The Suskind book and a possible bill of impeachment.

"A new book by the author Ron Suskind claims that the White House ordered the CIA to forge a back-dated, handwritten letter from the head of Iraqi intelligence to Saddam Hussein.

Suskind writes in “The Way of the World,” to be published Tuesday, that the alleged forgery – adamantly denied by the White House – was designed to portray a false link between Hussein’s regime and al Qaeda as a justification for the Iraq war.

The author also claims that the Bush administration had information from a top Iraqi intelligence official “that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq – intelligence they received in plenty of time to stop an invasion.”

The letter’s existence has been reported before, and it had been written about as if it were genuine. It was passed in Baghdad to a reporter for The (London) Sunday Telegraph who wrote about it on the front page of Dec. 14, 2003, under the headline, “Terrorist behind September 11 strike ‘was trained by Saddam.’”  Politico

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Suskind argues that this charge, if proven, would constitute a "High Crime."  I agree.  "Reasons of State" may be an excuse for such behavior in some polities, but, it is clear that it is not in the United States.

President Bush is called a liar and a law-breaker in this book.  The charge is that he, personally, ordered some documents forged and others ignored in order to lure the American people into support of a foreign war.  These are charges that make Bll Clinton's difficulties with his libido look rather trivial.

The charge is so serious that Bush deserves an opportunity to clear his name of the accusation.  Therefore, the House Judiciary Committee should meet to consider a bill of impeachment. Anything less will leave a stain on Bush that will follow his family name down through the ages.  pl

Note:  I know Ron Suskind fairly well and respect both him and what I have read of his work in the past.  I have not discussed this book with him although we have talked about the general direction of his work.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12308.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_in_the_United_States

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Suskind_Congress_wants_testimony_about_Iraq_0806.html

Comments

[505th PIR]

Should this prove true...Mr. Bush should have his bedroom wall papered with photographs of the war dead..with actual photographs of battlefield causualties liberally sprinkled amongst them. When he wakes up and goes to bed thereupon he must gaze.

[J]

Colonel,

sadly, i just don't see any in the congress (other than kucinich) on the dem or gop side for that matter seeking articles of impeachment against bush or cheney or both. both conyers and pelosi have said that impeachment is 'off the table'.

[Cato]

"Anything less will leave a stain on Bush that will follow his family name down through the ages."

This strikes me as sort of like saying that an Appaloosa will have an extra spot on its rump. That's no big deal to the horse.

[lina]

"Anything less will leave a stain on Bush that will follow his family name down through the ages." pl

If Bush cared about the family name, he'd be a different person. The man is so insulated from reality, concepts like shame and remorse don't exist for him.

The ridiculous impeachment of Bill Clinton turned this constitutional remedy into a farce. And with less than three months to go until a new president is elected, no one has the stomach for a complete review of Bush-Cheney sins against America. Mr. Suskind can produce all the coroboration he wants, the American electorate has "moved on."

Personally, I'd like to see Bush and Cheney flown to The Hague and tried for war crimes. I'd like to see Crazy Dick sitting in one of those glass cubicles listening to a translation of the case against him.

Alas,relying on our lilly-livered Congress to do anything about anything seems far-fetched at this point.

[Duncan Kinder]

Suskind argues that this charge, if proven, would constitute a "High Crime." I agree. "Reasons of State" may be an excuse for such behavior in some polities, but, it is clear that it is not in the United States.

Unfortunately, Nancy Pelosi has taken impeachment off the table, which means that not only this but anything else one might conjecture fails to qualify as "High Crimes."

Nancy's reasons for doing this are the same as her reasons will be during the next term for her failing to deliver on any sort of health care reform or her finding it necessary to renew the Bush tax cuts.

"Bipartisanship" or something like that.

[Hudson]

Good for you for highlighting this abomination.

Suskind is a respected journalist who won many awards as a Wall Street Journal reporter for most of the 90s.

Yet the White House response has been to accuse Suskind of practicing "gutter" journalism.

That the Bush camp would make such an utterly baseless charge against an honorable man only heightens the likelihood that the White House is lying.

[jonst]

Since he claims (and I don't doubt)he has the tapes that he interprets as backing his charges I suspect not even the Dems can find a way out of not investigating this. Though you never know, with them.

[Cold War Zoomie]

The House Judiciary Committee won't do anything. Bush has played the Congress like a cheap violin since HJR 114. Apart from Social Security privatization, he has gotten almost everything he has wanted - which is why I don't think he's as dumb as he appears (and he appears like an absolute oaf at times).

The Dems are scared of being called names on cable news channels and talk radio. Bush and the GOP know this. Nothing will come of it.

Well, I shouldn't say "nothing." Someone will write a stern letter.

[Jose]

Col., I agree but it's an election year and to quote Stephen Colbert, "Nancy Pelosi has no balls!"

Dumbya and the Jacobin's will unfortunately get away with it.

Additionally, IMHO, it's probably only the beginning in what will probably be a long line of impeachable offenses by this administration.

Remember the Clinton pardon-scandals, just wait to Dumbya gets ready to leave.

[jr786]

Not just Bush: How about any and all who participated in this alleged forgery? If the charge is true, they should all be flogged.

Didn't anyone say: "No, I won´t participate in such a criminal ruse."? In fact, has any officer refused any order since these scoundrels came to power?

[Maureen Lang]

Thank you for this post, Pat.

Sic Semper Tyrannis indeed.

[dlb]

In response to jr786 I'd like to believe a goodly number of officers resigned without fanfare rather that besmirch themselves. And in response to lina here's what I envision: a future Iraqi gov requests that Bush/Cheney & Co be charged with war crimes by the Hague Tribunal. Would it work? Probably not.

[William R. Cumming]

History is going to be studying the question of could or should Congress have impeached George W. Bush (the trial of course is before the Senate) over his activities during his term. Whatever the outcome of that debate, the American people deserved far better than they got in my opinion from Bush and from the Congress. But that just is one more arrow in the quiver of weaponary assisting in documenting the decline of the Nation in the past generation. Whether Bush or Clinton or Bush the road downhill as it often is was paved with good intentions but the whole crew long ago adopted the end justifies the means approach. Where do we get such men? From US of course. Look in the mirror.

[J]

we had 'words of mass deception' from the bush-cheney admin. ever since it came to power (really even before -- during the campaign of 00). what is one more word of mass deception matter to the bush-cheney admin.?

"F___ Saddam. we're taking him out." Those were the words of President George W. Bush, who had poked his head into the office of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/03/24/timep.saddam.tm/

downing street memos
http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/memos.html

downing street memos for dummies
http://whatdoiknow.typepad.com/what_do_i_know/2005/06/downing_street_.html

blair acknowledge memos were authentic
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050630/2005063046.html

how the leaked docs questioning the war emerged
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1669292,00.html

white house memo extracts between bush and blair
http://www.channel4.com/news/special-reports/special-reports-storypage.jsp?id=1656

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."

George W Bush, 5/24/05
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050524-3.html

Dick Cheney
Speech to VFW National Convention
August 26, 2002

Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/08/20020826.html

George W. Bush
Speech to UN General Assembly
September 12, 2002

Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020912-1.html

Ari Fleischer
Press Briefing
December 2, 2002

If he declares he has none, then we will know that Saddam Hussein is once again misleading the world.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021202-6.html

Ari Fleischer
Press Briefing
January 9, 2003

We know for a fact that there are weapons there.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030109-8.html

George W. Bush
State of the Union Address
January 28, 2003

Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030128-19.html

Colin Powell
Remarks to UN Security Council
February 5, 2003

We know that Saddam Hussein is determined to keep his weapons of mass destruction, is determined to make more.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2003/17300.htm [this has been scrubbed from the state dept. web site]

George W. Bush
Radio Address
February 8, 2003

We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons -- the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030208.html

Colin Powell
Interview with Radio France International
February 28, 2003

If Iraq had disarmed itself, gotten rid of its weapons of mass destruction over the past 12 years, or over the last several months since (UN Resolution) 1441 was enacted, we would not be facing the crisis that we now have before us . . . But the suggestion that we are doing this because we want to go to every country in the Middle East and rearrange all of its pieces is not correct.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2003/18094.htm [this has been scrubbed from the state dept. web site]

Colin Powell
Remarks to UN Security Council
March 7, 2003

So has the strategic decision been made to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction by the leadership in Baghdad? . . . I think our judgment has to be clearly not.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2003/18458.htm [this has been scrubbed from the state dept. web site]

George W. Bush
Address to the Nation
March 17, 2003

Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html

the various cites about the bush-cheney admin. and their words of mass deception can go on for multiple pages.

the bush-cheney admin. could care less if they get caught in their lies, they think they are above the law, and in most cases they think they are law unto themselves and our Constitution and Bill of Rights be damned.

so sad for our children and grand children having to witness a spineless congress and deceitful white house.

[Leila Abu-Saba]

This is what the international courts are good for. Despite the high ideals of our Constitution and laws, we can no longer police ourselves and preserve our democracy against dictatorship and criminal leaders. I'm sorry that America does not have the political will to live by her own principles; indeed I hope my pessimism will be proven wrong, and that our Congress will indeed prosecute Bush and Co.

If not, I do hope that the rest of the world will have the strength to hold our war criminals to account. Justice and the rule of law is more important to me than clinging to national sovereignity. If we elect tyrants and refuse to use the lawful means at our disposal to depose them, then let the world court render justice.

Next year in the Hague!

[Homer]

If not impeachment, why not censure?

Back in 1999, Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat of California) wrote a motion to censure Clinton for lying about sex.

But now, in 2008, after hundreds of lies and a newly revealed forged document, Senator Feinstein does NOTHING to President Bush?

What she wrote lies below ....

Much of it could be easily re-used as a template for a motion to censure Bush....

WHEREAS -- William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate employee in the White House, which was shameless, reckless and indefensible;

WHEREAS -- William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, deliberately misled and deceived the American people and officials in all branches of the United States Government;

WHEREAS -- William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, gave false or misleading testimony and his actions have had the effect of impeding discovery of evidence in judicial proceedings;

WHEREAS -- William Jefferson Clinton's conduct in this matter is unacceptable for a President of the United States, does demean the Office of the President as well as the President himself, and creates disrespect for the laws of the land;

WHEREAS -- President Clinton fully deserves censure for engaging in such behavior;

WHEREAS -- future generations of Americans must know that such behavior is not only unacceptable but also bears grave consequences, including loss of integrity, trust and respect;

WHEREAS -- William Jefferson Clinton remains subject to criminal actions in a court of law like any other citizen;

WHEREAS -- William Jefferson Clinton's conduct in this matter has brought shame and dishonor to himself and to the Office of the President; and

WHEREAS -- William Jefferson Clinton through his conduct in this matter has violated the trust of the American people;

Now therefore, be it resolved that: The United States Senate does hereby censure William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, and condemns his conduct in the strongest terms.

Now be it further resolved that: The United States Senate recognizes the historic gravity of this bipartisan resolution, and trusts and urges that future Congresses will recognize the importance of allowing this bipartisan statement of censure and condemnation to remain intact for all time; and

Be it further resolved that: The Senate now move on to other matters of significance to our people, to reconcile differences between and within the branches of Government, and to work together -- across party lines -- for the benefit of the American people.

[linda]

there will never be any accountability for their crimes because madame speaker is complicit and any investigation would reveal the extent of her duplicity -- and several other democratic members of congress.

face it, this is no longer a nation that abides the rule of law. and quite frankly, considering other similar reports, i suspect any moves by congress to investigate with an eye to impeachment would most definitely guarantee no president barack obama would ever be allowed to cross the white house threshold.

[Ormolov]

Thank you for this post and thank you, J, for your long list.

"so sad for our children and grand children having to witness a spineless congress and deceitful white house."

My first memory of watching television was as a 3 year old gazing at Nixon try to weasel his way out of Watergate. For my entire life the U.S. President has been coupled in my mind with criminality.

Wait--who's that sitting behind Nixon? Oh yeah, Rumsfeld and Cheney.

[VietnamVet]

Colonel,

The letter is the ultimate of very strange. The publication was months after the Iraq invasion, after the looting, and the beginning of the Iraqi resistance; when even corporate media was grasping that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Even more interesting is the reference to the Niger uranium which blew up with the outing of Valerie Plame the summer before.

If the letter is real and is pre-dated, the fevered minds in the White House hung on to their grotesque illusions months and years after proven to be false. Saddam was in league with Osama, ready to trigger nuclear clouds and spreading anthrax through the postal system. Through the whole time, the White House instructed their neo-con pawns to disperse their illogical false flag propaganda blithely ignoring reality.

[alnval]

Col. Lang:

Although I am reluctant to put these sad thoughts on paper, I can’t help but wonder whether Susskind’s revelations simply confirm something I’ve been thinking about for some time: whether the rot in the country is so pervasive and widespread as to be incurable. That what we have been talking about in SST has been the nature of the country’s irretrievable decline and decay. The energy and housing crises and their genesis, the failure of the political system to use the institutional mechanisms whether legal or political available to it for self-correction, the basic draining and exhausting of the country’s potential for growth and prosperity by greed, religious domination and economic exploitation.

[Bill W, NH, USA]

Here's some interesting videos and text from Suskind, looks like he's got them by the .....

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Suskind_Congress_wants_testimony_about_Iraq_0806.html

[Annie]

I highly recommend Vincent Bugliosi's new book on the subject of bringing him to trial for murder. To watch Bugliosi's recent booktalk via cspan click here:
http://www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=9611&SectionName=&PlayMedia=No

[J]

Colonel,

the only 'thing' that i can see bringing any of the bush admin. to 'justice' will be 'first degree murder charges', as there is 'no statute of limitations' on murder, everything else has a 'time clause' or an 'escape clause'.

there is ample evidence for first degree murder charges against bush, cheney, and others in their administration.

[Pvt. Keepout]

Congress won't pursue impeachment because it would expose complicit, enabling Democratic leaders to the same legal liability as Republican administration officials.

[zanzibar]

It seems that SST is unanimous that absolutely nothing will be done nor anyone held accountable.

I think alnval speaks to many of our sentiments on this topic.

What we have seen since Watergate, Iran-Contra on - the law is only for us little people. Notice that our prison population grows every year but those who commit high crimes including treason and occupy the highest offices in our country are never charged let alone witness Club Fed.

We have a constitutional republic only in name.