"This is not intended to be a mere discussion of violations of law that have occurred," said convener Lawrence Velvel, dean and cofounder of the school. "It is, rather, intended to be a planning conference at which plans will be laid and necessary organizational structures set up, to pursue the guilty as long as necessary and, if need be, to the ends of the Earth."
That doesn't sound like an empty threat, folks. And, it sure beats SWLs. (sternly worded letters)
The conference will be held on September 13-14 on the Andover campus.
"We must try to hold Bush administration leaders accountable in courts of justice," Velvel said. "And we must insist on appropriate punishments, including, if guilt is found, the hangings visited upon top German and Japanese war-criminals in the 1940s."
According to Velvel, past practice has been to allow U.S. officials responsible for war crimes (in Vietnam for instance) immunity from prosecution upon leaving office.
AfterDowningStreet.org ran the story on Monday:
"President Johnson retired to his Texas ranch and his Defense Secretary Robert McNamara was named to head the World Bank; Richard Nixon retired to San Clemente and his Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was allowed to grow richer and richer," Velvel said.
Issues that the conference plans to take on include domestic and international crimes committed by the Bush administration, federal justices and members of the U.S. Congress.
"For Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and John Yoo to spend years in jail or go to the gallows for their crimes would be a powerful lesson to future American leaders," Velvel said.
By Velvel’s estimation, they are all chargeable with war crimes, and can be tried at foreign and domestic tribunals. Legal groups such as the Center for Constitutional Rights, the ACLU, the National Lawyers Guild and others will both attend and participate in the conference.
Established in 1988, the Massachusetts School of Lawat Andover provides an inexpensive, quality legal education to minorities, immigrants and students from low-income families that would usually be denied any opportunity to obtain a legal education and subsequently practice law.
Dean Velvel has been honored by the National Law Journal and often cited in various publications for his contributions to legal education reform.
I guess it was inevitable that it would fall upon a group of legal NGOs to finally begin the long march to justice and accountability. I say if Pelosi and Conyers won't hold this scofflaw administration accountable let 'em join the tribunal... as co-defendants.
Complicity has consequences...
Please support the aforementioned organizations in any way you can.
We need the lawyers always.
Peace