http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0531-20.htm"...Another war-related impeachment effort came in response to the Iran-Contra scandal. You wouldn't have known it from media coverage or congressional debate, but the Reagan administration's Iran-Contra maneuvers were part of a Washington-driven war that enabled the U.S.-backed Contra guerrillas to terrorize Nicaraguan civilians, killing thousands in the process.
When Rep. Henry Gonzalez, a Democrat from Texas, pushed for impeachment of President Reagan (and, for good measure, Vice President George H. W. Bush) in 1987, he stood virtually alone on Capitol Hill.
Gonzalez was back on high moral ground the day before the first President Bush launched the Gulf War. On Jan. 16, 1991, the maverick Democrat stood on the House floor and announced he was introducing a resolution with five impeachment charges against Bush. The National Journal reported: "Among the constitutional violations Bush committed, according to Gonzalez, were commanding a volunteer military whose 'soldiers in the Middle East are overwhelmingly poor white, black and Mexican-American or Hispanic-American,' in violation of the equal protection clause, and 'bribing, intimidating and threatening' members of the United Nations Security Council 'to support belligerent acts against Iraq,' in violation of the U.N. charter." In the past, attempts to impeach presidents for war crimes have sunk like a stone in the Potomac. If this time is going to be different, we need to get to work -- organizing around the country -- making the case for a thorough public inquiry and creating a groundswell that emerges as a powerful force from the grassroots. Only a massive movement will be strong enough to push over the media obstacles and drag politicians into a real debate about presidential war crimes and the appropriate constitutional punishment."
http://legalminds.lp.findlaw.com/list/forintlaw/msg00645.html"In his Memoirs, President Bush stated that the reason he ended the war
against Iraq so soon was that he feared impeachment. So the three of us were
unable to prevent that war. But we were able to shorten it--and save
countless numbers of innocent human beings. It was an honor and a privilege for me to
have served as Counsel to Congressman Gonzalez throughout this heroic
struggle. In my 23 years of practicing law, I have never worked with an
elected official who had so much courage, integrity, tenacity and principle.
An Obituary on Congressman Gonzalez appears in today's New York Times. May God hold Henry B. Gonzalez in the Palm of His Hand.
Francis A. Boyle
Professor of Law
> > The Gonzalez Resolution to Impeach George Bush
> > Congressional Record, Jan. 16, 1991, at H520-21.
> > RESOLUTION OF IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH> >
> > The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
> > gentleman from Texas
is recognized for 60 minutes.
> > Mr. GONZALEZ, Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness, and yet
with
> > equally great, if not greater, conviction, that I introduce today a
> > resolution of impeachment of President Bush. It is known as House
> > Resolution 34, and I will provide this resolution as introduced to be
> > appended at the end of my remarks today..."
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