CITIZENS' TRIBUNAL TO INDICT PRESIDENT ON ALLEGED WAR CRIMES AND ...

[G_j]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/6489

CITIZENS' TRIBUNAL TO INDICT PRESIDENT ON ALLEGED WAR CRIMES AND OTHER VIOLATIONS
Submitted by davidswanson on Fri, 2006-01-06 22:00. Activism | Criminal Prosecution

When: 1:30 pm, January 10, 2006
Where: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
Website: www.bushcommission.org

Contact: Larry Everest or Janet Yip: 212-941-8086 or email: [e-mail]

A bill of indictment will be delivered to the White House in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006 at 1:30PM charging the President of the United States and other named individuals in his administration with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A press conference will take place in Lafayette Park following delivery of the indictments to the White House. Present to answer questions will be Retired CIA Analyst Ray McGovern and others Commission participants. The indictments will also be delivered to the Department of Justice.

Named in the indictment are;
President of the United States George W. Bush,
Vice President Richard Cheney,
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld,
US Army Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez,
US Army Major General Geoffrey Miller,
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and others

These indictments result from preparatory work and testimony presented at in New York City on October 21 and 22, 2005 at the opening session of The International Commission of Inquiry On Crimes Against Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration, alleging illegal acts carried out or approved by the above named individuals in relation to, or in the conduct of, the following;

1) Wars of Aggression, particular reference to Iraq and Afghanistan; 2) Torture and Indefinite Detention; 3) Destruction of the Global Environment, particular reference to systematic policies; contributing to the effects of global warming; 4) Attacks on Global Public Health and Reproductive Rights, particular reference to the genocidal effects of forcing international agencies to promote "abstinence only" in the midst of a global AIDS epidemic; and 5) Bush Administration's lethal response to Hurricane Katrina

The concluding sessions of the International Commission of Inquiry will be at the Riverside Church and the Columbia University Law School in New York on January 20-22. The Commission was organized by the Not In Our Name Statement of Conscience and is endorsed by: Center for Constitutional Rights, National Lawyers Guild, After Downing Street.Org and many other prominent individuals and organizations, including Former Sen. James Abourezk, former British MP Tony Benn, authors Gore Vidal, Howard Zinn and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and actor Edward Asner.

The above-named defendants are invited to appear or to send representatives to speak in their defense before a panel of distinguished jurors. This is the first opportunity in the USA for a complete public hearing of the charges and the evidence and testimony supporting them.

Charter, full indictments, standards for judgment, and audio and video coverage of the first session: http://www.bushcommission.org

[Bluerthanblue]

1. the beautiful irony of

a perfect circle.

Refreshingy positive news.

(spell)!

[carolinalady]

2. What exact legal authority in the United States do these people

have? Is this purely ceremonial? Why do they not present this to the UN for international crimes? Any info is appreciated.

[bowens43]

3. No authority of course.

but it's fun.

[H2O Man]

4. The authority of the vote.....

and all powers described within the Bill of Rights. That's a heck of a lot of authority, should the public become focused enough to harness it.

[G_j]

8. well said!

an excellent reminder
:applause:

[truth2power]

39. Thanks, H2O Man...

If we could ever get the citizens of this country to FOCUS what power they do have,(nearly impossible with the current state of things) we might be able to drive these vermin out of Our House.

[No Exit]

5. I believe they have the same amount of authority which

the president has when he declares that he will only follow the anti-torture bill HE signed when he feels like it.

In other words: none.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. They have no authority.

This is a symbolic gesture.

[MyNameGoesHere]

48. take a look

at amendment 10 of the constitution "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." If i am reading this correctly they are trying to indict on war crimes. This is not treason although definitely a high crime. I would not call the true power of the people symbolic. Also didn't the supreme court actually give the green light to indictment with the Clinton decision? I believe it is only symbolic because most people will not join in and say "I have the power" My country is so sad.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

51. Uh huh.

Look, I support the point that they're making, but you're a fool if you think this has any legal standing.

[MyNameGoesHere]

54. I am saying it could if we the people

made it so. And btw what da fuck is the "fool" reference needed for?

[texpatriot2004]

7. K & R this movement nm

[upi402]

9. K&R great idea

Oh the media will drop all the missing white chick stories and cover this like a blanket.
Media traitors must pay in the near future.
I can't wait...

[Independent_Liberal]

10. Kick!

[zippy890]

11. Kick How about a citizen's arrest?

After the citizens tribunal, of course

Great idea, this one!

[Acryliccalico]

12. Kick..........n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. Who cares?

I mean, really.

[Beam Me Up]

14. I do.

[Bluerthanblue]

15. me too- and,

the only 'authority' any group or organization has is that which people choose to acknowledge-
bush has tried to choose, and 'rule' this country 'out' of the jurisdiction of established global organizations, but that doesn't mean we cannot, and will not, be held 'accountable'-

America is sposed to be government "OF, BY, and FOR =THE PEOPLE"- with the 'consent' of the governed' is something else i've often heard thrown around-

If people stop attempting to counter abusive authority, we may as well lay down and die.

[Beam Me Up]

18. I totally agree. At this point I no longer consent to be governed by the

Bush administration. Verbal protestations to the contrary, they have shown themselves repeatedly to be in total opposition to their oaths of office.

[alcibiades_mystery]

24. Why?

What difference does it make?

[Beam Me Up]

30. The difference that makes a difference will come when enough people

get organized around a central issue. What is being discussed is a step, one of many needed to change the course our ship of state is now on. People have organized around this issue and are beginning to mobilize in solidarity with other groups. I'm going to the demonstration today. I don't expect anything will change directly or immediately as a result. But it is what I must do--while it is still legal to do it. For if what I fear comes to pass, even symbolic acts of dissent may soon be suppressed.

[alcibiades_mystery]

44. OK, let's review

Every little step counts towards "liberation," but we're likely to be fully suppressed soon anyway.

Sounds like a nice operation you're running there. Sign me up.

[G_j]

17. who cares?

The Center for Constitutional Rights, National Lawyers Guild, After Downing Street.Org and many other prominent individuals and organizations, including Former Sen. James Abourezk, former British MP Tony Benn, authors Gore Vidal, Howard Zinn and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and actor Edward Asner for example.

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. OY

Big fat zero. OK, so moderately interesting symbolic operation, but completely ineffectual and silly otherwise. Snore.

[G_j]

25. and you have alternatives I suppose?

such as do nothing?

[G_j]

34. mmm...

so I guess the answer is a "big zero"

go figure :eyes:

[onenote]

65. here's an alternative -- work to elect Democrats

Rather than spending time chasing silly windmills.

onenote

[FreedomAngel82]

29. If people like you don't care, guess what?

Don't bother others who do! Go and watch the first video. "To understand how deeply unjust this war is we have to examine the politics and goals of this war." You want to attack Iran or another surrounding country for the same purpose? It's called EDUCATION! It's disgusting people don't give a damn that soldiers are dying for GREED!

[alcibiades_mystery]

45. The fact that you have an imaginary campaign in your signature line says

quite a lot about your faith in imaginary responses, like this war crimes trial. I'm not particularly interested in imaginary responses. Perhaps you can dream up some real ones. As for education (!), the only thing this teaches anyone is the pathetically inept grandstanding of the left. Can't actually do politics? Well let's put on a play, tra la la...Great plan.

[truth2power]

41. "snore" ...good for you. Just go back to sleep, Alcibiades. n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

42. Oh, you're right

I've been thoroughly awakened by a group of lefties holding ineffectual and meaningless tribunals. Wow, I can see clearly now...:eyes:

[truth2power]

67. If our voice is the only thing we have..

then that's what we use. Throughout history, people of conscience have spoken out against evil. I truly don't understand why you think that taking a principled stand is necessarily ineffectual and meaningless. How can you accurately predict what it amy mean in the future?

[Cults4Bush]

21. I do... I mean this might be a dorp in the bucket but a million drops

and we just might be able to put this fire out ya know?

[rman]

38. a majority thinks the war is illegal,

so presumably many people do care

[alcibiades_mystery]

43. Whether one thinks the war is illegal

Has no bearing on whether one thinks this silly little tribunal is of the least relevance to anything but its organizers egos.

[rman]

47. whatever - but many people do care

on edit:

If nothing else, it's a way to protest this administration. You're not going to say that protesting does not matter, are you?

[alcibiades_mystery]

49. Care about what?

I care about the war. I just think this tribunal business is silly.

[rman]

52. care about the thing about which you asked "who cares?"

right here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=74185&mesg_id=74498

in case you forgot, that was your reply to
"CITIZENS' TRIBUNAL TO INDICT PRESIDENT ON ALLEGED WAR CRIMES"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=74185&mesg_id=74185

[alcibiades_mystery]

53. I didn't forget

I don't care about the citizen's tribunal, because it seems like a remarkably useless gesture. I don't think many do care, either.

[G_j]

56. wow

your contribution on this thread has been remarkably deep and full of compelling ideas and insights! No wonder you feel superior to people like Howard Zinn.
:sarcasm:

[alcibiades_mystery]

60. When Howard Zin acts like a dimwit, I say so

The strange part is that you would feel inferior to Howard Zinn. Some "leftism" you got going on there, pal!

[G_j]

61. wtf are you talking about?

and my name is not pal.

[alcibiades_mystery]

62. ay yay yay

follow the thread, ace.

[G_j]

63. wrong again

the name is not ace either

[alcibiades_mystery]

64. whatever

champ.

[truth2power]

40. Geez! I don't believe what I'm reading on this thread...

What do you mean, "Who cares"?

The only thing we have left is our voices. I think people should speak out,, for the same reason I think articles of impeachment should be drawn up by Dems in Congress - BECAUSE IF WE DON'T REPUDIATE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY, THEN WE ARE COMPLICIT!

Whether or not what we propose has any hope of being acted on is not the issue.

[alcibiades_mystery]

46. That's where I disagree, I suppose

Whether that which is being proposed has any chance of being acted upon seems precisely the fucking issue, if you're looking to get anything actually done. Too many on DU are content with imaginary responses to real problems. Well and good, I suppose, for some weird personal satisfaction, but who cares, really.

[G_j]

55. and you have alternatives I suppose?

(shall we try this again?)

Maybe It's just me, but I tend to start to wonder when somebody spends a lot of energy tearing town ideas and refuses to offer any ideas.

In fact, what you are doing is far emptier and nonconstructive than what you are tearing down could ever possibly be.

Now, care to OFFER anything constructive?

[alcibiades_mystery]

59. LOL

Hey now. All I said is that the tribunal business was silly. That doesn't buy me into having to offer anything. If my neighbor puts a new pile of stinking dogshit on his head every day to symbolize the oppression of the Bush regime, calling it stupid in no way requires me to construct a whole new program to "fight" that regime. Probably working at the grassroots as per usual political action is sufficient, huh? That's the point. These tribunals and other such nonsense are a waste of time precisely because they distract people on the left from the real work of politics, which involves not empty symbolic gestures but real grassroots political act6ion. This trial is a circle jerk of self-satisfied lefties. So, you want to satisfy yourself? Go nuts. But really, who fucking cares?

[Bluerthanblue]

68. if you are only interested in 'doing' things that

you "judge" to be those that will have a genuine impact to change our current path ( and who are you to be the imperial wizard?) Then what are you doing wasting your precious time posting on this thread?
Do you believe your negative view will impact the future for the better?
Or are you involved in your own self satisfaction circle????

If you are so anxious to condemn something, then YES you do have a responsibility to offer a reason why, and be willing to show everyone you are discounting- and discouraging "your" 'better way'-

If all you have is condemnation, why waste everyones time, most especially yours?

and, I FUCKING CARE- apathy is what got us into this hell, and will keep us there.

[alcibiades_mystery]

69. blah blah blah

I didn't realize I was condemning anything. I thought i was calling something silly, which it is. As for my time, my responses here have taken far less time and energy than the rah rah bullshit over this weird little circle jerk. :rofl:

[G_j]

70. LOL

We might have had a constructive conversation, but condescending attitudes don't really lend themselves to that do they?

[seemslikeadream]

16. Thanks G_j for posting,

a belated present for you. :hi:


http://eclectech.co.uk/messagefestive.php?i=cji

[G_j]

19. thank you friend!

Babylon System


We refuse to be
What you wanted us to be;
We are what we are:
That's the way (way) it's going to be. If you don't know!
You can't educate I
For no equal opportunity:
(Talkin' 'bout my freedom) Talkin' 'bout my freedom,
People freedom (freedom) and liberty!
Yeah, we've been trodding on the winepress much too long:
Rebel, rebel!
Yes, we've been trodding on the winepress much too long:
Rebel, rebel!

Babylon system is the vampire, yea! (vampire)
Suckin' the children day by day, yeah!
Me say: de Babylon system is the vampire, falling empire,
Suckin' the blood of the sufferers, yea-ea-ea-ea-e-ah!
Building church and university, wo-o-ooh, yeah! -
Deceiving the people continually, yea-ea!
Me say them graduatin' thieves and murderers;
Look out now: they suckin' the blood of the sufferers (sufferers).
Yea-ea-ea! (sufferers)

Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth right now!
Come on and tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth;
Tell the children the truth;
Come on and tell the children the truth.

'Cause - 'cause we've been trodding on ya winepress much too long:
Rebel, rebel!
And we've been taken for granted much too long:
Rebel, rebel now!

(Trodding on the winepress) Trodding on the winepress (rebel):
got to rebel, y'all (rebel)!
We've been trodding on the winepress much too long - ye-e-ah! (rebel)
Yea-e-ah! (rebel) Yeah! Yeah!

From the very day we left the shores (trodding on the winepress)
Of our Father's land (rebel),
We've been trampled on (rebel),
Oh now! (we've been oppressed, yeah!) Lord, Lord, go to ...

<*Sleeve notes continue:[br />Now we know everything we got to rebel
Somebody got to pay for the work
We've done, rebel.]

- Bob Marley

[seemslikeadream]

20. Say they tried to fool the black population

They tried to fool the black population
By telling us jah jah dead
Say they tried to fool the black population
By telling us jah jah dead..
I & I knows jah - jah nuh dead - jah nuh dead

Jah nuh dead

Jah nuh dead

Jah nuh dead

Jah nuh dead

Oooh nooo - jah nuh dead

My knowledge increase
My memory reflect
Marcus Garvey did say

A rumour rumour rumour rumour rumour
Aah Marcus say

Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Oooh nooo - jah nuh dead

It was I-man who say
Green and gold, it's the rainbow

The lion the lion decrowned the king
The lion the lion decrowned the king
Inna in adis abeba - aaafrica

Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Jah nuh dead
Oooh nooo - jah nuh dead

Meet me at the bank of the beautiful river
When your journey has end
I & I will discuss about this matter
Jah nuh dead, jah nuh dead, jah nuh dead [/font}

[G_j]

22. :-)

:applause:

[earth mom]

26. Kicked & Recommended! eom

[AZBlue]

35. I like your signature line. And it explains the importance of this event.

Visualization and collective thought are powerful things...this is a good impetus to get things moving in the right direction.

[earth mom]

36. Thanks-feel free to use it! And I like your sig line too! :) eom

[Terran1212]

27. There already was the World Tribunal on Iraq

That was held in many cities and concluded in Istanbul.

[FreedomAngel82]

31. So what?

[FreedomAngel82]

28. Is Wolfowitz in there?

Don't forget he had a big role in this too!

[FreedomAngel82]

32. It's not just about Iraq

It's about everything from Iraq to New Orleans. It's very good. You should all watch it.

[G_j]

33. yep

thank you!

[kentuck]

37. Just go in and make a citizen's arrest....

They are not above the law!

[alcibiades_mystery]

50. Good luck with that

...

[onenote]

66. yeah right...

You plan to walk right up the President and slap cuffs on him? What's the plan -- to yell "Hey Secret Service, look over there!" and then run past them yelling "citizens arrest, citzens arrest"?

Maybe you can get Gomer Pyle to do it for you.


onenote

[rumpel]

57. We need media presence..at least.

[Imagevision]

58. This is excellant - gotta start somewhere - every little bit helps!