Scott Ritter: "I'm not a big fan of un-mandated tribunals, but given the

[understandinglife]

... absolute lack of attention on the part of Congress regarding the decision to invade Iraq (a lethargy encouraged somewhat by Congress' own culpability in abrogating its responsibilities under the Constitution when it comes to war powers and holding the Executive Branch in check), I felt that my participation in the Commission's work would help create a record that might someday in the future motivate the representatives of the American people who occupy the Legislative Branch of government to carry work that not only serves the interests of their respective constituencies, but also defends both the letter and intent of the Constitution they are sworn to uphold and defend. America should not be looking to any international commission or tribunal to hold President Bush and his administration to account; that is the job of the American people.

When historians look back on the policies enacted by the Bush administration in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, starting off with the decision to invade Iraq in March 2003, they will be passing judgment on a United States that has violated international law as egregiously as any power in modern history. The final chapters have yet to be written on the Presidency of George W. Bush, but even if time stopped still at the present, the crimes of America and its leader are many, and terrible.

To read the full text of the article: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/themix/31200

For Scott Ritter’s testimony at the Bush Crimes Commission: http://www.bushcommission.org

Clear enough.


Peace.

[lovuian]

1. Wait a minute the Vietnam War was the same thing

and the world didn't take us to court...Nixon was kicked out eventually and America is getting ready to kick this Bush out too.......

[understandinglife]

2. I doubt if I was the only American in the late 60's and early 70's ...

... demanding that Johnson, McNamara, Kissinger, as well as Nixon and others, be prosecuted for their war of aggression in SE Asia (not just Vietnam).

Because we didn't have an American War Crimes Tribunal for SE Asia is certainly no reason to avoid our responsibility to hold Bush, Cheney and their neoconster minions accountable and bring them, justly, to the "Nuremberg chalice" at an American War Crimes Tribunal for Iraq.


Peace.

[htuttle]

4. Iraq was/is a far worse violation of international law than Vietnam

In Vietnam, there was a 'friendly' government who asked for help -- at least on paper. Also, the charade of the Tonkin Gulf attack was at least window dressing to justify our own involvement. The actions in Cambodia and Laos cannot be 'justified' the same way, but in those cases we didn't attempt to topple the respective governments.

Iraq was out and out naked aggression, precisely as denounced by Justice Jackson during the Nuremberg Trials. There is absolutely NO possible way to justify it under the framework of international law, the UN Charter, etc... They didn't even *try* to make up a legally justifiable excuse. In international law and relations, even just taking the trouble to CYA with a plausible (or at least arguable) legal justification is important.

[Poiuyt]

10. Also, the Viet Nam War had already started and we just got pulled in

As you pointed out, Bush actually STARTED the Iraq War. Napoleon would have been proud of him.

[EVDebs]

5. Only cutting off funding for the Vietnam fiasco stopped the bleeding....

Johnson got us in there in order to do the JCS's bidding

"You just get me elected, and I'll give you your damned war. "
http://www.jfk-online.com/jfk100lbjnam.html

Also see Stanley Karnow's Vietnam A History, it quotes the same. Oliver Stone and Jim Garrison were both right. About time we admit it.

[cascadiance]

3. Damn I wish I knew Ritter better back in high school...

Had he been one less year behind me, I probably would have known him in high school when were both living in Turkey then. Ritter just keeps trying to push these guys to do the right thing. WHEN will they follow his lead?

[understandinglife]

7. "Congress the 'Capitulation Branch' of Government" -- relevant:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=530254&mesg_id=530254

And, I agree with you == "Ritter just keeps trying to push these guys to do the right thing."!!!


Peace.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. That's funny

I went to college with him. Knew him somewhat, but not well at all.

[cascadiance]

9. Mitch Pileggi (Skinner on the X-Files) also went to our school there...

and had I been a year or two older, I'd probably have known him better too, since I think he left when I got into middle school there.

[Catamount]

6. As always your posts are right on, thanks U

nominated

[Time for change]

11. It's great to hear some people tell it like it is

Ritter is putting his life on the line IMO. :patriot:

[understandinglife]

12. I agree with you. And, the editorial by Bob Herbert about Ike ...

... is yet another statement from Mr. Herbert (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x530254) that is impressive because of his unflinching commitment, as is the case with Mr. Ritter, to put the truth in the face of Bush and his neoconster regime.

Thank you, again, for your excellent post of today on "Flight 77, ... ".


Peace.

[Time for change]

13. Thank you very much ul

Are you aware that the mods locked my post 23 minutes after posting, and sent it to the 9-11 Forum, where it can't receive votes? That's the 3rd time that something similar has happened to me since November of last year.

I don't blame the mods or the administration (the DU administration, that is) for this at all, because they do this kind of thing out of necessity IMO, in order to avoid being labelled as too radical in the minds of the general public.

But I have to say that it's a real sad commentary that even a liberal (and excellent) web site like the DU has to censor articles in this way in order to avoid incurring the wrath of those in power and those who take seriously those who are in power -- notwithstanding how they have obtained and maintained that power.

And please see this response to my thread, which provides a video of 9-11 which you may want to watch if you can find the time. But you'd better make sure that you're in good shape before you watch it. I think it's the most frightening thing I've ever watched.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=73406&mesg_id=73445
:scared:.

[Just Me]

14. Living in these times is just so,...so surreal.

I watch people operating day-to-day, completely devoid of any awareness or understanding of what's happening/happened. I have conversations with many who are disturbed by some unidentifiable "direction" of the country but they simply shrug their shoulders. Then, there are those few who are knowledgeable about what's happening and, although they spend great personal effort writing and spreading info and basically raising hell, they wonder if there is a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.

*sigh* Whomever once said "life is a persistence test" seems to have had that right!

[Karenina]

15. Indeed!

:kick:

[RJRoss]

16. Scott Ritter

is a true patriot who loves his country. I'm going to go see him in Seattle on March 3 and have him sign my copy of "Iraq Confidential". And ask him if he would consider running for Congress.