Polanski is free—but what about Bush?
What Kind of God?
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is a syndicated political cartoonist for Andrews McMeel Syndication, WhoWhatWhy.org and Counterpoint. He is a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal, a graphic novelist and author of many books of art and prose, and an occasional war correspondent. He is, recently, the author of the graphic novel "The Stringer."
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You are absolutely right. Not even a commission of enquiry like the one took place in England on their former Prime Minister Blair. Permanent harm is being done each day that Rove, Bush, Rummy and Cheney walk free. There are no consequences for them, but smoke ajoint in the wrong place and you spend a great deal of time in a very nasty place.
It’s the return of Generalissimo El Busho!! I was wondering when we’d see him again.
What was Bush’s crime?
How about going to war (twice) without a declaration of war from Congress?
The funniest part about the cartoon is the hight chart behind Polanski, though I think it should be metric.
US 395,
from what I can see, you have two options:
option 1
being in charge (“in chief”) of, among other things, sending in planes and soldiers directly killing upwards from a hundred thousand people, indirectly murdering upwards from two million (by inducing civil strife and destroying the health care infrastructure and polluting the place with heavy metals)… and displacing several millions more – all this is not criminal, e.g. since it’s “over there”, “not intentional”, “just war”…
[to pick two especially egregious examples: leveling a city killing and destroying indiscriminately (Fallujah), detaining and often torturing tens of thousand of people]
option 2
this is not criminal in general, i.e. also when committed against you and your family.
which describes your perspective better?
regards,
andreas
ps: ted and most of the posters here go with option #3: these are war crimes according to international law, and it doesn’t matter who commits them or where as they are crimes against humanity as such. perhaps you also have a secret option #3?
US 395:
The United States is a signatory to the UN Convention on Torture. As President, Bush was sworn to uphold the US Constitution, which mandates the obligation of the federal government to uphold all treaties the US signs. The UN Convention on Torture is a treaty, which makes clear that waterboarding is forbidden. The failing of the US press was to focus on the Geneva Convention. Even if it didn’t apply (which it did) to those Americans captured, the UN Convention on Torture most certainly did.
As head of his administration, Bush is responsible for the failure of his administration to uphold the US Constitution by way of failing to protect American treaty obligations. They willfully did so as well, meaning that this was also conspiracy to violate constitutional law, as well as breaking the Presidential oath of office.
That’s my contribution, I’ll let others add their crimes.
What was this?
The Iraq Resolution or the Iraq War Resolution (formally the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 [1], Pub.L. 107-243, 116 Stat. 1498, enacted October 16, 2002, H.J.Res. 114) is a joint resolution (i.e., a law) passed by the United States Congress in October 2002 as Public Law No: 107-243, authorizing the Iraq War.
Aggie,
The senior leadership of both houses of congress are also guilty. They, including San Fran Nan, were briefed on interrogation techniques.
My point is, if Bush is guilty so are many members of congress.
That’s fine US 395, I accept that others are also guilty. However, that does not detract from the guilt of the president. You asked what his crimes were, I have given you one glaring example. Don’t change the subject.
I know Ted doesn’t seem to take suggestions, but how about a cartoon about the fishy Shahram Amiri brouhaha?
Route – I know you’re smart enough to not just play the silly tit-for-tat game, it’s like saying “If hitler was guilty, so were a lot of other nazi leaders”….well…yes…..and your point is????