Washington has been dominated for weeks by the debate over forming an independent “truth and reconciliation commission” to uncover details about human rights and civil liberties abuses committed during the Bush administration. Prominent Democrats from Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT) to Rep. John Conyers (MI) to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) have indicated their support for the concept.
But one day after Barack Obama’s Pentagon was lambasted by human rights groups for reporting that conditions are humane, a coalition of liberal advocacy groups is done with taking it slow. In a statement released this morning, the 20-plus groups ask Attorney General Eric Holder to directly appoint a special prosecutor to probe former Bush administration officials.
It remains to be seen whether today’s statement will move minds in Congress, where the “truth commission” plan remains controversial. Still, this call is a perfect illustration of John Judis’ recent message to the American left: Expand the playing field, and do not let the White House be the most left-leaning force in the capital.
The full statement is after the jump:
We urge Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a non-partisan independent Special Counsel to immediately commence a prosecutorial investigation into the most serious alleged crimes of former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Richard B. Cheney, the attorneys formerly employed by the Department of Justice whose memos sought to justify torture, and other former top officials of the Bush Administration.
Our laws, and treaties that under Article VI of our Constitution are the supreme law of the land, require the prosecution of crimes that strong evidence suggests these individuals have committed. Both the former president and the former vice president have confessed to authorizing a torture procedure that is illegal under our law and treaty obligations. The former president has confessed to violating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
We see no need for these prosecutions to be extraordinarily lengthy or costly, and no need to wait for the recommendations of a panel or “truth” commission when substantial evidence of the crimes is already in the public domain. We believe the most effective investigation can be conducted by a prosecutor, and we believe such an investigation should begin immediately.
Signed By:
Center for Constitutional Rights
http://ccrjustice.orgThe National Lawyers Guild
American Freedom Campaign Action Fund
http://americanfreedomcampaign.orgHigh Road for Human Rights Advocacy Project
http://www.highroadforhumanrights.orgAfter Downing Street
http://afterdowningstreet.orgDemocrats.com
http://democrats.comGold Star Families for Peace
http://cindysheehansoapbox.comAnn Wright, retired US Army Reserve Colonel and US diplomat
http://voicesofconscience.comDelaware Valley Veterans for America
http://delvalvets4america.orgVoters for Peace
http://votersforpeace.usWisconsin Impeachment / Bring Our Troops Home Coalition
http://impeachwi.comBackbone Campaign
http://backbonecampaign.orgCODE PINK: Women for Peace
http://codepink4peace.orgVelvet Revolution
http://velvetrevolution.usJustice Through Music
http://jtmp.orgProgressive Democrats of America
Brad Blog
http://bradblog.comCities for Peace
http://citiesforpeace.orgNational Accountability Network
Northeast Impeachment Coalition
http://neimpeach.orgRepublicans for Impeachment
http://republicansforimpeachment.comOp Ed News
http://opednews.comMarcus Raskin, cofounder of Institute for Policy Studies, member of editorial board of The Nation, member of the special staff of the National Security Council in Kennedy Administration
The Progressive
http://progressive.orgPeace Team
http://peaceteam.netVeteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)
http://afterdowningstreet.org/vipsDefending Dissent Foundation
http://defendingdissent.orgGrassroots America
http://grassrootsamerica4us.orgMedia Freedom Foundation/Project Censored
http://projectcensored.orgPeace Action
http://peace-action.orgGrandmothers Against the War
http://grandmothersagainstthewar.orgWorld Can’t Wait
http://worldcantwait.netUnited for Peace and Justice
http://unitedforpeace.orgGlobal Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
http://space4peace.orgWar Crimes Times
http://warcrimestimes.orgVeterans for Peace 099
http://veteransforpeace.orgVeterans for Peace 26
http://veteransforpeace.orgVeterans for Peace
http://veteransforpeace.orgNaomi Wolf, author of “End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot,” and “Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries”
Iraq Veterans Against the War
http://ivaw.orgDaniel Ellsberg, Truth-Telling Project
http://ellsberg.net
