Iraq Commander Gen Sanchez Calls for Truth Commission

[Vyan]

Run time: 05:37 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83pOt2QxtY   Posted on YouTube: June 02, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: June 03, 2009 By DU Member: Vyan Views on DU: 513

 

[JDPriestly]

1. We need criminal prosecutions immediately.

I doubt that General Sanchez has ever practiced law in federal or state courts, because had he done so, he would know that a Truth Commission would create big headaches for the lawyers and judges in a subsequent trial. That is because the Rules of Evidence would not apply in the Truth Commission. It would be difficult to have a fair trial, a trial in which a conviction could be upheld if there had been a previous public proceeding in which evidence was aired without adherence to the strict Rules of Evidence that govern court proceedings. I am shocked that Senator Leahy and other advocates for a Truth Commission who are lawyers have not thought of this. I suspect that they have forgotten how carefully they had to get evidence admitted in trial when they were practicing attorneys. No to a Truth Commission. It is a feel good solution, but we have to choose between a Truth Commission which has wet noodle subpoena authority and no capacity to sentence anyone or even hand down a real verdict and a trial under which the defendants are afforded due process.