Powell's ex-Chief of Staff Asserts Cheney Advocates International Crimes

[Clara T]

Asked during a BBC interview if he believes Cheney is guilty of war crimes for shoving aside the Geneva accords and pushing for harsh treatment (perhaps torture) of detainees, Wilkerson replied,

"Well, that's an interesting question. It was certainly a domestic crime to advocate terror and I would suspect that it is--for whatever it's worth--an international crime as well."

<snip>

That's some statement from a former Bush administration official. (He probably meant to say that it's illegal to conduct, not "advocate," torture, not "terror.") As might be expected, news outfits, bloggers and websites are having a field day with this. But you should read the entire interview, for Wilkerson makes several points that are less melodramatic but as, if not more, important. For instance, he attacks the White House for its recklessly negligent handling of the post-invasion planning for Iraq. This was a criminal--at least in policy terms--act for which Bush and his crowd have escaped accountability. (See what happens when Congress is controlled by the party of the president?) How Bush botched the post-invasion period should have been a bigger issue in the 2004 elections.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/capitalgames?pid=39984

"Who is right now very publicly lobbying the congress of the United States, advocating the use of terror? The vice-president of the United States." -Larry Wilkerson

[leveymg]

1. Official immunity stops at the point where the law is broken

Those within the Bush Administration who promulgated and signed onto policies that are in direct contravention of the law -- in this case, the federal anti-torture statute -- have criminal culpability for the subsequent abuses carried out by subordinates.

There is no question about the issue of command responsibility in this matter. Mr. Wilkerson should just come out and say it - the President and all those in his chain of command that led to Abu Ghraib and the secret torture centers can be indicted and prosecuted. The only question is, when will they be indicted, and by whom?