"I don't want to see a truth commission. What I want is investigations in both Congress and the Justice Department of the federal and international crimes of Bush Administration officials. Specifically, I don't want to see any immunity or pardons granted to officials who tortured, spied on Americans, or otherwise violated the Constitution or the rights of people under international laws."
Since Senator Leahy sent me a note asking me to sign the petition for his Bush Truth Commission, I thought he was entitled to my opinion. So, I went to his website and wrote him that little note.
The note continues. . .
These people started an unnecessary war that resulted in the killings of hundreds of thousands of people, including thousands of Americans. They also virtually bankrupted the country for their own private gains. They are crooks and liars who deserve to serve life sentences. By comparison with any other person or group you've prosecuted these people have done far worse damage to our country and the world. Letting any of them get off without a full accounting and prison would be a travesty of justice that would send the wrong signal to other countries and would set a horrific precedent for ours.
So, please, make sure that whatever you do it does not deny justice.
Thank you.
The United States committed crimes in torturing detainees and in invading Iraq when they did not pose any imminent threat to our country. We have to atone for those crimes and the only way to do that is to make it clear that the American people will not tolerate them. We can’t do that if any of these people get off the hook. This is about the soul of the country. Do we really stand for what we say we believe in? Are we as good as our word on human rights and the rule of law? Or is this all just a sham, and the countries of the world should look elsewhere for their moral leadership?
And, in practical terms, is it U.S. policy to torture or is that something that comes and goes with various administrations? Are we going to let the precedent of the Bush years stand or are we going to tell those of the future that this country, conceived in liberty and dedicated to a famous proposition that everyone is equal, will not let a weak man and his weak administration go back on the promise of our founding?
Since Senator Leahy seems to be the sounding board for whether truth commissions will fly, I suggest you write him a note, too, at Senator Leahy’s website. Perhaps if he hears from enough people, the entire government will get the message.