General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Dick Cheney should be tried as a war criminal [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)and reading books on this. That's for a grand jury and then, possibly, a judge and jury to decide.
Thousands died. A Secretary of State who makes a speech like he made based on sheer lies? I don't think you can determine that he is not criminally responsible so easily. He may not be, but I think a grand jury should be called.
It was at the least a failure to defend the Constitution, to protect the division of authority in that Congress was not properly informed of all the facts. All involved including Colin Powell should face some sort of penalties for that.
Think how the Republicans castigated Susan Rice for the fact that she was misinformed about the events in Benghazi. Diplomatic personnel are responsible for knowing the truth about those things within their responsibility.
Colin Powell is responsible for his failure to insist on knowing all the facts and on his failure to check the facts with regard to what he stated before the UN. And the Hubris documentary points out that he complained about some of the incorrect facts. Clearly he was not fired for doing that. He had the obligation to our country to inquire about any doubts he had. He had the obligation to refuse to give his speech.
Each one of us bears responsibility of that kind. He is and was no different from the rest of us.