes committed in previous years. Each person should be water boarded at least once a year, it would create a society where no crime would go undetected.

roxyratfink
November 10, 2010 7:09 PM
I love your idea.! It sounds so well thought out. I recommend that you go first and then George Bush and Dick Cheney go second and third. I think once a year may not be enough. I think once or even twice a month might be a better idea. And one more thing, I think this first hand knowledge will qualify you to decide if water boarding is in fact torture or not.

[sabrina 1]

16. Hi Turnborama. No, I haven't seen anything about

Nadler's statements in the media. He is one of the good guys. If you remember, it was he who first pointed out that Congress' shameful act to defund ACORN was a 'bill of attainder' and theirfore unconstitutional.

Only two comments on the article, I hope the first one was sarcasm, but probably not. The country has become accepting of torture as a policy.

[Turborama]

32. Amnesty International are calling for him to be prosecuted, too

I really hope this picks up steam: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4610141

[sabrina 1]

33. Thanks, I just saw that. Also, the ACLU have now

asked for an investigation.

[BlueJac]

12. You would have to waterboard someone.............

in this administration to do something about Bush and his war crimes.

[sabrina 1]

24. How about we start with Cheney?

Or the 'lawyers'!

I don't think we would even have to do it, just threaten. This gang of war criminals are not among the bravest of people as we know.

[dotymed]

14. More diversions

while we suffer.
Yes, Bushco. should/could have been prosecuted years ago.
These are people too busy profiteering (on us), more diversions while they keep it going.

[Winterblues]

15. Instead of all that messy stuff let's just give big tax cuts for the wealthy

According to all those very wise Republicans, tax cuts solve all problems..

[Gamey]

17. No one is going to be prosecuted. Ever.

[Independent_Liberal]

28. To me...

I try not to get all up in arms and act angry with people who don't believe prosecution is possible, but to me, "No one is going to be prosecuted. Ever." = "I don't care anymore" or "I don't care if the same criminals come back again and do even worse things." To me, if you truly care about the rule of law and America, you should do your best to fight for some things that seem like an uphill battle. There have been lots of things people fought for that seemed impossible and took years to accomplish, but they kept at it and made history in the end. That's all I'll say. I won't argue with anybody over their opinions.

[sabrina 1]

30. Well said, see my post below for some examples of

how, even after decades, justice for the victims of torturers and dictators, has finally been done in several S. American countries. It wasn't easy in countries like Argentina eg, but they persisted. From the article I linked to, a statement from a victim of torture who never gave up and will not give up even three decades later:

Delia Barrera, who was tortured in the Athletic Club detention center in 1977, is now among the witnesses for the prosecution. Speaking outside the courtroom on a recent day, she recalled how her husband told her to fight on for him after he was led away by military officers. She never saw him again.

"For me, this is a fight for justice, for memory, for truth -- it's a commitment for life," she said. "Everything I do and will continue to do, until the last day of my life, is a commitment with those words, which have stayed with me in my soul."

We may have to wait, but giving up isn't an option. You have said it very well, thank you.

[sabrina 1]

29. Sometimes it seems that way but there are reasons to

believe that people will not forget these crimes, no matter how long it takes to get justice.

Here's an example from Argentina, eg, where I am sure, people also lost hope of any justice:

Argentina prosecutes crimes of 'Dirty War'

They are old and balding now, the 15 defendants standing trial before a three-judge panel near the Argentine capital's bustling port. But prosecutors say they were once the feared henchmen of a brutal military dictatorship.

Argentina has tried military men before. But this trial, of officers and policemen who ran clandestine torture centers known as the Athletic Club, the Bank and Olimpo, is one of a string of new proceedings that by next year will close some of the most emblematic cases of alleged state terrorism under Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship.

Other countries in S. America have also prosecuted and convicted war criminals from decades ago.

In Spain, efforts are being made to bring some of our war criminals to justice. It seems to me that torture victims and those who care about this kind of inhumanity, do not forget or give up. Bush/Cheney and their gang of war criminals have created thousands of victims. Here they are silenced, but not everywhere. I think one day there will be justice even if it takes decades.

[frogmarch]

18. K&R

[Roy Rolling]

19. Increase chances

I think a special prosecutor can have a better chance of being appointed if they change the name to "Whitewater-boarding". That may get Pavlov-dog Republicans foaming at the mouth . . .

[sabrina 1]

22. Yes, how many years of investigations over an affair. I think

the Repubicans should be challenged here to do what is right. It was THEY who were yelling 'no one is above the law' and 'we are a nation of laws, not men' etc.

Some of the new members, tea-baggers, may break the lock step voting record of this group. I see how about eight of them are for cutting military spending. So. who knows? If it really was a revolution, they will do something about law-breaking like this.

[dchill]

21. K&R

[pauldp]

23. No justice, no peace. nt

[Ignis]

31. +1

Same as it ever was. :thumbsup:

[defendandprotect]

34. Jerry Nadler ....thanks!! Waxman and Nadler are two of my favorites...!!

[Rex]

35. So George W Bush is SOOOO stupid that he put his war crime acts IN A BOOK?

See, this is PROOF that GWB has never, EVER read one dam book in his life!!! If he HAD, then he would know BOOKS contain information in them until they are no longer in circulation and burned (at which time the book can be found somewhere ONLINE).

WOW! Just WOW!

I HAD NO IDEA GWB COULD BE ANY DUMBER THAN WHEN WE LAST SAW HIM IN OFFICE!

AMAZING!! Did he lose all his handlers after leaving office!?!?!

Again, WOW.

[sabrina 1]

38. Stupid, but mostly arrogant and narcissistic, believing he is

above the law. When Matt Lauer asked him how he knew waterboarding was legal, he replied 'the lawyers said so' and when Lauer followed up with 'but if it is legal, would it be legal then for our enemies to waterboard American troops if they capture them'? Bush became very irritated by that simple question. He was angry and responded, 'Look, I don't want to talk about that'! And he was not pressed any further. He should have been.

[political_Dem]

36. I hope so. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Politicalboi]

37. Next the Repukes will be

Investigating Obama on why he didn't investigate Bush.