Is The President Above The Law?

(Compiler's note: A must read article. We are likely to hear more about these charges in days to come.)

from The Chattanooga.Com

Unknown to many in the mainstream press, the United States Senate issues a bipartisan report this week on detainee abuses in the war on terror. The report, authored by Sen. Levin (D) and Sen. McCain (R), verifies that human rights have been violated and lays blame for the illegal torture of prisoners at the feet of Donald Rumsfeld and other senior administration officials.

The details contained in the report are appalling. Along with assault, sleep deprivation, denial of religious rights, sexual humiliation, and other physical torture; the report contends numerous instances of homicide occurred. The President, in his ever increasing aloof attitude for established law, decided that he and his military could treat prisoners any way they deemed necessary: despite the law. They did this in spite of U.S. law against the torture of prisoners in U.S. custody, and in spite of the Geneva Convention.

Is the President above the law? Not even 20 years ago a Texas sheriff was given 10 years in a federal penitentiary for "water-boarding" prisoners in an attempt to extract a confession. Vice President Dick Cheney, in his ever increasing criminal attitude (this man has never served his country and took five deferments during the Vietnam War), made public statements in the past few days in support of the torture of prisoners. These men act just like mobsters; arrogant, no culture, petty, and little respect for established law.

When are our U.S. attorney's going to stand up to the plate and bring criminal charges against these men? After all, all U.S. attorney's are sworn to protect and defend the US Constitution. The Senate report claims that the actions of the Administration brought great harm to our national security, ruined our "high road" image around the world, and gave extremists motivation to carry out more terror attacks. These men have not only ruined the credibility of the 'very' country that authored the Nuremberg Trials that convicted high ranking Nazis, but by their ignorant actions they possibly have ensure the torture of captured U.S. military personnel.

The Administration has consistently claimed that abuses were the work of lower ranking military personnel. Some of these military personnel have been tried for their crimes. This is a travesty. The men who should be tried and sent to prison are the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, and the former Attorney General. We should look a lot further too. Congressman Zach Wamp has not made one public statement condemning the use of torture on prisoners. Neither has Sen. Alexander. Sen. Corker is a late-comer to the "Great Game," so he narrowly escapes incrimination. We can only imagine what Congressman Wamp's attitude would be on extracting confessions if being elected governor of Tennessee.

I distinctly remember Congressman Wamp being caught up in "Islamophobia" and making several hysterical public statements demonizing Islamic radicals. The tone used by Congressman Wamp in his statements was one of fear and we don't need a chief executive of our State of Tennessee who is easily scared. People make serious mistakes when they are in fear. Fear pushes us to lash out or demonize those that scare us. Once the enemy is demonized; the disregard for due process and human rights soon follows.

I am sure there will be many comments condemning my remarks. They will most likely come from those who have never served their country in the military, don't understand how important national image is, or those who are just sadists. I would remind those people that we've already fought one war (the Revolution) because the King was torturing our citizen's. I remember.

The "liberal" press has yet to give this story adequate coverage.