( – promoted by buhdydharma )
War crime! That is what it is being called — a war crime.
While this case isn’t breaking or new, the wording that is used, has been used, today hit me like a brick.
He committed a war crime!
The story is that of Omar Khadr, the 15 year old (at the time) who was “apprehended” on the battlefield in Afghanistan who allegedly killed an American soldier. Khadr was whisked away to prison, held in captivity for years, and is charged with the killing.
But, this is a war crime? The NYT thinks so…
Military prosecutors have withdrawn a government witness in an upcoming Guantanamo war-crimes trial to conceal evidence of ”abuse and mistreatment” of the defendant, his Pentagon-appointed lawyer alleged Sunday.
That opening paragraph is proof enough of just how far America has fallen under “President” Bush.
In WWII, hundreds of thousands of soldiers died fighting whether it be American or German, Russian or Japanese, but, the only people accused of war crimes were those who were instrumental in torture or genocide. Yet, under President Bush, the “soldier” who takes a life during war committed a war crime while the interrogator and guards who tortured Khadr for years were simply “trying to keep our country safe”.
The Japanese war crimes trials focused on those individuals who performed water torture, or, waterboarding. The Nuremburg Trials focused on those involved in torture and genocide. Yet, in America today, we can commit torture and charge those who were being soldiers with war crimes.
As a veteran who has been in a war zone twice, I can say that I never begrudged a soldier fighting for their cause if they felt it was right. It was the reason I was there myself — fighting for a cause I believed was right. There is honor in that. I know, few will understand that comment, but, I don’t ask you to understand it, merely accept it from one who was a “warrior”.
America, under Bush, truly hit a low that, frankly, I cannot understand.
We can waterboard, the same technique that our country brought charges against others for performing on our soldiers during another war, but, it’s ok when we do it to far too many.
We now have the term “Czar” in our government (Tsar, Tzar or Czar). It’s a term that comes out of history with the connotation of monarch or dictator — all powerful.
We now accuse others of war crimes for being a soldier while we commit the very acts that we prosecuted others as war crimes for committing.
If you think that this period of history is over in America — think again.
Nixon was pardoned by Ford. Reagan cronies committed Iran-Contra. Nixon and Reagan cronies surfaced again under Bush to do worse. Without consequence, which never comes, we are destined to find the newest low in the future.
What will the next Republican President bring to America? Will dissent against the “regime” alone warrant a gas chamber?
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with everything you’ve said. excellent essay michael gass.
please, will you run for office in our fair state?
… Origa
apparently is anothers ‘terrorist’. This is so sick that it’s hard to even understand. Why is this even an issue with the Obama incoming change? All of the dubious ‘terrorists now in captivity both in strange rendition places and Gitmo need to be released. Let them loose they have never had due process and may be a danger to what? Our bs security? They need to be let go. The horrific pick up of non combatants and so called terrorists done under the Bushies must not stand, the fucking Nazis that decided human law and rights were off the table. Is this what we as a people stand for under the laws that rule us all even warriors? No let it all fall it’s an abomination to any civilized society. Why be Nazis? My moderate humble view.