Bush officials face liability for anti-terror policies
The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
-
U.N. observers warn of Syria civil war after massacre
( 7 )
-
Obama on the defensive over spending, debt
( 18 )
-
Egypt's top candidates try to broaden support
( 1 )
-
Queen marks diamond jubilee riding wave of popularity
( 0 )
-
Thousands take part in 'Slut Walks' in Brazil
( 10 )
-
- Business Teaching Positions - Part-time - Kanto Region
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥3,000 ~ ¥5,000 / Hour
-
- National Relief/Substitute Teacher - summer start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥275,000 ~ ¥300,000 / Month
-
- 営業パーソン
- 加治金属工業株式会社, Tochigi
- Salary: ¥240,000 ~ ¥350,000 / Month Negotiable
Order by Time Order by Popularity
48 Comments
Login to comment
0
adaydream
I've been expecting law suits from January 20, 2009 and Nancy Pelosi has been fending off congressional action against the bush administration.
There's a lot to this article and it may be years before they ever get them to court. I'm waiting for george bush's and dick cheney's lawsuits. < :-)
0
Sarge
"I'm waiting for george bush's and dick cheney's lawsuits"
If they ever do get charged, those lawsuits will be dismissed.
0
Jbizzle
Good! that whole administration omiting Colin Powell should be charged. Starting from the top!
0
Sarge
"that whole administration omiting Colin Powell should be charged"
Why omit Powell? He was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs when the U.S. illegally attacked Iraq and killed innocent civiians in the first Gulf War, lol.
0
zurcronium
Sarge,
good point. I am glad you agree the whole bush criminal band of losers should be in jail.
0
4thEstateDotCom
Prosecuting the previous administration. We are officially a banana republic, thanks to Obama. Our racist AG Eric Holder refusues to prosecute club-wielding Black Panthers caught on camera intimidating voters at a polling station last November but has no qualms about scoring cheap points with the wingnut far Left base. Disgusting. Makes me ashamed to have ever voted Democrat.
0
Hehehohohaha
SuperLib the Bush administration sent Arar to Syria because they knew he would be tortured. If the Canadian gov't want Arar, then why didn't they just send him north? Anyway, Canada has taken responsibility for its involvement in this case, America has not. Torture is what despotic countries do, not democratic countries. Bush and Co. need to own up to their deeds.
0
Jbizzle
Seargent: in the first gulf war he was simply following orders, just like you did if you were ever in the service. Second go-round he was vehemently against re-invading Iraq when our job in Afghanistan clearly wasn't done.
0
4thEstateDotCom
Arar was identified by one of his fellow Canadians, also Moslem, as an AQ member. Besides, Syria doesn't torture. It's just a harmless little country trying to protect itself from uncompromising Zionist hegemony. Isn't that the usual refrain?
0
timorborder
While I share some concerns regarding the prosecution of members of a previous US administration, some of the crxp that went on under GW went far beyond the pale in terms of human rights abuses both in the United States and overseas. Indeed, somewhere along the line, I think certain people mistook their own identities, feeling they were representatives of the SS rather than the US.
Then again, I can already hear some people saying that terror suspects, etc. don't have any rights. Well, if that is your mentality, then we have already lost the war because the barbarians are already inside the gates.
Finally, please don't mistake these comments as coming from a tree-hugging hippie.
0
apecNetworks
The Bush Administration could have used other means to achieve the security. The US Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written for the average person to read and understand - the meaning is clear and direct. It is not vague, and the oath is taken by MANY. Although I am aware of the possibility of national security overriding the Constitution, afterwards, they had better have been within the Supreme Laws of the Land or.......
0
joetheplumber
Actually some of America's strongest opponents are in power now. It is the Democrats who sell-out America and apologies to their adversaries. They should be charged.
0
adaydream
joetheplumber
Charged with what? Torture? Murder?
These are charges that the bush administration will face in the end. < :-)
0
joetheplumber
Much worse....adaydream
0
joetheplumber
0
skipthesong
Then again, I can already hear some people saying that terror suspects, etc. don't have any rights. Well, if that is your mentality, then we have already lost the war because the barbarians are already inside the gates." no, no, no. Just like a police officer needs to break the law and speed down the road to get a suspect, sometimes we are forced to break laws especially those who, if succeed, want to transform our way of life to where torture is not only possible, its accepted.
You can get arrested for a lot less than what these guys have been accused of, thrown in jail, and a lot worse than a simulated drowning may happen, and we are still and have been considered a democracy. Oh, and jail beatings are still going on even under Obama. no one is crying for prisoners' safety.
0
Hehehohohaha
skipthesong the police don't "break the law" when they speed in the line of duty. The law allows them to speed, but only them. The police are expected to work within the law not outside. So your analogy is completely bogus. nice try.
0
skipthesong
hypocrites: So many of you will cheer socialist/communist leaders and warriors for their causes, yet its ok when they torture their political enemies - especially those in their own country/their own kind. Even Obama's admin are praising those leaders right now at this very moment. My family went through enough with that and all they did was oppose a political plan, never once causing any type meyham or harm to others. yet, there you and they go and yelling praise. We hit up on a few who have not only caused harm and even murder, who were and are planning to do more and you want all of us to offer them coffee and cake to get them to talk and in many cases that is what was done. Still no talking.. Would you prefer we get hurt again and again just so we can work with a "law".
So your analogy is completely bogus. nice try." Ok forgive me, I'm not good at this. But just because a cop some how falls outside the law to capture a perpetrator, should not be the reason to let that person off. In your world, that is what you want and even going as far as grilling the cop, removing him from his job if not put him in jail. And you tell me I don't make sense?
how about they at the least put up the info obtained and let us, the people - something very much forgotten under the last admin and is still forgotten under this one, decide. Not some hand picked idiot who wants to make political points.
If I were a CIA or a worker in the last admin, I'd mutiny and sell what info Obtained, moved to another country, and let America have what would have come to them come to them.
0
LIBERTAS
Let's apply the same justice as everyone here was hollerin' for Polanski yesterday to Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, Rice, Rumsfeld etc. etc. etc. Their crimes against humanity certainly deserve it. And let's not stop there. There's Lebanon and Gaza to add to that list.
0
skipthesong
There's Lebanon and Gaza to add to that list." yes, hamas, Hezbolla, Islamic Jihad....
Leave Rice alone!
0
Hehehohohaha
skipthesong too bad about your family, but why would you want to to condone police action outside the law when your family experienced the exact same thing? Not only that you would support treason because you disagree with the politics of the party in power. You may have left your home country, but clearly the home country has not left you. Democracy sucks sometimes. 8 yrs of Bush was not a pleasant experience, but democracy can do that. Thankfully these leaders are changed every 4 or 8 years so it is at least not forever. Relax, enjoy your freedom.
0
LIBERTAS
"Bin Laden to attack inside the US using planes." Rice before Congress. Action taken after this: N O N E!
0
skipthesong
why would you want to to condone police action outside the law when your family experienced the exact same thing?" What member of my family did before I was born was pretty much within the law... They tried to use what "law" was on the books. My point was that many here yell out "viva la revoltion", say yip yip on him being one of the longest running leaders and they not only tortured but killed people... We did not kill people, cut off their heads, used their family members to "supply morale" for the troops.. We have tried to gain information so what brought us to these stupid wars won't happen again. Could we have done things differently? Sure. But what they say "hind sight is 20/20"? I can understand dropping the methods and changing them, but if they provide no results, then go back and do what ever you have to do to prevent the catalyst that brought us here. I don't however agree with going after those who were doing what they thought was best (take away the accusations of lies, that's not the point) to protect the US and even other countries. Relax, enjoy your freedom" My grand pape would say that to us sometimes... he knew what losing your freedoms meant as he and that entire family lost everything that was in the family for generations! All lost to provide for the state.. which really meant lining the pockets of the elite leaders.
0
Hehehohohaha
skipthesong you missed my point. I accept your claim that your family was innocent. My point is that the state authorities used extra-legal means (i.e. trumped up charges) to harass and intimidate (or worse) your family and others. So why would you support that kind of behaviour in America (or any other country)? Serious and credible accusations (i.e. water boarding) have been made again Bush & Co. those accusations need to be investigated and the law applied. To raise strawman arguments against Obama is to support the kind of activities you say you're against because of your family's experience. You cannot have it two ways.
0
skipthesong
Hehehohohaha: ok. I'm just not good and expressing my views. Ok, so let me ask, would you prefer we get those in charge of the interrogations of killers and potential plans of killers or would you prefer to let them get the info by any means necessary? I don't understand what is meant by strawman arguments". I just don't want another 9-11. I'm not talking about taking over our government. If you had put me in charge of prevent attacks, which I believe has been done, and then you want to jump on me because you think I went agaisnt the law and that trumps what I was intending on doing, then I am sorry, the country has stabbed me in the back.
Again, what I saying above is that I find it hard to comprehend the praise for other leaders of countries who were only set on gaining power and the CIA/FBI was only set on protecting us. You don't see the difference?
0
Hehehohohaha
skipthesong a strawman argument is a false argument so that it can be argued against.
I understand what you mean about preventing another 9-11. I too do not want to see that again and nor do most if not all people who post on this board - even the ones I argue with. But life is not a TV show like 24, and there are very few Jack Bauer moments when such extreme methods are needed - assuming that torture even works as argued.
My view is that torture is used more to deliver pain for punishment than anything else, but that would be illegal so other arguments are made, like the one you make, in order to hide the true intent.
9-11 was preventable. Bush had his daily briefing report warning exactly what took place, but nothing was done. Red flags popped up all over the place but no one would listen to the field officers. And I remember that summer at the tension was so thick... if I was spiderman my spider senses would have been tingling like crazy. But nothing was done. Inaction is the enemy of a country under attack. Doing the police and security work that prevents such an attack is what is needed. Jack Bauer plays well on TV where torture seems to get results. In reality, it is good police work that does it. And the laws do not have to be broken to do it.
0
skipthesong
Doing the police and security work that prevents such an attack is what is needed" Ok, I'm down with that but before that comes into play, I'd prefer they do what ever they have to do to prevent, regardless how.
And as for Bush knowing it would have happened before hand, perhaps they should have had something set up to prevent it and that includes going back to Clinton days. Its seems before then, things like 9-11 were un-thinkable.
0
Hehehohohaha
Explain to me why do you and many other do not want to hold Bush accountable? You make excuses that would never fly if a Democrat were president during 9-11. Why go back to Clinton? Were you one of the ones who held him responsible for the first attack on the WTC even though it occurred a mere few weeks of his inauguration?
As for this...
you seemed to have not learned from your family's misery. Why even mention your family history if you are so willing to support the kind of government over-reach that harmed your family? In a democracy the rule of law applies to all equally, tamper with that and democracy suffers.
0
skipthesong
hehehohohaha: I don't know about that. I heard for and against. I'm not bothering going there. however, a few years before I got a job at the WTC, AQ did try to blow a bomb there and that was during Clinton and the same thing was about then about Bush sr. that it was his fault. I pay not attention to that as far as this conversation is concerned. I do however hold the entire US government responsible.. could careless who is in charge.
Why and I mentioning my family? I just told you. Many people who come on here hug up to Castro, Che, Chevez, Achmedinnjad, Mao, etc... You know, people who tool basically all freedoms they once had. They were no fighting an enemy, they were fighting their own people who were fighting for their liberties. AQ is not fighting us for a denial of rights or liberties... they just want us dead. That is the difference.
0
Sarge
"the aggressive aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks"
And because of the aggressiveness, despite all their efforts, the terrorists have been unable to mount another devastating attack. Well, the Bush adninistration is going to be held accountable for this situation!
0
smithinjapan
skip: I'm sorry bud, but you're just once again bringing in your baggage to... well, as hehehahahoho said, set up strawman arguments. I certainly don't want any more 9-11s, but the events in question here need to be looked into, and anyone seen abusing/breaking the laws needs to be held accountable. Otherwise, again as the abovementioned poster said, you are simply condoning what happened to your family -- until a slightly different name.
I'm glad this is being pursued, and while I don't think it will ultimately end in those in question being punished, I DO think it will make others think twice about how vulnerable they are in breaking the law.
0
smithinjapan
Sigh... typo: "until a slightly different name"
Should be 'under' a slightly different name.
The point I wanted to make is that same. You're angry, and you're misdirecting it. Hehehahahoho's comments are 100% correct.
0
smithinjapan
sarge: " Well, the Bush adninistration is going to be held accountable for this situation!"
Nah, we'll just blame any successes on Clinton, like you do when you side-step the fact that 9/11 or the economy happened on bush's watch, and because he ignored all the evidence and warnings presented to him. Hell, some of you on here have even blamed OBAMA for 9/11! But nope... bush was nothing but successful -- anything BAD that happened was simultaneously before and after his time. Now you guys are even fobbing off blame for Iraq on Obama, with one poster, who's since been banned, saying Obama started it.
Anyway, that's another story. Fact of the matter remains these men need to be held responsible for anything they did above the law -- or that they think was above the law.
0
yabits
One of America's founding fathers made the quote that those who would trade away liberties for security deserve neither.
Nothing better epitomizes the Bush Administration than its eagerness to chip away at the foundation of what makes the United States a great nation.
As if his administration's incompetence in protecting the towers wasn't bad enough. I make that statement partly because we're barely a few weeks apart from the same time into the Obama administration and the right-wingers don't hesitate to blame him for every problem our nation faces. But when your FBI picks up a Saudi at flight school nearly a month before the attacks -- a guy who sticks out because he doesn't seem interested in learning how to take off or land a jetliner -- and the Attorney General won't approve a search of the guy's computer??
0
apecNetworks
We got those "jerks" who were planning a strike on the US West Coast, so the local police and FBI were up to the challenge. What bothered me was what former head of the FBI, Louis Freeh stated after 9/11 - bothers me even today. We got those "jerks".
0
apecNetworks
I may be the only unofficial person who knew this, but the FBI was on FULL alert prior to 9/11.
0
SuperLib
The man wasn't wanted by the US, he was wanted by Canada. Canada asked the US to pick him up on their behalf and send him to Syria. That way Canadian politicians can say they aren't involved in torture. Nice, eh?
0
Damien15
Gosh, how can anyone believe in bull crap like that. He was the worse president, and not only among the US presidents. He was a shame to human intelligence and still to this day, can't believe he was selected twice. His officials are now facing liability, if you ask me, all should be locked up for long time for the crimes they commited against humanity.
0
bushlover
[a guy who sticks out because he doesn't seem interested in learning how to take off or land a jetliner -- and the Attorney General won't approve a search of the guy's computer??] --- that's because he has too many liberties, rights and freedoms.
Back to top