http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_gerald_r_051231_bush_impeachment_3a_go.htmby Gerald Rellick
http://www.opednews.comRecent calls for George Bush’s impeachment for his transgressions against the Constitution, the rule of law, and the citizens of the United States, have encountered opposition even from those who, while in agreement with the legal arguments, believe it’s futile to go down this path because of the enormous odds against success. Not only are both Houses of Congress controlled by Republicans, but many Democrats are reluctant to challenge the president on war-related issues while American troops are serving in harm’s way....
So what are we to do? Allow George Bush to run roughshod over the Constitution and the law and continue abusing his office? No, something must be done to reign in a rogue president and to avoid changing the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches that would have serious long range consequences for the United States and the world.
Here’s a thought. Congress could go with the Al Capone strategy. Recall that after years of investigation by the FBI, the infamous Chicago gangster was finally charged with income tax evasion. Although Capone was clearly responsible for countless gangland murders, the FBI had no luck in finding anyone willing to testify against him and so had to settle for the lesser charge. Capone was found guilty of tax evasion, and to everyone’s astonishment, the federal judge sentenced Capone to eleven years in prison.
The analogy to George Bush would be for Congress to similarly limit its prosecutorial ambitions and “go for the field goal” – that is, focus on the secret Bush administration domestic wiretapping program carried out by the National Security Agency. By not challenging the president directly as a failed commander in chief, Congress would allow Bush to maintain full responsibility for the Iraq war, which would serve to lessen any temptations Bush might have to play games with Iraq in order to protect what he must see as his great “legacy”—and legacy it will be, although not as Bush envisions. As impeachment hearings on the domestic surveillance issue advanced, pressure on Bush from Congress and the public to end the U.S. occupation would likely grow.
By this scenario Bush would not face charges of criminal fraud for his deceit in selling the Iraq war. However, it seems increasingly likely that once Bush becomes a private citizen he will face the wrath of the International Criminal Court. According to the Geneva Convention on warfare, the use of fraud in establishing a pretext for invasion of a sovereign nation constitutes war crimes if deaths are involved. It’s not hard to imagine Bush unable to leave the U.S. fearing arrest by agents of the ICC, forever barricaded behind razor wire in his Crawford, Texas ranch. In whatever manner Bushworld is dismantled, most will see it as justice, and all Americans can look forward to the integrity of the United States restored to its former place among nations.
Gerald S. Rellick, Ph.D., worked in the defense sector of the aerospace industry for 22 years. He now teaches in the California Community College system. He can be reached at
[email protected].
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