Bush Flashback: “War Crimes Will Be Prosecuted…It Will Be No Defense To Say, ‘I Was Just Following Orders’”
Bush Flashback: “War Crimes Will Be Prosecuted…It Will Be No Defense To Say, ‘I Was Just Following Orders’”
Just before launching his invasion of Iraq, President Bush went on national television to issue an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein, urging him to leave his country within 48 hours. Bush also had this message for “all Iraqi military and civilian personnel”:
War crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will be no defense to say, “I was just following orders.”
Watch it:
George Washington law professor Jonathan Turley argues that this statement by Bush shows that “he and his administration knew that there is no ‘good faith defense’ in committing war crimes.”
Bush also understood the need for full investigations and accountability when it comes to torture. After the Abu Ghraib scandal, Bush told Al Arabiya: “It’s important for people to understand that in a democracy, there will be a full investigation. In other words, we want to know the truth. In our country, when there’s an allegation of abuse … there will be a full investigation, and justice will be delivered.” (See the video here.)
Steve Benen responds, “It seems to me if Democrats are looking for an excuse to do the right thing, they don’t have to say much more than, ‘We’re doing what Bush told us to do.’”
Please join our campaign calling on Congress to begin impeachment hearings against Jay Bybee.
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I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. There is one, and only one, explanation for Dubya’s behavior:
There are two of him.
The other one is stored in Cheney’s man-sized safe when off duty.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:23 amOf course, GWB was only talking about Iraqis — not the fabulous Americans.
Catch a clue, President Obama. This f uckwit is on record saying there is no defense for “I was just following orders,” even if he was lying.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:27 amIf our government officials don’t have the gonads to prosecute these war crimes according to US law and international laws that we are signatory to, then let’s just refer everthing to the UN Commission on Human Rights and let them come in and do the job.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx
April 28th, 2009 at 10:28 amExcellent post TP! Obama has no excuse now. And imagine, if Obama doesn’t pursue the criminals, he’s actually WORSE than Bush in this one regard. Wow.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:29 amHelen Rainier Says:
If our government officials don’t have the gonads to prosecute these war crimes according to US law and international laws that we are signatory to, then let’s just refer everthing to the UN Commission on Human Rights and let them come in and do the job.
That would be necessary according to multiple agreements that we have signed into force of law. Therefore, refusing to investigate = handing over our sovereignty to the U.N.
Why do the wingnuts want to hand over our sovereignty to the U.N?
April 28th, 2009 at 10:34 amIt will be no defense to say “I was just following orders”,UNLESS you are a Republican.
Because, you see, ” when the president does it, it’s NOT illegal”
sarc
April 28th, 2009 at 10:36 amthe only 3 words that the democrats have to say anymore are ‘roll the tape’
and then they can laugh like hell and watch the republicans get thrown in jail.
i love it.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:38 amThis is just priceless!!
April 28th, 2009 at 10:39 amWow, if this doesn’t cook the Bush Crime Family’s goose… The rightwingnuts will continue to swear that this is all about politics and that this is a witch hunt – but video doesn’t lie. Bush said it himself “War crimes will be prosecuted…”
April 28th, 2009 at 10:41 amThis clip reminds me of the good ol’ days when torture was just a bogus reason for invading another country rather than our official government policy.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:42 amAh, yes — but that was then and this is now.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:43 amThen he was speaking about his arch-enemy, Saddam, and needed to bolster the case for getting rid of him.
Now they need to debate what are war crimes, and if they serve a purpose, because Bush&Co were our own domestic dictators who made up their own rules.
I don’t believe that there is a statute of limitations on crimes against humanity, and I do believe Obama and the DOJ need to pursue a full investigation through to prosecution. I also think that people need to recognize how especially vicious the right-wing has been to Obama within his first 100 days in office and that by doing a full court press on prosecutions could really prove to be a major source of distraction from the policy goals he campaigned on. I know that one of those goals was to help restore America’s standing in the world but I would rather see progress made on health care reform and some noticeable signs that the economy is beginning to improve before throwing this much red meat to the already rapid GOP and right-wing media.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:43 amG-Dubya was following orders from god so, how can you argue with god? I mean come on – god is the “ultimate decider in chief”. Besides, when in doubt, do what a good little Catholic does: break the rules then go to confession about it and BAM! You’re forgiven.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:44 amJust the other day Zooey said to me: the Republicans think they get a do-over every night at midnight (sorry Zoo, but I’m paraphrasing). This is so true in EVERYTHING they do or say.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:45 amMan thank god we’ve these thing recorded for all times 20 years from now we can still say look at these morons.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:45 amIt’s pretty clear that using nothing but lies to develop the justification for invading another country isn’t a crime.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:51 amNow, as facts emerge it’s found that the same people who were involved in developing and using those lies have also committed war crimes during their invasion.
Doesn’t it stand to reason that the United States has to punish those responsible in order to ever regain it’s standing in the world ?
Ah republicans…the boomerang party.
They just can’t understand why they keep getting smacked. Doesn’t their weapon of choice recognize “American exceptionalism?”
*smack!*
April 28th, 2009 at 10:51 amGeorge Washington law professor Jonathan Turley argues that this statement by Bush shows that “he and his administration knew that there is no ‘good faith defense’ in committing war crimes.”
Yeah, but this doesn’t mean that the high functioning moron understood what he was reading.
I am not defending him. He should be prosecuted for war crimes. I’m just commenting on his intellect.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:51 amSomething about hoisting, and petards, comes to mind.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:51 amNo fair! Chimpy only said that because he was the unitary president who got to define what was and was not a war crime and the Republicans had their permanent majority. Now it’s completely different. . . because, you know, it’s not like we’re talking about BJs or pardoning Marc Rich or anything important.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:54 amOh,keep reminding us, george
April 28th, 2009 at 10:56 amWaiting for the trolls to come in here and disagree with Dubya up there. Any takers?
.
BrianFL Says:
This clip reminds me of the good ol’ days when torture was just a bogus reason for invading another country rather than our official government policy.
Maybe they’re setting us up to invade ourselves?
.
Tweedster Says:
I don’t believe that there is a statute of limitations on crimes against humanity
Nope. Why do you think they still hunt down 90-year old Nazis?
April 28th, 2009 at 10:57 amA thing is only wrong if you convince yourself it is wrong. The ‘Decider’ had nefarious reasons for invading Iraq, torture wasn’t one of them. Bush/Chaney are the same as Torture. Bush/Chaney/Torture!
April 28th, 2009 at 10:59 amKeith H.
Doesn’t it stand to reason that the United States has to punish those responsible in order to ever regain it’s standing in the world ?
Totally. I just don’t think it is necessarily reasonable for people to think that Obama is being complicit in the actions of the past administration for not having convicted these criminals YESTERDAY.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:00 amThis post caused a ripple in the Democratixx…
April 28th, 2009 at 11:03 amHe knows the hatchet is near his neck in this. That’s why he’s been silent since January 20th. If not by what he approved, but as you can see, by his OWN words.
Its sad, he’s been the best sport in all of this by doing what a former president does, slink away into the shadows, and let the new guy do his job. After taking his cue from the rest of his admin, now they could do with following HIS example.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:05 amSomebody who actually watches tv otta try to keep track of how many times this vid appears on the SCUM over the next month or so…Monitor the b’cast programs, which is still where the vast majority of the lumpen-voters get their information.
I can’t co it because network ‘news’ nauseates me…no, really…
How did the SCUM handle the story of the Prog. Caucus folks demonstrating and getting arrested outside the Somali Embassy?
Or did they?
What about the cablers?
April 28th, 2009 at 11:05 amTweedster Says:
Yes, I agree. I also think that is becoming the general consensus.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:06 amPut a short moutache and some spitting to the camera, and you’ll have Hitler, 21th century version.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:06 amOnce again, the Republican “do as I say, not as I do” hypocrisy comes back to bite them in the butt.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:07 amElBruce:
Tweedster Says:
I don’t believe that there is a statute of limitations on crimes against humanity
Nope. Why do you think they still hunt down 90-year old Nazis?
Exactly! I know that I am sounding dangerously like a concern troll here, but I don’t think that people who now call for Oabam’s head for not immediately throwing these guys in the clink are really thinking the whole process through.
Obama’s faced more ridiculous partisan outrage than any president I can recall within his first 100 days in office, and he would fuel that fire tremendously by even appearing to go on a “partisan witch hunt.” Which is why I believe he is releasing documents etc. to build such a national consensus that an investigation is required that the usual suspects (Hannity, Beck etc.) will be even more marginalized by trying to make this necessary action out to read as some sort of “revenge” exacted by Obama on the Bush Crime Syndicate.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:09 amMrBrown:
After taking his cue from the rest of his admin, now they could do with following HIS example.
That would suppose that Georgie actually ever led anything or anybody. He’s a pathetic puppet of a man afterall.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:10 amTweedster Says:____________ sounds right to me.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:11 amAwwwwwwww! Isn’t that sweet? Another gigantic load of hypocrisy from the Hypocrite In Chief!!
That evil, stupid little fcukwad needs to be in prison with the rest of his criminal cabal.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:11 amTweedster Says:
Totally. I just don’t think it is necessarily reasonable for people to think that Obama is being complicit in the actions of the past administration for not having convicted these criminals YESTERDAY.
I seem to recall someone quoting – I forget who, talking about how whoever the President is, he’s always going to get leaned on heavily from the other side. If we want him to do right, then we have to lean on him the other way, not merely rely in the presumption that he agrees with us. If we expect him to have a spine when we won’t, then we leave him bereft of the ammunition that is our voice.
As FDR said to a group of Dem party activists, “I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.”
April 28th, 2009 at 11:13 am(cont.)
A huge complaint from Republicans right now is that Bush wasn’t a “true conservative.” Whatever that may mean to each of them, what it amounts to is that Bush sort of did whatever he wanted when he wanted, because the rank-and-file of his party refused to dissent in the slightest. While it gave them solid and unquestioned voting power, it also cost them nearly all of the issues and campaign talking points that conservatism used to be able to rely on – respect for American values, wearing the white hat, rule of law, moral superiority, etc.
If they’d held him to whatever each conservative’s view of “true conservatism” and made their individual opinions known (even angrily) during his tenure rather than after, conservatism might not be so thoroughly discredited today.
Let’s not do that.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:16 amElBruce @ 35
Spot on ElBruce!! Wonderful point.
makete: Thanks!
April 28th, 2009 at 11:17 amwatchdog Says:
Attention wal-mart shoppers GW is no longer the president.
But torture was committed under his administration and can and should be punished.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:23 amObama releasing the memos was like handing these idiots a rope. Instead of using the rope to climb out of the hole they created – they made a big noose. Handjob-ity, McInsane, Gnewt are the first idiots to perform a public hanging. The GOP is falling like dominoes and Obama just gave a little “push.”
Now this is smart politic-ting
April 28th, 2009 at 11:25 amWar crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will be no defense to say, “I was just following orders.”
This makes total sense with the appropriate translation software, if Bush says one thing, the exact opposite is true.
I can’t wait until someone pulls Bush out of his spider hole for the prosecution.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:26 amYou’re on fire this morning ElBruce – great posts!
April 28th, 2009 at 11:26 amI love for some computer savvy democratic liberal to hijack the FAUX Noise signal and then play this clip while Handjob-ity of Bleck is on ….. Justice!
April 28th, 2009 at 11:31 amwatchdog Says:
Attention wal-mart shoppers GW is no longer the president.
Thank goodness!!
Oh watchdog, I wondered whether you had chewed through your leash and ran off somewhere. Glad to have your pro-torture, anti-American, butt to kick all over the site again.
As your favorite EX-President said: “Bring ‘em on.”
April 28th, 2009 at 11:32 amwatchdog Says:
Attention wal-mart shoppers GW is no longer the president.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:20 am
____________
As you may have noticed, this is a progressive web site.
We don’t shop at Wal-Mart.
PWN
April 28th, 2009 at 11:33 amWith all due respect, TP…while I do appreciate the fact that this footage pretty much stomps flat the Republican arguments opposing the investigation and potential prosecution of Bush administration officials for their decision to use torture, this really isn’t quite as much of a newsflash as it might be. It was glaringly obvious early on to anyone who was paying any attention that Bush was/is a blatant hypocrite who sees nothing wrong with condemning other people for the same things which he himself has done or is planning to do (since it has recently been revealed that the Bush administration was already putting the foundations in place in preparation for using torture months before they got the green light to do so). Utterly contemptible, yes — but hardly shocking, or at least not anymore.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:34 amnice blotchdog.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:35 amSo when you’re not disrespecting fallen soldier’s families, you’re encouraging criminals to go free, especially those who are either rich or powerful, or both?
So you’re saying you agree with breaking the law?
nice.
Bluestocking Says:
this really isn’t quite as much of a newsflash as it might be.
It’s a “flashback” which is entirely different than a “newsflash.” Are your elastics getting a little less snappy?
April 28th, 2009 at 11:39 amHow dumb is that doggie in the window? *(arf! arf!)*
The one with the right wing wail
How dumb is that doggie in the window? *(arf! arf!)*
Are that doggie’s posts on sale?
I read in the paper there are torturers **(roof! roof!)**
Who waterboard suspects in the dark
BushCo needs a doggie to protect them
And scare critics with its bark
They don’t want a bunny or a kitty
They’ve got the parrots that talk
They don’t want a bowl of little fishies
But they’ll take the pundits who stalk
How dumb is that doggie in the window? *(arf! arf!)*
April 28th, 2009 at 11:39 amThe one with the right wing wail
How dumb is that doggie in the window? *(arf! arf!)*
Are that doggie’s posts on sale?
WOW! Reagan DoJ convicted TX Sheriff for waterboarding in 1983 (via D-Kos)
The link contains a wealth of information, links, etc., including a PDF link to the original case.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:41 amTweedster,
I wholeheartedly agree. Yes, I’ve even been scrutinized here for suggesting that this process of investigating and prosecuting will take time, especially during this economical turmoil we are in.
But President Obama is no George Bush (Thank the heavens!).
He is smart, he is intelligent, he doesn’t need to be lead by a string.
He does know what he is doing.
Let’s face it, while appearing neutral, the release of these memos has garnished so much attention, it’s not going away, no matter how the 29%’ers spin it. Which leaves President Obama focusing on our current crisis.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:41 amsnoozepup says:
$100 says if Gore was president and perpetrated the war crimes your chimpyfuhrer did, you’d be screaming bloody murder at the top of your lungs.
you’re a sick party hack and a muthaphucker
April 28th, 2009 at 11:43 amUncle Ho Says:
snoozepup says:
$100 says if Gore was president and perpetrated the war crimes your chimpyfuhrer did, you’d be screaming bloody murder at the top of your lungs.
you’re a sick party hack and a muthaphucker
Watchdog somehow continues to get MORE pathetic and unhinged.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:47 amI can’t believe I’m saying this but here is one instance where Obama should follow a Bush policy on torture…
If this country cannot stand up and punish those who have committed the most grievous of crimes, no matter who they may be, then it deserves everything it gets! Swine Flu, Economic disaster, a Chinese Overlord, Everything.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:48 amDRxJapaneseBettle:
Let’s face it, while appearing neutral, the release of these memos has garnished so much attention, it’s not going away, no matter how the 29%’ers spin it. Which leaves President Obama focusing on our current crisis.
Where his focus should be immediately focused on. I think you’re right and that the DOJ will conduct an investigation and prosecutions will be made.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:50 amBush has set the mark so high that he will be the idiot by which all idiots, past and future, will be judged. This is probably his single most impressive accomplishment.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:51 amWar crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will be no defense to say, “I was just following orders.”
April 28th, 2009 at 11:53 amOh snap!
Attention wal-mart shoppers GW is no longer the president. — Watchdog
**********************************************************
I guess we should have let Saddam Hussein go, then? If I recall correctly, he was no longer in power when he was tried for human rights abuses. Any number of political despots in recent years have likewise been out of power when they’ve been tried for human rights abuses — so your logic(????) falls to the ground.
Why should Bush and other members of his administration be exempt? Because he’s American and therefore everything he does is justifiable? Sorry — won’t hold water, because it’s quite simply not true. Whether some of us want to believe it or not, the unfortunate fact is that Americans are just as capable of committing evil as are people from other countries. That’s precisely why our Founding Fathers made certain to include such things in the Constitution as the Bill of Rights — because they knew that without them, American leaders (even well-intentioned ones) would almost certainly abuse their authority eventually. Anyone who knows anything about human nature knows this — and anyone who says differently is either ignorant, in denial, or lying through his teeth.
Because he honestly believed that he was doing the right thing and that he was trying to keep the country safe? The truth of that claim is debatable…and even if it were true, the fact nevertheless remains that the road to Hell is said to be paved with good intentions and that many despots over the centuries (never mind in recent years) have used the very same excuse to justify their inhumanity.
FAIL.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:57 amWatchdog:
Attention Israel: the Nazis are no longer in power.
April 28th, 2009 at 11:58 amAnd with that quote, it should be game, set, and match for all Bush Administration officials involved, irregardless of their post or elite status.
Although I don’t support a possible sentence of hanging (as was handed down by American courts to WW2 Japanese soldiers found guilty of waterboarding), a sentence of life in maximum security prison for those found guilty will serve justice aptly enough.
Now if our government would only uphold its own laws!
April 28th, 2009 at 12:05 pmI am reminded of the conspirators advising against mercy just before their crimes are revealed in Henry V:
April 28th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
THIS JUST IN:
SENATOR SPECTOR TO SWITCH SIDES!!! CNN JUST BROKE IT!!!!
April 28th, 2009 at 12:08 pmwatchdog Says:
Attention wal-mart shoppers GW is no longer the president.
The phrase is “attention K-Mart shoppers…” Wal*Mart doesn’t do that. Which means you failed in the first three words, before failing some more. Color me impressed, troll.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:09 pmIt’s so much easier to see the wrongdoing in others.
We’ll need another country or world body to prosecute BushCo..
April 28th, 2009 at 12:10 pmwhy is thinkprogress cheerleading for actions against bybee when it should be carrying the torch for a full blown torture investigation, with subpoena power and the ability to recommend individuals for prosecution?
April 28th, 2009 at 12:12 pmFiat justitia ruat caelum (Let justice be done even if the heavens fall)
April 28th, 2009 at 12:14 pmwatchdog Says: 38
Attention MORON, no one said he was. Another Gooper stooge who wants that do over Zooey was talking about. Lets not worry about the war crimes, that was SOOOO 2007. Lets just forget everything bad the rightwing ever did and move on to the stupid things they want to do in the FUTURE. Of course the rightwing blamed everything but the sinking of the Titanic on the Clenis for about 8 years but lets forget about W. Forget about his warcrimes, forget about those treaty obligations forget about everything that might make the rightwing look as foolish, lawless and frankly stupid they have done for the last8 years. I am just SHOCKED, shocked I say at the advice. I think bankrobbers always want to forget about the past and look to the future too.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:15 pmUN Commission on Human Rights can have em.
I say start with Yoos, Addington, Cheney, Rice, Rove, Rumsfeld, Bush2. Amen.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:18 pmAMBIDEXTROUS-WING ~ Let’s get Senator Franken seated and let the fireworks begin. A fillibuster proof majority that the reichwing can only whine and snivel about.
I hear the gnashing of teeth, might be a good time to get into the dentistry field..!
April 28th, 2009 at 12:30 pmBush was only saying what Cheney told him to say. As you can see in the video Geroge W. was stone on drugs and isn’t responnsible for what he says, and he has medicial proof to prove it. In other words Bush lied ask Fox News.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:36 pmI hear the gnashing of teeth, might be a good time to get into the dentistry field..!
Do you forget Lincoln, the Nelsons, Landrieu, Loserman, Baucus, ColoUdall, Pryor, old unreliable Feinstein, sometimes Rockefeller and Byrd…
back to 52, at best…even WITH Franken.
April 28th, 2009 at 12:43 pmHeres another Bush stating his opinion on the outing of a CIA operative . You can’t make this stuff up ……. Priceless !
April 28th, 2009 at 12:58 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvu3Ecnvd74
Jonathon Turley forgets that for the Bush administration, though, IOKIYAR.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:03 pmRe: the clip – I like how “do not destroy oil wells” was his first priority.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:16 pmObama deserves my silence …. Translation ….. The Republican party NEEDS my silence!
April 28th, 2009 at 1:33 pmWhy is Thinkprogress cheerleading for actions against Bybee when it should be carrying the torch for a full blown torture investigation, with subpoena power and the ability to recommend individuals for prosecution? — Wearechange
*****************************************************
Gotta start somewhere…and sometimes the disturbance of small stones can become the catalyst for a much larger landslide. Besides, since there’s room for doubt with regard to the question of whether or not Obama is willing to go forward with an investigation, we may — as much as I hate to say it — end up having to be satisfied with what we can get rather than what we would like. The fact is that we almost certainly won’t be able to hold everyone accountable who was instrumental in the development and use of torture by the Bush administration — but even seeing one of them brought to justice would be a victory, albeit a minor one.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:59 pmPresident Obama:
Enough with the delay tactics.
Stop trying to protect these war criminals.
Appoint a special prosecutor NOW!
Justice DEMANDS accountability.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:15 pmAs FDR said to a group of Dem party activists, “I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.”
I do believe that this is also Obama’s thinking today.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:46 pmLet this be George W. Bush’s epitaph. He understands just exactly how guity he is. Any ‘dumb’ behavior is going to be a performance, and nobody will be fooled.
I wonder how busch would respond if was put in a box and forced to listen to this video without end. Do you think he would come around to seeing things in a proper perspective?
April 28th, 2009 at 3:58 pmAll this dithering is taking on a constant refrain similar to ‘are we in a recession’? Ask the question rather than answer it. Ask often, ask long and hard rather than address the evidence. The Rethugs have a way with forestalling outcomes.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:25 pmYa. Is it really a recesson? Is torture really illegal? Is busch really responsible? Can you really prosecute a former republican president?
April 28th, 2009 at 5:52 pmThe “good faith” and “obeying orders” defenses have been obsolete since Nuremberg, but that’s apparently news to Obama, Holder and Panetta, all of whom have praised torturers and murderers as patriotic public servants acting in good faith.
It’s pathetic that Bush, a legal layman with a affirmative-action degrees, understands the law better than these three, who earned law degrees from Harvard, Columbia and Santa Clara, respectively.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pmgus smith Says:
The Rethugs have a way with forestalling outcomes.
Forestall =/= prevent.
They can’t hold back the rising tide of their failures forever.
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