Jim Stillman
Nevar
The need for accountability
July 17th 2009 17:28
This article has been posted on other sites but I felt it important to include it here in the hopes that it will generate conversation and serious thought.
The Bush-Chaney administration must be held accountable for its actions.
It is time that all of the dirty tricks and shameful acts be made public.
Over the eight years of Bush-Chaney, the United States surrendered its moral superiority, trashed Constitutional rights of its citizens, violated statutes and treaties and, then, lied to the people and their representatives.
On May 5th, 2009, I posted an article in Associated Content in which I began with these questions:
I admit that my feelings about investigating the behavior and the absence of any morality on the part of the past administration have vacillated between advocating a full bi-partisan inquiry and feeling that President Obama’s absolute repudiation of the excesses of Bush-Chaney would be sufficient. It was my overall opinion that too much focus on the past might divert from the President’s programs to reform the health care delivery system, stabilize the economy, end the financial crises and restore the United States’ standing in the international community, all problems that he inherited.
I was wrong.
It now appears that not only did the former administration ignore and, more, intentionally violate the laws and policies of this country but it then covered up the practices by concealing the acts from the elected representatives of the people. Moreover, the President’s hope for a rational bi-partisan approach to the issues that beset us is doomed to failure. The GOP base, without which Republicans cannot win a primary, hates Mr. Obama with the fervor that was previously directed to Bill Clinton. It is time for President Obama to act on his mandate, take advantage of the Democrat majority in Congress and to push his agenda.
There must be a full and complete disclosure of the failure of the Bush-Chaney administration to obey the law – if only to make certain that this never happens again. This goal is so vital to the moral health of the country that any diversion from President Obama’s programs must be risked. It will be up to the people, the Legislature and the new administration to make certain that the risk be minimal.
The former Vice President, taking advantage of a disinterested and indifferent President Bush, was instrumental in creating policies and techniques to be used by the Central Intelligence Agency and then was active in hiding these matters from the oversight committees of Congress charged with monitoring CIA actions.
The first difficulty in understanding what happened over the past eight years and appreciating the Darth Vader-like Chaney is the uncertainty of what matters are being discussed; the reasonable requirements of secrecy allow only a hint. Some areas of wrongdoing, cover-up and deliberate failure to follow the law as to Congressional oversight have been disclosed thus far; there may be others.
First, there was the issue of torture of those suspected of terrorist activity and, specifically, the issue of “waterboarding”. These acts, part of what the former administration called “enhanced interrogation techniques”, are acknowledged to have been committed in violation of United States law, international treaties to which we had adopted and ratified and accepted standards of decency. We had caused the prosecution of individuals who had executed such methods of torture as war criminals. Moreover, the evidence is clear that such torture does not result in accurate or helpful information, justifies retaliation against our military and serves to minimize any claim of moral superiority for our values.
Next the Valarie Plane episode where the identity of a covert CIA employee was intentionally disclosed by the office of Mr. Chaney in order to discredit a report by her husband which refuted a false claim by President Bush that Iraq had been attempting to purchase uranium from Niger. The disclosure of Ms Plane’s identity was in clear violation of law and could have jeopardized the lives of CIA operatives throughout the world.
Third, the Chaney crowd promoted the “extraordinary rendition program” where we sent detainees to other countries where they could be tortured with impunity.
The truth is that we, or our elected representatives, do not have any idea of all schemes, programs and horrors that were dreamed up by the Chaney office. Seymour Hersh has reported the existence of secret assassination squads answerable and accountable only to the former Vice President. It is clear that domestic surveillance and wiretapping of American citizens, without warrant or any other independent supervision, was endemic. It seems reasonable to suggest that those being watched included those not who posed no real threat to the United States.
The point is that we simply do not know the extent and scope of the Cheney shenanigans. Even if some matters are best kept secret for national security reasons, there must be some review, some oversight by those outside of the Executive and the intelligence agencies. The responsibility for such oversight has been given to select members of the Legislature. The concealment of operations from those legislators holds far more danger to our nation than foreign or domestic terrorists.
And that is why a complete inquiry must proceed.
The Bush-Chaney administration must be held accountable for its actions.
It is time that all of the dirty tricks and shameful acts be made public.
Over the eight years of Bush-Chaney, the United States surrendered its moral superiority, trashed Constitutional rights of its citizens, violated statutes and treaties and, then, lied to the people and their representatives.
On May 5th, 2009, I posted an article in Associated Content in which I began with these questions:
Should there be a bi-partisan commission to investigate the authorization of torture by the previous administration? Should those who authorized and directed that practice be ostracized, condemned, and disgraced?
Certainly, yes to both questions.
Should the drafters of memoranda giving dubious legal arguments that would justify "water boarding" and similar extreme intensive interrogation techniques be criminally prosecuted? Should those elected and appointed government officials who defend the techniques if torture, including the former Vice President be prosecuted?
Certainly, yes to both questions.
Should the drafters of memoranda giving dubious legal arguments that would justify "water boarding" and similar extreme intensive interrogation techniques be criminally prosecuted? Should those elected and appointed government officials who defend the techniques if torture, including the former Vice President be prosecuted?
I admit that my feelings about investigating the behavior and the absence of any morality on the part of the past administration have vacillated between advocating a full bi-partisan inquiry and feeling that President Obama’s absolute repudiation of the excesses of Bush-Chaney would be sufficient. It was my overall opinion that too much focus on the past might divert from the President’s programs to reform the health care delivery system, stabilize the economy, end the financial crises and restore the United States’ standing in the international community, all problems that he inherited.
I was wrong.
It now appears that not only did the former administration ignore and, more, intentionally violate the laws and policies of this country but it then covered up the practices by concealing the acts from the elected representatives of the people. Moreover, the President’s hope for a rational bi-partisan approach to the issues that beset us is doomed to failure. The GOP base, without which Republicans cannot win a primary, hates Mr. Obama with the fervor that was previously directed to Bill Clinton. It is time for President Obama to act on his mandate, take advantage of the Democrat majority in Congress and to push his agenda.
There must be a full and complete disclosure of the failure of the Bush-Chaney administration to obey the law – if only to make certain that this never happens again. This goal is so vital to the moral health of the country that any diversion from President Obama’s programs must be risked. It will be up to the people, the Legislature and the new administration to make certain that the risk be minimal.
The former Vice President, taking advantage of a disinterested and indifferent President Bush, was instrumental in creating policies and techniques to be used by the Central Intelligence Agency and then was active in hiding these matters from the oversight committees of Congress charged with monitoring CIA actions.
The first difficulty in understanding what happened over the past eight years and appreciating the Darth Vader-like Chaney is the uncertainty of what matters are being discussed; the reasonable requirements of secrecy allow only a hint. Some areas of wrongdoing, cover-up and deliberate failure to follow the law as to Congressional oversight have been disclosed thus far; there may be others.
First, there was the issue of torture of those suspected of terrorist activity and, specifically, the issue of “waterboarding”. These acts, part of what the former administration called “enhanced interrogation techniques”, are acknowledged to have been committed in violation of United States law, international treaties to which we had adopted and ratified and accepted standards of decency. We had caused the prosecution of individuals who had executed such methods of torture as war criminals. Moreover, the evidence is clear that such torture does not result in accurate or helpful information, justifies retaliation against our military and serves to minimize any claim of moral superiority for our values.
Next the Valarie Plane episode where the identity of a covert CIA employee was intentionally disclosed by the office of Mr. Chaney in order to discredit a report by her husband which refuted a false claim by President Bush that Iraq had been attempting to purchase uranium from Niger. The disclosure of Ms Plane’s identity was in clear violation of law and could have jeopardized the lives of CIA operatives throughout the world.
Third, the Chaney crowd promoted the “extraordinary rendition program” where we sent detainees to other countries where they could be tortured with impunity.
The truth is that we, or our elected representatives, do not have any idea of all schemes, programs and horrors that were dreamed up by the Chaney office. Seymour Hersh has reported the existence of secret assassination squads answerable and accountable only to the former Vice President. It is clear that domestic surveillance and wiretapping of American citizens, without warrant or any other independent supervision, was endemic. It seems reasonable to suggest that those being watched included those not who posed no real threat to the United States.
The point is that we simply do not know the extent and scope of the Cheney shenanigans. Even if some matters are best kept secret for national security reasons, there must be some review, some oversight by those outside of the Executive and the intelligence agencies. The responsibility for such oversight has been given to select members of the Legislature. The concealment of operations from those legislators holds far more danger to our nation than foreign or domestic terrorists.
And that is why a complete inquiry must proceed.
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Comment by Nevar
Is Why
And then we will all bare witness to the rebirth of uber political parties and politicians.
The Czars appointed by Obama don't answer to the normal checks and balances of our legal system ~ they answer to the president and however wonderful now, they come at a price.
Me, I view the entristic processes Obama is unfolding as a march backwards and dangerous to our republic ~ he's stripping the flesh from the bones of our constitution and bankrupting us as a nation.
My share of the bailout alone represents 550K in cash that I could never barrow and he did this to everyone in this country.
When his administration goes after the Bush ~ Cheney admin; the repercussions will bleed over far beyond the post Obama years.
Comment by DeAnne
Public Journalist
Simple Gift Guide
Home Cooking on Recipeyz
Work From Home Online
Every Day Is A Food Holiday
I agree that we should know the truth, but not at the expense of putting the more important stuff on the back burner. If it is discovered, however, that they actually did commit crimes, I think they should be subject to punishment. Maybe if former presidents are held accountable AND punished for their wrong doings, future presidents will think twice before they commit the same sorts of crimes.
Comment by Jim Stillman
Political Certainty
My primary concern with conducting an investigation into the Dick Chaney stuff was that it could
However, I have come to believe that the acts of the former Vice President were so egregious that to ignore them would be the greater danger.
In my opinion, the people chose a party that promised innovation and change. Without assessing blame, our economy and reputation abroad are in tatters. (I believe the former is due to the disdain of the Republicans for governing and their rush to deregulation and privatization. You and I may disagree as to the cause, but there is little doubt that the mess is present.)
You are uneasy about the scope of the President’s stimulus plan. I, too, have some concerns but note two things. First, the stimulus has not been fully implemented and it may have been unrealistically promoted; and, second, the Republicans have not offered anything new as an alternative. If and when such alternatives are constructively proposed, we’ll see.
Comment by Natalina
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
I like Nevar am concerned about a precedent being set. But mine is quite opposite. I am worried about the precedent that is set if Cheney and his crew are not held accountable for the way that they shredded the Constitution and took advantage of a public weakened by war and fear.