Full article, with links, here:
http://georgewashington.blogspot.comPatrick Fitzgerald's indictment of Scooter Libby makes for entertaining headlines, but doesn't really move the ball forward in terms of punishing -- or even slowing down -- the Neocons who have dragged our country down the tubes and are pushing the planet to the brink of World War III. Fitzgerald didn't even get into the forged Niger uranium memorandum, apparently prepared at the request of the Neocons.
Even the Downing Street Memo and other evidence that high government officials "fixed the facts" in order to rationalize the war in Iraq is only a third of the story. Just as important is their knowing misrepresentation to congress and the American people that Saddam was behind September 11th. The Neocon policy of torture is the third important issue, and is covered here.
The Lies About 9/11 and Saddam
First of all, it is obvious that the attempt to tie Saddam to 9/11 was a knowing lie. Here a few relevant quotes for your consideration:
"We simply did not find any evidence of extensive links with al Qaeda, or for that matter any real links at all. Cheney's speech is evidence free. It is an assertion, but doesn't say why we should believe this now" –– David Kay, Weapons Inspector
"I can't make that claim" –– George W. Bush, when asked if there was a link between Saddam and 9-11.
"I have seen no smoking gun between Saddam and al Qaeda" –– Colin Powell
"The most intensive searching over the last two years has produced no solid evidence of a cooperative relationship between Saddam's government and al Qaeda" –– Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
I think some of the Administration’s claims of direct links between Zarqawi and al Qaeda as we knew it, frankly, are not true" –– Former Bush Counter-Terrorism expert Roger Cressey
"No credible evidence" has emerged connecting Iraq with 9-11 –– Conclusion of the Bush appointed 9-11 commission.
"I'm not sure even now that I would say Iraq had something to do with it," –– Paul Wolfowitz discussing the 9-11 attacks.
See, for example, this BBC article
In short, Saddam was framed for 9/11.
Why Does This Matter?
The 9-11 lies are just as important a grounds for criminal indictment or impeachment as the weapons of mass destruction lies. In fact, I would argue that they are much more important.
Why? Because the trauma of September 11, 2001 is what galvanized most Americans to rally around the Bush administration, to close ranks in time of peril, and to give Bush his "mandate" (putting questions of election fraud to the side). Ever since that terrible day, the American people have been terrified, and thus irrational, based upon the trauma of the vicious attacks. Since most Americans believe that the bad guys are "out there" and are about to get us unless we have a strong leader to fight them, they will not and CANNOT make any logical decisions about any other foreign or domestic issues until "we get the bad guys".
Imagine, if you would, that you were a citizen in Germany right after the Reichstag fire (i.e. the burning down of the German parliament building by Hitler's men) had occurred. Do you believe that you would have any success working on poverty, health care, unemployment, war or labor issues? How about a rational national security policy? I believe not, not without first exposing that the Reichstag fire - the single thing which allowed the German parliament and other institutions to hand Hitler total power - was exposed.
Can They Really Be Impeached for 9/11 Lies?
What is the basis for impeachment based on false statements about 9/11? Impeachment would be for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors under Article II, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. A good legal background concerning impeachment, written by former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, may be viewed here
Specific articles of impeachment related to related to Iraq and the "war on terror"
may be found here. Nothing is needed to add the administration's lies about 9/11 into the mix, although Section 2) could be amended to state: "Lying to the people of the U.S., to Congress, and to the U.N., providing false and deceptive rationales for war, including false statements concerning Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein's involvement in 9/11".
But Can They Be Indicted?
Top officials engaged in a criminal conspiracy to deceive the American people into believing that Saddam Hussein was behind or sponsored 9/11.
A criminal conspiracy to lie a country into war is a basis for indictments, and the high and mighty are not above the law.sis for indictments, and the high and mighty are not above the law.
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