Leahy: Let War Criminals Go Free

[garybeck]

Leahy: Let War Criminals Go Free
Feb 24, 2009
The Solar Bus Blog



A couple weeks ago Senator Patrick Leahy announced his intentions to set up a “truth commission” to uncover the immoral and illegal acts that took place during the Bush administration - from spying on Americans to illegal torture. Many citizens and legal experts have expressed concerns that such a commission would likely offer immunity to people who have committed serious crimes. When confronted on the Rachel Maddow program, Senator Leahy made the following statement:

“I think because of the fact it’s very, very public and the way they find out about it, it makes it very clear to the next person, you try the same thing, you are going to be found out, you are going to be prosecuted,” Leahy said.

I, and many observers alike have commented - where is the logic here? If people admit to serious crimes and they are allowed to go free, what kind of message does this really send to people in the future? Clearly it shows that they WON’T be prosecuted - the exact opposite of Leahy’s statement. And even beyond what future government officials may think when they’re considering similar acts, it also sends a message to the American people today - that people in power are above the law.

Senator Leahy knows that no one is supposed to be above the law. If serious crimes were committed, those who committed them should to be prosecuted. THIS is the only way to effectively send a message to people in the future. Letting criminals go free sends the wrong message. No one is denying the need for selective immunity being granted to those who have important knowledge of the case — this use of immunity is common in prosecutions throughout our justice system. But offering blanket immunity to everyone who will participate in a “truth commission” sends a bad message to future potential criminals and the American people today.

Last week I expressed my concerns in a letter addressed to Mr. Leahy, who happens to be my Senator. I received a letter back from him today, which was equally disappointing. In the letter he reiterated that the truth commission would not involve prosecutions:

“We need to get to the bottom of what happened so we can make sure it never happens again … People would be invited to come forward and share their knowledge and experiences, not for purposes of constructing criminal indictments, but to assemble the facts …”

Senator Leahy, with all due respect, assembling the facts is one step in making sure it never happens again. But if you stop there and let people go, it does not accomplish your stated goal of making sure it never happens again. In fact it invites future transgressions. If your truth commission takes place and similar acts are committed in the future, I would hold you partially responsible - personally.

rest of article:
http://solarbus.org/blog

[kirby]

1. I posted this the day I heard him speak...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5016000&mesg_id=5016172

[pocoloco]

2. dipfucks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2382566

[garybeck]

3. Either Leahy is going senile or he's playing us for a fool.

[Winterblues]

10. A politician playing Americans for fools...no say it ain't true...

I suppose next you will be saying politicians aren't always honest either? :crazy:

[spanone]

4. politicians protect their own

leahy is a politician

this needs an independent prosecutor, if there are any left

[AtomicKitten]

5. Wrong message, Leahy. The war criminals don't deserve that kind of deference. n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. Then he would be complicit in aiding and abetting. We are so screwed.

[Solly Mack]

7. "the next person"

...the next person

next

snort

[EFerrari]

8. We cannot allow that to happen. In fact, we need to let him know

that the longer they take to move on these war criminals, the longer we have to look into the complicity of Congressional Democrats who were briefed on classified material.

[garybeck]

11. i think that could backfire

the legislative branch is trying to protect its own here.

they should do their job which is to MAKE laws, not enforce them. If they're going to get involved, it should be to take up the slack where the executive branch is not doing it's job, not to let people go free.

[guitar man]

9. Sadly

Sadly, the government has become just like the WWF. The players on each side growl, snarl, posture and say nasty things about each other, but at the end of the day, they all work in the same place and get their bread buttered by the same interests. They'll make noise and put on a show, but they aren't out to really "hurt each other". No matter what any of them has done. It's become beyond pathetic. The very fact that Karl Rove hasn't been dragged in shackled is very telling of how the culture of DC works.

Pathetic :(