Memos Reveal War Crimes Warnings

[Spazito]

Could Bush administration officials be prosecuted for 'war crimes' as a result of new measures used in the war on terror? The White House's top lawyer thought so

May 17 - The White House's top lawyer warned more than two years ago that U.S. officials could be prosecuted for "war crimes" as a result of new and unorthodox measures used by the Bush administration in the war on terrorism, according to an internal White House memo and interviews with participants in the debate over the issue.

The concern about possible future prosecution for war crimes—and that it might even apply to Bush adminstration officials themselves— is contained in a crucial portion of an internal January 25, 2002, memo by White House counsel Alberto Gonzales obtained by NEWSWEEK. It urges President George Bush declare the war in Afghanistan, including the detention of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters, exempt from the provisions of the Geneva Convention.

In the memo, the White House lawyer focused on a little known 1996 law passed by Congress, known as the War Crimes Act, that banned any Americans from committing war crimes—defined in part as "grave breaches" of the Geneva Conventions. Noting that the law applies to "U.S. officials" and that punishments for violators "include the death penalty," Gonzales told Bush that "it was difficult to predict with confidence" how Justice Department prosecutors might apply the law in the future. This was especially the case given that some of the language in the Geneva Conventions—such as that outlawing "outrages upon personal dignity" and "inhuman treatment" of prisoners—was "undefined."

more

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4999734/

Thanks to dArKeR for finding this!)

[stepnw1f]

1. IMPEACHMENT

I am waiting for the moral republican crusaders to do the right thing. Still waiting.... **crickets**

[Jacobin]

4. Impeachment, HELL. I want a war crimes trial.

Convict the bastards responsible for this stuff.

Will Smirky beg for leniency?

[Just Me]

5. Impeachment usually includes no jail time.

I want these stone-hearted Machiavellan murderers in jail!

OFF TO THE HAGUE!!!

THEY KNEW THEY WERE COMMITTING WAR CRIMES!!!!

THEY KNEW!!!!

:argh:

[stepnw1f]

8. Your Right

Off to the house of pain!!!!

[struggle4progress]

11. We really will need to convince the rest of the world ...

that we believe in International Law. So the Hague is not only the right thing to do but diplomatically correct! It would be great to see George and Tony together in the dock.

[peterh]

13. It would go a long way in reclaiming….

Some of the credibility lost in the last three years…..

But….lets not stop there….need to also unlock the Raygun & Poppy Presidential papers, then ship the whole lot off to the Hague….


edited for added content...

[Jacobin]

2. My my my........

Noting that the law applies to "U.S. officials" and that punishments for violators "include the death penalty,"


The death penalty for U. S. Officials for violating U.S. law on war crimes.

Goodness gracious! Is Rumfilled uncomfortable with the thought?

What will Babs wear to Smirky's capital trial?

Will Wolfowitz turn states evidence?

Will Feith flee to Israel and ask for asylum?

The questions never end with this little tidbit.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. There are quite a few NeoCon sphincters tightening up tonight...

...if you listen real close toward Washington, DC, you can almost hear that sucking sound.

[SpiralHawk]

24. Neo-Con Sphincters ? Puh-lease...

Have some respect for those who suffer from MDS (Metaphor Delicacy Syndrome).

I mean, really, must we go there? I feel a case of the vapors coming on...

[darkstar]

9. Plus, a product of the glorius, late 20th century Repulikan Revolution ,

not some leftie set-up:

"In the memo, the White House lawyer focused on a little known 1996 law passed by Congress, known as the War Crimes Act...."

:hi:

Got rain?

[Jacobin]

15. Oh yeah

Lots of rain.

Ready for some sunshine.

:hi:

[robbedvoter]

3. "If I had anything to hide, would I have gone?" W after 911 commission

The gang of thugs - trying to cover their tracks in the commission of their crimes... But Powell wants the Arab world to be more outraged...

[Just Me]

7. Time to get Cheney's OIL plans out there, too!!!!

Time to show that this war was about profiteering!!!!

Freakin' murderin' war-profiteers!!!

[Tinoire]

10. Off to the Hague & Hang them all. n/t

[FreakinDJ]

12. Jail Time for Rummy..Impeachment for Bush

Looks like the ground work has been done

Time now to take it to the streets until congress and the media demand these jokers stand trial for their crimes

[TankLV]

16. Impeachment is too late for this election cycle.

We are too close to the elections, Kerry will probably win, the repukes controll everything.

This will go nowhere without a democratic party controlled congress and senate.

Nothing will happen until January at the earliest.

Nothing will happen either if bunkerboy steals another term along with the repukes.

Just some common sense observations, no matter how justified impeachment has always seemed.

Repukes and dinos like Zell and Lieberman will never go along with it either.

[Beetwasher]

14. Oh My Fucking God!! This is Being Discussed in Newsweek????

I know, it's an online exclusive, but STILL!!!! This is incredible. War crimes and Bush admin. in the same sentence in a mainstream news source!!!

[Jacobin]

17. Delicious, no?

:o)

Been a loooooong time coming, but, by damn they earned it.

[Walt Starr]

18. Okay, here's the plan

1) Kerry defeats Bush November 2, 2004.
2) Kerry inagurated, January 20, 2005.
3) Entire Bush Cabal is indicted on war crimes.
4) Entire Bush Cabal sentenced to death.

It would be justice.

[Just Me]

20. I prefer they rot in a cell with yellow walls, white chairs and wearing

orange prison grubs,...for the rest of their natural lives. But, even as an anti-death penalty advocate,...I have had fantasies of them all walking down their own death rows,...only to be forced to suffer their whole life in a cell.

[Beetwasher]

21. Dude! I Was Just Thinking It COULD HAPPEN! The Military Has TURNED

on Bush. If the military is behind their prosecution, Kerry (THE PROSECUTER!!) could pull it off!

[riverwalker]

19. the wheels of justice turn slowly.....

but they grind exceedingly fine.
;)

[maddezmom]

22. be sure to read powell's memo if you have pdf

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4999363/

[Spazito]

23. Thanks for pointing the pdf out, I would have missed them!

This is dynamite, imo! Not only are there leaks to Mr. Hersh, it looks like Isikoff has his sources too.

[Moderator]

25. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x560305#561893