Allen L Roland

Absolute power absolutely corrupts and the Libby conviction in 2007 was the very tip of an Iceberg of deceit, deception, hubris and abuse of power by the Cheney/Bush administration ~ which began with the 9/11 coverup, extended to the illegal War, occupation and economic rape of Iraq and is fully visible in the tragedy of New Orleans . Karl Rove's resignation left only the dark master himself ~ for all the lies eventually lead to Dick Cheney:

Pandora's Box is opening ~ The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees.

informationclearinghouse

First some background ~ When Karl Rove resigned in 2007, under pressure from Cheney, only one key player remained ~ the dark master himself, Dick Cheney.

The Bush /Cheney crime syndicate of smoke, spin and deception is finally now becoming obvious to the mainstream press, although the alternative press, including myself, have known and reported this for years. New revelations of abuses of power, lies and deception are being revealed almost every day and all the lies eventually lead to the chief architect himself ~ Dick Cheney.

Here is a six minute video of Keith Olbermann exploring the Cheney / Bush unauthorized illegal surveillance program with George Washington Law professor and constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley ~ who clearly determines that criminal acts were committed and that the Democrats should prosecute these crimes. VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lDgSwyOfYU

Remember, Bush was the oblivious cheerleader who was purposely left out of many key Cheney decisions so that he could credibly maintain his attitude of removed non-attachment. As such, a power vacuum existed in the Oval Office with both Rove and Cheney battling for control of the white house agenda.

Think of Cheney as the CEO, War Czar and holder of the secrets ~ who gave Bush his marching orders and Bush complied ~ as witnessed in the sudden resignation of Bush's best friend and advisor, Karl Rove in 2007. Cheney wanted no competition for Bush's ear as he implemented his grand neocon global end game ~ the stakes were too high. Plus, Cheney and Bush are tied at the hip in lies and deceptions that go all the way back to the 9/11 cover-up. ( Remember, they refused to testify under oath and would only be interviewed together in the 9/11 commission investigation )

As such, Rove's departure was not a shocking development in the context of the executive office power struggle between Rove and Cheney ~ along with the fact that Rove not only actively sought to replace Cheney on the 2004 ticket but changed his testimony several times in the Fitzgerald Plamegate Investigation which resulted in Cheney's chief of staff, Libby, taking the bullet instead of the real culprit, Karl Rove.

So the shocked suddenness of Rove's resignation in 2007 was exactly what happens everyday in the corporate world when one power broker ( Cheney ) makes another ( Rove ) expendable and irrelevant. As such, it was a shock to the outside world but not to the beltway insiders ~ who are well aware of the inner White house power games.

Cheney made his last power stand and eliminating all but his staunchest supporters in the process . But what he can't escape is the trail of lies and deceptions which all eventually lead to himself and Bush, who as President, shares equal responsibility for them.

As such, let's review these deceptions and abuses of power in the context of the ten reasons for prosecuting Cheney and eventually Bush now;

1. Violating the United Nations Charter by launching an illegal "War of Aggression" against Iraq without cause, using fraud to sell the war to Congress and the public, misusing government funds to begin bombing without Congressional authorization, and subjecting our military personnel to unnecessary harm, debilitating injuries, and deaths.
2. Violating U.S. and international law by authorizing the torture of thousands of captives, resulting in dozens of deaths, and keeping prisoners hidden from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

3. Violating the Constitution by arbitrarily detaining Americans, legal residents, and non-Americans, without due process, without charge, and without access to counsel.

4. Violating the Geneva Conventions by targeting civilians, journalists, hospitals, and ambulances, and using illegal weapons, including white phosphorous, depleted uranium, and a new type of napalm.

5. Violating U.S. law and the Constitution through widespread wiretapping of the phone calls and emails of Americans without a warrant.

6. Violating the Constitution by using "signing statements" to defy hundreds of laws passed by Congress.

7. Violating U.S. and state law by obstructing honest elections in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.

8. Violating U.S. law by using paid propaganda and disinformation, selectively and misleadingly leaking classified information, and exposing the identity of a covert CIA operative working on sensitive WMD proliferation for political retribution.

9. Subverting the Constitution and abusing Presidential power by asserting a "Unitary Executive Theory" giving unlimited powers to the President, by obstructing efforts by Congress and the Courts to review and restrict Presidential actions, and by promoting and signing legislation negating the Bill of Rights and the Writ of Habeas Corpus.

10. Gross negligence in failing to assist New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina, in ignoring urgent warnings of an Al Qaeda attack prior to Sept. 11, 2001, and in increasing air pollution causing global warming.

" It is time to finally confront the gross human rights abuses of the last administration ," said Jameel Jaffer, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Security Project ~ " Initiating a criminal investigation is a crucial step towards restoring the moral authority of the United States abroad and restoring the rule of law at home."

There are no more excuses, Democrats ~ let's investigate and eventually prosecute Dick Cheney and George W Bush for crimes against the Republic.

Allen L Roland http://blogs.salon.com/0002255/2009/07/13.html

Freelance columnist Allen L Roland is available for comments , interviews and speaking engagements ( allen@allenroland.com )

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net

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Allen Roland’s weblog: http://blogs.salon.com/0002255/
Website: www.allenroland.com
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