DU Activist Proposal: American War Crimes Tribunal

[understandinglife]

Dear Skinner and DU Activist members,

I posted the following FOCUS: Just Planning War of Aggression IS A War Crime, yesterday.

You can review the original post and comments here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5481072&mesg_id=5481072

DRAFT Request

I request that you consider an DU Activist effort to accomplish the following:

1. Send the URL for the thread FOCUS: Just Planning War of Aggression IS A War Crime to every media outlet in the world, to all Members of Congress, to the CEOs of all Fortune 1000 companies, to the Presidents of all American and major foreign Universities, to the UN Ambassadors of each Nation, and to as many citizens of the USA as possible;

2. Send an accompanying message that states the following:

We request that you express your support for the creation and operation of an American War Crimes Tribunal.

The purpose of the Tribunal will be to assemble sufficient evidence to indict and prosecute any person who contributed to the concept, the planning, and/or any aspect of the implementation of the war of aggression on Iraq, occupation of Iraq, destruction of Iraqi resources, killing or harming in any way (including detention and torture) of Iraqi citizens, and any other violations by Americans and/or their allies.

The Tribunal will not consider itself finished until all claims against the United States of America and its allies have been robustly analyzed and, when appropriate, prosecuted.

The Tribunal will be comprised of American citizens with extensive legal expertise and recognition for their allegiance to the law rather than to political or other compromising affiliation(s).

The Tribunal will establish penalties, consistent with international standards for war criminals, excluding capital punishment.

The decision is ours: America or Not

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5443377&mesg_id=5443377

Thank you for your consideration, and I urge everyone to refine the message in whatever ways will best convey the intent that each of us intend to restore America by holding accountable those whom have violated the law,
UL


Peace.

[kansasblue]

1. some ideas....

"every media outlet in the world, to all Members of Congress, to the CEOs of all Fortune 1000 companies"


'every media outlet in the world'? for this event to happen the media outlets that matter are in the US and they are busy shrilling for GWB.

"Members of Congress"? They helped get us into this mess and some of them are on the hook for the crimes.

Most CEO are in the admin pockets.

To me it seems that you are asking all the varmints to help investigate who ate the chickens.

This has to be done at the citizen level. "to as many citizens of the USA as possible".

just my thoughts

[understandinglife]

2. My perspective is not that different from yours with one exception ...

... I intend the extensive messaging to place exactly those folk on notice and to show all our fellow citizens that we intend to give each person the choice to either be part of the steamroller-of-justice or part of the pavement.


Peace.

[mod mom]

6. excellent point!

[stellanoir]

3. recommended

and . . .it's about time. I suggest in most recent edit that a war crimes tribunal is the only way we will regain a smidgen of the moral authority that has been utterly trashed so swiftly, by current administration.

peace on

[julianer]

4. Why not Iraqi citizens on the Tribunal?

It doesn't seem right that the tribunal should have no input from the victims.

[understandinglife]

8. I view them as plaintiffs, but all of this needs detailed consideration.

Thank you for opening the discussion on this issue.


Peace.

[puebloknot]

25. Testimony from Iraqi Victims

I agree with UL that Iraqis would be plaintiffs in such an undertaking, but if you've ever seen that great film "Judgment at Nuremberg," you'll recall that there were many victims of the Nazi regime testifying about their mistreatment.

Once the floodgates are opened, there will be no end to the stories of criminal malfeasance on the part of the Bush junta.

And that commission is taking testimony from our own citizens who were abused and ignored during Katrina.

I recall hearing Dennis Kucinich saying, many times, that poverty and neglect are weapons of mass destruction.

[Maraya1969]

5. Here are some news outlets in England and Scotland

http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/news/

[understandinglife]

9. Thank you. Will study these, asap.

Peace.

[hippywife]

7. I posted this in your original thread, too

Tribunal already meeting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5481072&mesg_id=5491706

[understandinglife]

10. I will study these links and discuss later today ...

.... off to an early am meeting, now.


Peace.

[understandinglife]

19. EVERYONE -- PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING COMMENT:

Based on reading the Charter for this commission and reviewing the individuals involved, it appears to me that I should revise my request to Skinner and the DU Activist Group to bring as much attention to this existing Commission as possible.

Do you and others agree with that assessment?


Peace.

[hiley]

22. Yes, yes!

outstanding

[puebloknot]

24. Absolutely agree!

This is an already-existing point of focus around which we at DU can build the fire under a grassroots movement to make this happen.

I think most people are in the same boat I'm in: I want to do something, but I need a direction.

There is an abundance of war crimes evidence against Bush, et al. We the People just need to hear about it -- over and over and over again.

[hiley]

23. freespeech is the best

source, that and linktv. thanks
peace

[understandinglife]

32. My message to the "Bush Crimes Commission":

http://www.bushcommission.org/call-charter.htm

Dear Commission members,

I sent the information below, earlier today. Since that time we have expanded the discussion of how we might rapidly expand awareness in America of the need for each of us to hold Bush, Cheney and the neoconsters accountable - along with all their enablers in Congress, in corporations and special interest organizations.

One of our members suggested a very clever and simple idea, and audio/visual postcard - a rather primitive example of which can be viewed here:
http://postcards.AudioGenerator.com/P001/P1127857.htm

The example was developed for Congressman Kucinich's campaign. The ease of one person sending the 'postcard' to as many friends, family members, colleagues, is an attractive feature. And, the choice of who is delivering the message and the video imagery that can be attached expand the potential to deliver something much more compelling than the typical email message.

The technology used is not expensive:

http://mp3soundstream.com

Or, one can rely on AudioGenerator to provide a hosting service as was done in the Rep Kucinich example:

http://audiogenerator.com/default.asp?referringAffiliate=37125&r=

The idea would be for your Commission to create one or more "a/v postcards" and begin distributing the URL for all of your members and others to distribute. I would then create a post at DU and request that all DUers send the links to all their respective email lists. We could significantly expand awareness of the Commission's Jan., 2006, meeting and the need for all Americans to join together and hold our government accountable by being accountable participants, ourself.

I hope you find this information of value and look forward to being supportive.

Links sent to the Commission earlier today:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5481072

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x25267#25287

Peace.

[understandinglife]

35. Continuing to try to contact them ... no response yet.

Peace.

[julianer]

11. There's also this

http://www.respectcoalition.org/?did=948

International Peace Conference. Cindy Sheehan will be amonngst many others there.

Although this is a slightly different thing it may be worth your while to keep an eye on it. (Sorry about the indirect link - I couldn't find a direct one via google).

On edit:

And this as well - the World Tribunal on Iraq

http://www.worldtribunal.org/main/?

I think they have already identified many crimes through witness testimony and have levelled charges - but I'm unaware of the details.

P.S. very glad you are doing this. I will help if I can with stuff from UK/Europe.

[understandinglife]

14. Thank you for the additional links. I have actually posted here at DU ...

... extensively on the World Tribunal on Iraq and find the extensive work that they did as essential to an efficient process of assembling indictments to be issued by the American War Crimes Tribunal.

Will study the other link.

Thank you for your contributions, already, and for being willing to assist the effort.


Peace.

[Time for change]

12. Thank you for posting this Ul

And thank you for notifying me about it.

I believe that at this time in history there is nothing more important in the world than getting rid of our current "president"/administration and making our world leaders accountable for crimes against humanity. I greatly appreciate all your tremendous efforts in working towards that goal.

I do not know what the best approach is. Something tells me that your approach may be too "in your face" to be maximally effective, in that it would scare the hell out of many or most Americans. It may be that a subtler approach would be more effective. I don't know, but it may be worth thinking about.

I need to think about it a lot more. But at this point I am willing to try just about anything.

We must keep in mind that our mainstream news media is a great obstacle to our goals, and to democracy in this country in general. We are indeed fast becoming a facist country. It seems to me at this time that going around our mainstream media may be more effective than going straight at them. On the other hand, I think that most of our elected Dem. representatives in Congress are on our side -- though they don't feel free to express and act the way that they really feel, because of the powers that are alligned against democracy in our country.

[puebloknot]

26. Grassroots Alternative to Mainstream Media

Interesting thoughts about scaring Americans with the truth, and you make some good points about that. What's needed is a Pied Piper, and maybe hearing about this commission will help to serve that end.

There's some quote, from Gandhi, I think (and I'm paraphrasing here), but it's something to the effect that first they ridicule you, and then eventually they get on board. I'm as scared as anyone about being categorized as engaging in "terrorist" activity, but..."if not now, when?"

I agree we have to get around the media, and I have an idea in that regard which I'll post later today, when I have time.

I worked with the Kucinich for President campaign, and we used a simple little tool called the audio postcard to send out links all over the country to a "postcard" with a message from Dennis, or his supporters. The "postcard" is actually just a one-page web site, but people get excited about sending the link around in e-mail, and when it's opened, it's not just another dry e-mail but an appealing visual and an audio or video message. It's done in Flash, and non-techies can do it with ease.

I can see using this idea to keep an ongoing series of news bulletins going out by e-mail all over the world.

I have to figure out how this would work for a large group, but I'll post an audio postcard a bit later today, and see what everyone thinks about this.

Stay tuned!

[understandinglife]

31. I have discussed this approach with puebloknot by phone and will ...

... be placing a modified request to DU Activist in this thread later this evening -- focus will be on how we can assist the Bush Commission expand a 'grass-roots' campaign to inform every American citizen and demonstrate to the rest of the world that each of us are committed to holding our government -- Bush, Cheney, and all the other neoconsters -- and their corporate enablers, accountable.


Peace.

[Time for change]

33. Sounds like an interesting, exciting, and possibly very effective idea n/t

[understandinglife]

13. FYI. Larry Johnson supports this proposal and has granted me ...

... permission to post this fact here.

More responses to the excellent comments and links later today.

Thank you.


Peace.

[hiley]

16. that is good news

everyone must ban together

[mike_c]

15. war crimes tribunals are absolutely essential for America and the world...

We MUST investigate everyone who played a role in instigating the war against Iraq, including members of congress and of the Clinton administration, and prosecute those responsible for crimes against humanity.

[hiley]

18. agreed

"all responsible"

[hiley]

17. Most definitely support

this.

All war profiteers should be examined as well in hearings.

[understandinglife]

20. Guardian: Cheney 'may be guilty of war crime'

Cheney 'may be guilty of war crime'

· Vice-president accused of backing torture
· Claims on BBC by former insider add to Bush's woes

Julian Borger in Washington
Wednesday November 30, 2005
The Guardian

Vice-president Dick Cheney's burden on the Bush administration grew heavier yesterday after a former senior US state department official said he could be guilty of a war crime over the abuse of prisoners. Lawrence Wilkerson, who served as chief of staff to secretary of state Colin Powell from 2002 to 2005, singled out Mr Cheney in a wide-ranging political assault on the BBC's Today programme.

Mr Wilkerson said that in an internal administration debate over whether to abide by the Geneva conventions in the treatment of detainees, Mr Cheney led the argument "that essentially wanted to do away with all restrictions".

More at the link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1653936,00.html

This will be an issue until it is all brought before legitimate court(s) of law.


Peace.

[hiley]

21. It most certainly will

be the issue and I hope du does work on this as du activism project together.

[puebloknot]

27. Yes, a joint effort

In DU, and other forums, I often feel we're all kind of preaching to the choir (each other), and although that is often a first step toward forming a common vision, I love the idea of being involved in getting the truth out to people outside our "nunnery" here!

I think America is holding its breath, waiting for *something* they can get behind to take back the country. This commission could be it.

[hiley]

29. America is holding its breath, waiting for *something*

agreed, you can feel it

[BamaBecky]

28. kick

[understandinglife]

30. "Increasingly, politicians in Britain and Europe are showing a ...

... determination to find out whether the US has "black sites" in eastern Europe where harsh treatment of suspected terrorists would raise fewer questions. Alexander Alvaro, a German Liberal MEP and member of the European civil liberties committee, said Angela Merkel, the Chancellor, would raise the issue in talks with George Bush. "I think our Chancellor will point out that Germany would not tolerate secret camps in Europe."

There are growing calls at Westminster for Mr Blair to block the CIA flights. The Labour MP Harry Cohen said: "It is not for the UK Government to connive in and facilitate people disappearance. The Government's blind-eye approach to enforcing the law is not acceptable."

An all-party group to challenge the UK and US Governments over the transport of suspected terrorists, was launched yesterday at Westminster. It will be chaired by Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie, former Labour foreign affairs minister, Chris Mullin, and Sir Menzies Campbell, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Link:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article330660.ece

The world will hold America accountable ... just a matter of time.


Peace.

[bleever]

34. Weekend kick.