Tuesday, June 02, 2009

The Bush-Cheney Truth Commission

Senator Leahy says the American People should not turn the page before they read it.

Senator Leahy has
proposed the idea of a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate abuses during the Bush-Cheney Administration -- so they never happen again. These abuses may include the use of torture, warrantless wiretapping, extraordinary rendition, and executive override of laws:
The full text of the petition reads:
I hereby join Senator Patrick Leahy's call for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission, to investigate the Bush-Cheney Administration's constitutional abuses so we make sure they never happen again. These abuses may include the use of torture, warrantless wiretapping, extraordinary rendition, and executive override of laws.

A truth and reconciliation commission should be tasked with seeking answers so that we can develop a shared understanding of the failures of the recent past. Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened. The best way to move forward is getting to the truth and finding out what happened -- so we can make sure it does not happen again.
I have signed this petition and will urge all I know to sign it.

As far as I am concerned, it does not go far enough. The span of inquiry should be expanded to cover the abuse, misuse and manipulation of intelligence and the CIA in order to stampede our once-great country into an unnecessary war with Iraq.

That, it itself - starting wars - is the paramount war crime. And it needs to be addressed.

As recent as yesterday, Cheney has tried to correct his sorry record. If he feels the necessity to do it, he needs to do it under oath.