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140 Comments
- inactive, on 12/30/2008, -9/+97***** that. Grow a pair, Congress, impeach these bastards and throw them in prison where they belong.
- ThsGuyRightHere, on 12/30/2008, -8/+72I thought Cheney declared that the VP wasn't part of the executive branch? Oh right, that's only when it comes to congressional oversight. When we're talking about executive privilege, he's TOTALLY part of the executive branch.
I swear 1/20 cannot get here fast enough. - Leadman584, on 12/31/2008, -5/+47There's a word for outing a Covert CIA Agent, "Treason".
- angusm, on 12/30/2008, -1/+29"I am greatly concerned about the chilling effect that compliance with Congress's subpoena would have on the ability of my friends in the White House to behave as if the law didn't apply to them, and basically act like absolute monarchs. If the President and the Vice-President were subjected to Congressional oversight, it would severely restrict their freedom to pay off their friends, bully their enemies, dodge blame and stampede the nation into costly and expensive wars." wrote Mukasey in the opinion. He added "Congress appears to be operating under the illusion that the President and Vice-President are democratically-elected representatives of the people whose ultimate responsibility is to the people of the United States, rather than appointed officers of major corporations and interest groups, whose duty is determined by their fiduciary obligations to the shareholders and principals of those corporations."
- Shaggy3, on 12/31/2008, -5/+26***** you Cheny, you sound like an *****.
And Cheney, ***** you too. - inactive, on 12/30/2008, -6/+27Sorry, the spelling is Cheney! Early a.m when I submitted!
- rrouse, on 12/31/2008, -4/+21Let's start calling all of this what it really is, corruption!
- northwatuppa, on 12/30/2008, -3/+19fta: Attorney General Michael Mukasey warned that, were the records turned over, White House officials would be less likely to cooperate in future investigations out of fear that their words would become public, forcing the department to rely on grand jury subpoenas instead.
Well, maybe it would be a really good thing if White House types knew that they're advice and opinions could be made public. They might start watching what they say a little bit more and not give such reprehensible advice or render such disgustingly unethical and unconstitutional opinions.
I dugg it because those SOB's now in the White House p*ss me off so much. - sarahlee, on 12/30/2008, -4/+19FTA: " The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed the records as part of its long-running investigation into what roles, if any, President George W. Bush, Cheney and their aides may have played in the leak.
"Attorney General Michael Mukasey warned that, were the records turned over, White House officials would be less likely to cooperate in future investigations out of fear that their words would become public, forcing the department to rely on grand jury subpoenas instead. "I am greatly concerned about the chilling effect that compliance with the Committee's subpoena would have on future White House deliberations and White House cooperation with future Justice Department investigations," Mukasey wrote in the opinion, which is dated July 15.
"In a July 8 letter, Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., threatened to cite Mukasey with contempt of Congress for withholding the records."
---
So Mukasey continues with the party line. Now to see if Congress will push this to a court to decide. - carbonfilament, on 12/31/2008, -2/+16Another footnote in an era when sexual escapades are an impeachable offense, but endless corruption and abuse of power is not.
Bush, Cheney, and many others should be in Jail.
All of these high profile multimillion dollar a year bankers should be right beside them.
But for some reason, they are let free. Someone with less scruples than me would recognise this as an ideal point in history to terrorize, kill, and steal. - yillip, on 12/31/2008, -1/+14Of course the AG appointed by President Bush is going to find that Cheney is protected by executive privilege. Cheney has turned the VP role into this roving dictatorship that operates within the inevitable gray areas that exist between branches, all while wielding uncensored amounts of presidential power. Under Bush and Cheney's unprecedented relationship, Cheney has operated in one branch of government whenever he needs to until it's safe to come out, and then as situations dictate, he operates (and hides, if needed) in the other branch.
- mikelieman, on 12/31/2008, -2/+14I'd like to point out that the Attorney General's Opinion doesn't carry any legal weight, given that Congress MAKES the Law, and the Judiciary um... Judges the Law...
So, the Attorney General is SOFT ON CRIME and not doing his sworn duty, eh?
One HONEST United States Attorney is all it would take, and Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld et al. would be arrested tomorrow, and arraigned within 72 hours...
Is the not ONE HONEST UNITED STATES ATTORNEY in the nation??? ONE??? - CaptObvious, on 12/31/2008, -1/+12And right there, in the 'Related by Keyword' posts, not even the president is allowed to use 'executive privilege' on Congress.
- Askee, on 12/30/2008, -5/+16Someone just shoot the ***** already. Lets see executive privilege protect him against that.
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -5/+15Impeachment does not put people in prison. In order for criminal proceedings to take place, they would have to get prosecuted by...drumroll...The Attorney General's Office!
- emkaysmith, on 12/31/2008, -2/+11Bush, Cheney, and Mukasey, all cooperating in a cover-up. Sounds like a criminal conspiracy to me. Impeach all three of them. Or wait until they're out of office and have the FBI arrest them as civilians. The Constitution gives no special privileges or protections to an EX-president.
- pintomp3, on 12/31/2008, -3/+12how can he be protected by executive privilege? cheney said he's part of the legislative branch.
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -0/+8
Last week on ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney , admitted to being complicit in war crimes and ordering torture.
He oversaw and personally approved of waterboarding,enhanced "Stress positions", dog attacks, sleep deprivation and other disgusting attacks.
Unfortunately tens of thousands of "detainees" have been brutalized and are innocent. The ACLU has done the research and are appalled.
Imagine if this was to happen to Americans or Canadians. Doing nothing might make that a reality one day.
As Cheney prepares to leave office he feels the need to justify his criminal activity. We can't let this monster get away with it.
Now it's up to you to share this information and write a letter or 2. DEMAND ACTION ! We need to pressure the media and our representatives.
REGARDLESS OF ANY PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS OR DARTH CHENEY LEAVING OFFICE IT WILL BE IMPERATIVE FOR AMERICA TO INDICT AND PROSECUTE SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS FOR THEIR HAND IN TORTURE.
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND THE US WAR CRIMES ACT.
IF AMERICA EVER WANTS TO REGAIN IT'S STANDING AS A MORAL AUTHORITY IT MUST DEAL WITH THESE HEINOUS CRIMES.
I've taken the time to compile some links and information. Help me get it out.
If you're too lazy, don't know how to read or need some motivation ...there are video links.
Watch the first 2.
1. Abu Ghraib ( the extent of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib is much worse than anyone imagined )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz7UNxnOI3M
2. Taxi to The Darkside (Academy Award Winning Documentary)
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=49431599574 ...
Rep. Nadler (D-NY) Calls for an Investigation of Bush Administration Officials in regards to torture
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/26-0
Cheney defends waterboarding
Dec. 17: In an interview with ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney acknowledged he approved waterboarding prisoners. A Hardball panel discusses whether his support for this technique makes him guilty of war crimes.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28284054#2 ...
Cheney, Rice and Rumsfeld All Approved Torture
http://digg.com/politics/Cheney_Rice_and_Rumsfeld_ ...
Senator: 'As far as I'm concerned,' Cheney admitted condoning torture
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Senator_Levin_As_far ...
Cheney admits to approving torture
http://www.desertdispatch.com/opinion/cheney_5092_ ...
Why Was Cheney So Quick to Admit He's a War Criminal?
http://www.alternet.org/rights/114325/why_was_chen ...
Officials against torture memo feared wiretaps, physical danger
http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Author_Officials_fe ...
News Report Reveals White House Approved Torture Techniques
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/34845prs20080 ...
FBI files indict Bush, Cheney and Co. as war criminals
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/33684
ABC NEWS: CHENEY OTHERS OK'D TORTURE
http://abcnews.go.com/politics/wirestory?id=463153 ...
ABC Cheney Admits Torture Guilt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkILjPu3KTE
Senate Armed Services Committee
Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody
http://armed-services.senate.gov/pubs.htm
Countdown profiles the war crimes by Dick Cheney. Guest: Jonathan Turley, prof. George Washington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Sws-IFg90
Debate on waterboarding is artificial; it is clearly torture
http://www.ictj.org/en/news/coverage/article/1502. ...
America's Torture Disgrace
http://pr.thinkprogress.org/2008/12/pr20081222/ind ...
John Yoo's war crimes
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/04/02/ ...
Subscribe to this YouTube account.
http://www.youtube.com/user/cheneywatch
* "No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture." --United Nations Convention Against Torture, Art. 2, section 2 (a treaty that the United States has ratified).
Lt. Gen. Antonio Taguba, who investigated the Abu Ghraib scandal, said, “There is no longer doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes. The only question that remains to be answered is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account,”
U.S. Army Col. Larry Wilkerson, who was Colin Powell's chief of staff and who stated unequivocally that Cheney was the primary author of the torture policy: "There's no question in my mind where the philosophical guidance and the flexibility in order to do so originated -- in the vice president of the United States' office."
"Twenty-one years earlier, in 1947, the United States charged a Japanese officer, Yukio Asano, with war crimes for carrying out another form of waterboarding on a U.S. civilian. The subject was strapped on a stretcher that was tilted so that his feet were in the air and head near the floor, and small amounts of water were poured over his face, leaving him gasping for air until he agreed to talk.
"Asano was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) told his colleagues last Thursday during the debate on military commissions legislation. "We punished people with 15 years of hard labor when waterboarding was used against Americans in World War II," he said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic ...
USA WAR CRIMES ACT
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:-bxeGeGbmBUJ: ...
GENEVA CONVENTION VIOLATIONS
The following is a chronological account of the actions taken by the U.S. Military under the leadership of George W. Bush as Commander-in-Chief which lead to multiple violations of the Geneva convention and U.S. Military Code.
The U.S. Military Code specifies that it is a crime to violate the Geneva convention:
"Whoever, ... commits a war crime, ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for life or any term of years, ... and if death results to the victim, shall also be subject to the penalty of death. ... Definition: As used in this section the term 'war crime' means ... a grave breach in any of the international conventions signed at Geneva 12 August 1949 [or acts] prohibited by Article 23, 25, 27, or 28 of the Annex to the Hague Convention IV, Respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land, signed 18 October 1907 ... " (Section 2441: U.S. Military Code on War Crimes)
1945 Nuremberg Principles:
After WWII, the U.S. led the formation of the ‘Nuremberg Principles,’ which form the United Nations Charter. Every country in the world is bound by that Charter.
Defines as a crime: "Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;"
1. January 25, 2002
White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales writes a memo urging President George Bush to declare the war in Afghanistan exempt from the Geneva convention. In the memo, the White House lawyer references a 1996 law passed by Congress, known as the War Crimes Act, that law banned any Americans from committing war crimes - defined in part as "grave breaches" of the Geneva convention. The memo warns that the law applies to "U.S. officials" and that punishments for violators "include the death penalty." [PDF of Gonzales memo] (NewsWeek, May 17, 2004)
2. Subsequent to January 25, 2002
Secretary Powell writes a memo arguing that Alberto Gonzales’ attempt to declare the war in Afghanistan exempt from the Geneva convention undermines more than a century of U.S. policy and practice.
"It will reverse over a century of U.S. policy and practice in supporting the Geneva conventions and undermine the protections of the law of war for our troops, both in this specific conflict and in general. ... It may provoke some individual foreign prosecutors to investigate and prosecute our officials and troops. ... We will be challenged in international fora (UN Commission on Human Rights; World Court; etc.)." (Powell memo)
3. March 19, 2003
Bush declares pre-emptive war in Iraq which constitutes a "grave breach" of the Geneva convention as Iraq posed no "imminent threat" to the U.S.
"Law enforcement officials shall not use firearms against persons except in self-defence or defence of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury, to prevent the perpetration of a particularly serious crime involving grave threat to life, to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting their authority, or to prevent his or her escape, and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives. In any event, intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life." (United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Fall 1990)
TORTURE
Geneva Convention:
"Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission ... causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity."
"No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war to secure from them information of any kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to any unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any kind."
"Prisoners of war shall enjoy complete latitude in the exercise of their religious duties, including attendance at the service of their faith, on condition that they comply with the disciplinary routine prescribed by the military authorities."
"The following acts are and shall remain prohibited ... cruel treatment and torture; ... Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment; "
"Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory ... are prohibited, regardless of their motive."
(Geneva Convention, 1949)
1. October 11 , 2002
Department of Defense writes a memo which authorizes interrogation tactics for use at Guantanamo including using dogs to induce stress, stripping and shaving prisoners, and stress positions. Also included is a memo including an analysis of how the interrogators at Guantanamo (GTMO) became more willing to conduct extreme interrogation techniques.
"The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) has not adopted specific guidelines regarding interrogation techniques for detainee operations at GTMO."
"Compounding this problem is the fact that there is no established clear policy for interrogation limits and operations at GTMO, and many interrogators have felt in the past that they could not do anything that could be considered 'controversial.'" Diane Beaver, LTC, USA, Staff Judge Advocate
Department of Defense approved: "The use of stress positions ... Use of the isolation facility for up to 30 days ... Extensions beyond the initial 30 days must be approved ... Depravation of light and auditory stimuli ... The detainee may also have a hood placed over his head during transportation and questioning. ... The use of 20 hour interrogations. ... Removal of all comfort items (including religious items) ... Removal of clothing. ... Forced grooming (shaving of facial hair etc.) ... Using detainees individual phobias (such as fear of dogs) to induce stress. ... The use of scenarios designed to convince the detainee that death or severely painful consequences are imminent for him and/or his family. ... Exposure to cold weather or water. ... Use of a wet towel and dripping water to induce the misperception of suffocation." (Torture memos)
2. October 25, 2002
Memo written by a U.S. Army General in response to the torture memo put out by the Department of Defense.
"I am particularly troubled by the use of implied expressed threats of death of the detainee or his family." James T. Hill, General, U.S. Army Commander (Torture memos)
3. November 27, 2002
An FBI agent at Guantanamo writes a memo warning FBI legal counsel that many of the interrogation methods proposed on October 11, 2002 for use at Guantanamo violate the prohibition on torture. The first quote is one of the techniques being approved by the Department of Defense. (FBI warning memo)
"Detainee will be sent off GTMO, either temporarily or permanently to Jordan, Egypt, or another third country to allow those countries to employ interrogation techniques that will enable them to obtain the requisite information."
"It is a per se violation of the U.S. Torture Statute. Discussing any plan which includes this category, could be seen as a conspiracy to violate 18 U.S.C. s. 2340. Any person who takes any action in furtherance of implementing such a plan, would inculcate all persons who were involved in creating this plan. This technique can not be utilized without violating U.S. Federal law."
4. March 13, 2002 - March 3, 2003
Six memos are written by military lawyers questioning the Department o - inactive, on 12/31/2008, -0/+8Executive Privilege? Would someone kindly point to where that is authorized by the US Constitution? The copy I have makes no mention of it.
- cmost, on 12/31/2008, -3/+10***** figures!!! This guy can pretty much get away with murder...and has! I sincerely hope he burns in hell.
- CaptObvious, on 12/31/2008, -4/+11Name one.
- nygenxer, on 12/31/2008, -2/+8Don't drop the soap just yet, Dick: he's only the attorney general RIGHT NOW. In less than three weeks, a new sheriff is coming to town.
Weren't the Japanese officers responsible for war crimes (such as waterboarding) executed after they were found guilty? And didn't this piece of sh*t admit last week on camera to authorizing such action? - Cowicide, on 12/31/2008, -0/+6This administration is lawless. They have made an absolute mockery of the American people and our system of government and they deserve nothing but our scorn. I can't believe these guys are still in office; much less not in prison.
- northwatuppa, on 12/30/2008, -0/+6Ooops!
This is how I actually intended to complete the comment:
What's the matter with grand jury subpoenas? It would give the rats less cover than these internal "investigations" that Mukasey wants people to participate in.
I dugg it because those SOB's now in the White House p*ss me off so much. - NotAChickenHawk, on 12/31/2008, -1/+7She wasn't covert? Yes, that's why after Mr. Cheney had her identity published in the newspaper, she wasn't able to continue to perform the job functions that she had previously been performing - jbo functions whose purpose was to help safe guard the national security of the United States. The vice-president committed treason, and you excuse it. Why do you hate America?
- topgigmedia, on 12/31/2008, -0/+5Cheney is literally a ticking time bomb - literally. He isn't protected from karma via failing heart.
- carbonfilament, on 12/31/2008, -2/+7Yes...they would have to be found guilty. First step on that road is Impeachment
- novenator, on 12/31/2008, -0/+5This is just another despicable attempt by the neocons to get out of trouble for the ***** they pulled during their reign. If we really believe in justice in this country (not revenge, but justice), we MUST hold the bush administration accountable for what they did.
Top on the list would definitely be the treasonous Valerie Plame affair. - keraneuology, on 12/31/2008, -0/+5Eliminate exec priv then. If they won't use such a powerful tool reasonably and responsibly then take it away and let them go without.
- mrswirl, on 12/31/2008, -1/+6Good thing you're an idiot.
- nextekcarl, on 12/31/2008, -1/+6And that's why it keeps getting worse. There are no penalties for any behavior.
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -0/+5Dick Cheney is a war criminal and should be hanged. Sadly, people don't always get what they deserve.
- peaceninja, on 12/31/2008, -3/+7"So?"
- louiebaur, on 12/30/2008, -1/+5It happens
- OriginalReplica, on 12/31/2008, -1/+5"You want to charge him with war crimes? Find a war crime his guilty of and charge him with it."
How about blatant violation of the Geneva Convention?
http://action.aclu.org/torturefoia/released/102405 ...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/19/ch ...
"This week, Vice President Richard Cheney said, on the record and on camera to Jonathan Karl of ABC News, that he had personally encouraged and authorized waterboarding and other forms of torture—acts which every American administration since the dawn of the twentieth century has defined as war crimes. Every administration, except the present one."
http://www.cjr.org/full_court_press/above_the_fold ... - billraydrums, on 12/31/2008, -0/+4Fortunately Executive privilege does not extend outside the USA. (I think)
Let's Hope Tricky Dick goes to the E.U. for a holiday. - CaptObvious, on 12/31/2008, -1/+5@JimmySpaza:
Those are scandalous people, not scandals.
Except for Obama's brother, of course. I still don't get why Obama doesn't just fly him up here, but I'm sure there is a reason. - treehugger87, on 12/31/2008, -2/+6@caramba. Fine, use the powers of impeachment to begin an investigation. Use the evidence collected to convict them of the crimes they are guilty of and throw them in prison where they belong
- Ne007, on 12/31/2008, -2/+6The President and The Vice President. The end-all be-all. The Alpha and the Omega. The Untouchables. Operating above the law.
- maz2331, on 12/31/2008, -1/+5It isn't going to happen. Bush is out of office in a few weeks and Congress no longer gives a crap what he does, short of outright nuking someone.
Plus, American tradition is that we don't ever go after former Presidents and VP's. We just, well, don't do it. - inactive, on 04/03/2009, -3/+7You beat me by 4 minutes. I was going to make a comment about the Executive Branch, as well.
- Insightful, on 12/31/2008, -6/+1030 more days until the new sheriff is in town.
- defwheezer, on 12/31/2008, -2/+6Attorney General Michael Mukasey is a stooge protecting The Familia, Cheney Inc. Every good criminal organization needs a shill like Attorney General Michael Mukasey to protect them from undue scrutiny.
- AmazingSteve, on 12/31/2008, -0/+4How do you think it would go over Monday morning if your Boss asked what you were up to and you replied "***** off.. None of your ***** business"?
- inactive, on 12/31/2008, -1/+5Impeachment, Imprisonment, wont matter. Bush will just pardon Cheney, resign the office to Cheney so he can pardon Bush.
Best to wait until they leave office. - Carbonate, on 12/31/2008, -1/+5I don't think any branch should be able to withhold this kind of information from a congressional investigation :/
- NotAChickenHawk, on 12/31/2008, -0/+3"I am greatly concerned about the chilling effect that compliance with the Committee's subpoena would have on future White House deliberations and White House cooperation with future Justice Department investigations,"
Where is his concern for White House cooperation with ongoing *Congressional* investigations? - niradg, on 12/30/2008, -1/+4you can email Digg and they will fix it for you
- mikelieman, on 12/31/2008, -0/+3Why INVESTIGATE if you're not going to INDICT?
- Gemfinder, on 12/31/2008, -0/+3I'm visualizing the scene in "Lethal Weapon II" where the evil South African (Apartheid era) diplomat smirks "Diplomatic Immunity!" and Mel Gibson's character finishes, " — revoked!," right before plastering him.
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