Obama Must Seek War Crimes Justice

“We are all complicit in Bush’s war crimes if we ignore them”- (Jonathan Turley on the Rachel Maddow Show)

Shortly after the 9/11 tragedy, the Bush administration generated a set of classified memos justifying the use of the military to go after suspected terrorists without having to worry about the Fourth Amendment. The Obama Justice Department has released a number of these previously secret memos that support the legal basis for Bush’s unlimited abuse of power to wage war on terrorism, warrantless domestic wire tapping, torture and extraordinary rendition of terrorist suspects.

These are war crimes under U.S. Law as well as the Geneva Convention. The memos originated from the White House Office of Legal Council (OLC) and provided directives for the executive branch, justifying that the President, as Commander in Chief had the right to suspend the Constitution. Realizing their complicity in these war crimes, the Bush- OLC reversed much of the legal justification of those post-9/11 memos a few days before the termination of his administration. The Obama Justice Department intends to release more secret memos and will take possession of boxes containing e-mails pertaining to these matters.

Jonathan Turley, Constitutional Law Professor, while appearing recently on MS-NBC evening shows, essentially said that the Obama administration would “own” any war crimes if it chose to ignore them. Moreover, Professor Turley stated further that if Obama impedes investigation and prosecution related to these war crimes Obama would become an “accessory” to the crimes. In our Democracy, people have the right to know why the OLC under Bush was a “rubber stamp for some of the administration’s worst abuses of power” as Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) calls it. Similarly, the Congress must initiate an independent investigation of the attacks of 9/11/01 to get to the bottom of what really happened and why, and introduce legislation so that these abuses will never happen again.

Bush and his administration are not above the law; if their members have committed crimes they must be investigated and prosecuted. - Democracy Prevails

Obama Decision: Bipartisanship vs. Excessive and Unlawful?

This should be the cover of Time and Newsweek!

Newsweek's Michael Isikoff has pinned an article entitled "Obama and Torture" this week describing the hesitation of the President-elect's transition team to seek prosecution of US citizens alleged to have been involved in 'war crimes.'

FEAR strikes again within the president-elect's transition leadership circle. Some of the President-elect's men propose a 9/11-like commission to study the issue of unlawful human torture to boost so-called Congressional "bipartisanship!?" This comes despite the striking words of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder's description of the Bush Administration's torture policy as "excessive and unlawful."

HOPEfully, President-elect Obama is committed to justice and values. The new President should not trade the rule of law for mere bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.

Ginny Hill, over at Slate.com, also writes: "Obama's Next Arab Headache: What to do with Guantanamo's Yemeni detainees?" By the way, how many foreign nationals are being held by the United States in Cuba today?

Special National Security Courts?

The Washington Independent published a story Thursday entitled "Gitmo Prisoners Pose Thorny Problem for Obama" describing how President-elect Obama's advisors may be suggesting special national-security courts to try high-level Guantanamo detainees. But an Obama spokesperson seemed to back away from the suggestion saying there was “absolutely no truth to reports that a decision has been made about how and where to try the detainees and there is no process in place to make that decision until [Obama’s] national security and legal teams are assembled.” MORE.

Taxi to The Dark Side is a MUST VIEW!

A recent documentary of the war atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan is a must-see for any American of conscience and humanity. Katie Couric recommends the Oscar winning documentary Taxi to the Dark Side. See it - Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5. Together American citizens will end the practice and violation of Article 3 of the Geneva Convention.

The violation of international law and the U.S. Constitution may end but it will be in the hands of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder and Homeland Security-designate Janet Napolitano to end the unseemly and unlawful practice as the United States goes into regime change 20 January 2009.

Stand-Up for Human Rights Now!

The widespeard use of torture in the fight against terrorism has taken bizzare turns over the past few years resulting in human rights vioations and a loss of basic rights to judicial review. The cost to freedom is high and must be brought to an immediate halt by President-elect Barack Obama in the first days of the new administration. Join those who are standing up against such inhumane torture and the loss of the basic principals of humanity. Watch this VIDEO.

Habeas Corpus

Latin: "you have the body." Prisoners often seek release by filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. A writ of habeas corpus is a judicial mandate to a prison official ordering that an inmate be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he should be released from custody.

A habeas corpus petition is a petition filed with a court by a person who objects to his own or another's detention or imprisonment. The petition must show that the court ordering the detention or imprisonment made a legal or factual error. Habeas corpus petitions are usually filed by persons serving prison sentences. Also, a party may file a habeas corpus petition if a judge declares her in contempt of court and jails or threatens to jail her.

Now is the time to ensure that American citizens ensure the rights of habeas corpus.

Pesident-Elects Words

Let's hold the President-elect to his words; and, make sure that he follows through with closing Gitmo and stopping scanctioned torture.