Charges and Evidence
Everybody seems to be thinking about impeachment these days. You may not find much information about it in popular media, but don’t believe for a second that Nancy Pelosi is right when she says impeachment is “off the table”. It is, in fact, more on the table than every before.
So why impeach Bush and Cheney? There’s several different groups that have articulated their charges, and they all basically break down into the following allegations:
- Lying to Promote War Bush and Cheney both lied to congress and the public about the reasons for going to war. The Downing Street memo suggests that they manipulated evidence and basically co-opted the US intelligence community into producing the evidence they wanted. This would violate treaties that the US has signed
Evidence from [impeachforpeace.org] [impeachbush.tv] - Conducting an Illegal War This charge has a nuanced difference from the above charge. Whether or not Bush lied to promote his war, there are certain rules and regulations that govern how wars are conducted. The lead up to the Iraq War violated many of those rules.
Evidence from [impeachforpeace.org] [impeachbush.tv] - Conducting Illegal Wiretaps The administration has openly admitted to having conducted a domestic wiretap program that violated the rules of the Foreign Service Intelligence Act of 1978. They did not seek warrants from the secret FISA court as required by law.
Evidence from [impeachforpeace.org] [impeachbush.tv] - Prisoner Abuse and Torture Violating not only the Geneva Convention, such actions would also violate US Military Code (which cites the Geneva Convention as US law), the US Code, the UN Torture Convention and a number of other laws [more]. Not only does the Constitution state that treaties our government has signed are the “supreme law of the land“, but the US Military Code specifically describes the Geneva Convention as law. The Geneva Convention prohibits torture, but evidence shows that Bush did not believe that the Geneva Convention applied to his so-called “enemy combatants”.
Evidence from [impeachforpeace.org] [impeachbush.tv] - Illegal Detention Without Charge The writ of habeas corpus guarantees that prisoners cannot be held without charge. Although the Constitution says that it may be suspended in the case of “rebellion or invasion [if] the public safety may require it“. It is also suggested that the detention of these “enemy combatants” without charge, evidence, or legal representation violates the Geneva Convention.
- Illegal Release of Classified Information We allege that, during the run up to the war, Cheney and Bush authorized the leak of Valerie Plame’s identity in order to discredit evidence her husband had gathered which showed that Niger had not sold yellowcake uranium to Iraq.
Evidence from [impeachforpeace.org]
This is already a mountain of charges that would easily constitute “high crimes and misdemeanors” as required by the Constitution.
If you want further information, consider the following…
- Impeach for Peace has their evidence pages.
- Impeach Bush.tv lists these charges.
Many states are attempting to jump start the impeachment process by introducing their own articles of impeachment. If they pass muster with the state government, then the Jefferson’s Manual (sec. 603), which governs the House of Representatives, states that they must consider the articles of impeachment.
- Washington is currently considering these charges.
- New Mexico was considering these High Crimes and Misdemeanors.
- Vermont is considering these charges.
- Missouri has recently introduced their charges.
- Illinois was considering this bill in 2006.
- Texas is now considering this bill.
This is the most corrupt and dictatorial administration in history. If we can’t impeach them, what will happen the next time?
September 19th, 2007 at 3:42 pmI just saw a PBS story by Bill Moyers “Buying the War”. There were several things that got my attention. A lot of spin was being generated to stir up war sentiments. First of all, at the time, the majority of Americans were seeking revenge for 911 and their views were clouded by so called patriotic duty. Anyone who questioned the war was considered unpatriotic terrorist sympathisers, and secondly the prejudice towards arabs or muslims was quite obvious. Anyone who sympathizes with a moslem must be a terrorist. This was bush’s personal vendetta funded by my taxes.
December 1st, 2007 at 7:46 amThere were other sides who were also secretely pushing the US towards war. What was their background, and what were their aim? Were they interested in defending the US or exploiting the racist, patiotic fervor prevalent during this period? Who else wanted to topple Sadam besides Bush? These high profile people were agents with an agenda which seemed to all have the same goal. Destroy the arab anti-Israel movement which was growing in the mideast. Are we a country for hire for free? Of course Bush was also exploiting 9/11 and hoped for cheap oil and political gains.
As leader, Bush surrounded himself with people of the same ideology who would lie to backup their evil plot. If I lied to do something wrong and no one punished me knowing that, it is an injustice. Clinton almost lost his job for a simple affair ….Bush cost taxpayers billions and numerous lives and is not paying for it, that is the big problem today. Who will be paying for these lies and how can it be avoided in the future? Congress is also partly to blame for this fiasco. They went along without a blink simply for votes because the American public wanted that. But there were some politicians who opposed the war all along (Kennedy, Obama, Kucinich, …) and it did not affect their standing. They bucked the trend because they saw something wrong and did something about it. Why didn’t the other politicians take a stand?? For popular votes!!!
I was surprised some of the war mongers who didn’t want to be interviewed by Moyers about their involvement, are now working for the Washington Post, Fox news, New York Times and a few other well known media house. To do my part, I will make sure not to read or purchase print from these conglamorates.
Before the war started, I did contact Kennedy and Kucinich about my opposition to the war and the assault on the UN body by the Bush administration and felt for sure I was spied on because of my views.
So how do you fix what Bush has destroyed? There are still many people who thinks Bush did nothing wrong with all the evidence out there ….. so the US is still also full of loose nuts too!!
just to point out ..
Bush also failed to prevent 9/11. First his first talk with president Clinton when this one left the white house.. was to mention concern of Iraq, and Clinton to talk about AlQaeda. This is mentioned in Clinton’s book, my life.
Second, memos been sent from french secret services to CIA about plans to hijack planes in the United States of America, and this, months before 9/11. Not to mention Moussaoui case. The man, well known terrorist, arrested one month prior to 9/11, never been investigated further while he was in custody.
I could have more to say, but tell me if you are interested…
french memos for the CIA prior to 9/11 –> http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/041707J.shtml translation of http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3224,36-896448@51-892780,0.html
December 8th, 2007 at 9:49 amYou forgot to mention. Failure to prevent 9/11, since such event was well known to happen since bojinka. Clinton was aware of it, and informed Bush when he left the white house, and several memos from foreign secret agency raised alarms months before 9/11. Not to mention Moussaoui, well known terrorist, arrested 1 month prior to 9/11 but no further investigation then some speed limit he broke on the highway.
December 10th, 2007 at 8:43 am