Senate Republicans Postpone Holder’s Confirmation

We may have to wait a while for it to happen, but George W. Bush will likely face charges of war crimes. Stubborn, dejected Senate Republicans are postponing prospective Attorney General Eric Holder’s confirmation vote, presumably to seek assurances that the Department of Justice won’t go on a war crimes “witch hunt” while under Holder’s direction.

Of course, no such assurances will be made. The whole situation is dripping with irony: Republicans are concerned about DOJ scrutiny after using the department as a partisan political blunt object for beating Democrats over the head with during last decade. (Don Siegelman is spinning in his grave, and he isn’t even dead yet.)

What do they expect Holder to say? They can’t expect him to ignore the complaints of Susan Crawford, a lifelong Republican and the Bush official in charge of bringing “enemy combatants” to trial at Guantanamo Bay. Crawford refused to bring charges against suspected terrorist, Mohammed al-Qahtani, upon her discovery that he had been tortured. Discussing the matter with Bob Woodward, Crawford described her feelings:

I was upset by it. I was embarrassed by it. If we tolerate this and allow it, then how can we object when our servicemen and women, or others in foreign service, are captured and subjected to the same techniques? How can we complain? Where is our moral authority to complain? Well, we may have lost it.

Further, Obama and Holder are already facing external pressure from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. As a signatory nation at the UN convention on torture:

“Judicially speaking, the United States has a clear obligation” to bring proceedings against Bush and Rumsfeld…

Constitutional Law Professor Jonathan Turley is of the opinion that if the Obama administration fails to heed the statements of Crawford and others, the new president runs the risk of appearing culpable in the mistreatment of detainees. Here’s Turley discussing the matter with Keith Olbermann last week:

Bush has departed for Texas, where he may clear brush to his heart’s delight. It is a task which W is clearly better suited for than minding the affairs of state. However, he should let the DOJ know if he plans to leave town, and whatever he does, he’d be wise not to leave the country.

Eric Holder’s confirmation is inevitable, and whether the inquiry comes from the new AG or elsewhere, Bush is going to have some explaining to do. Tell me what you think: Should this matter be resolved internally, or should American’s be forced to endure the embarrassment of having other nations sort out the mess made by the Bush administration?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Jack O.

7:54AM PST on Feb 24, 2009

THIS RACIST, BIGOT GOT IN ANYWAYS. HE IS VERY GOOD AT KEEPING THE VICTIM WORD ALIVE AND WELL. JUST ANOTHER THUG IN THE THUG ADMINISTRATION!!

send a green star

Dan M.

3:34AM PST on Feb 12, 2009

Seems like Obama could find someone else willing to go after the Repbulicans and some of these Wall Street guys. Holder just doesn't have the credibility. He was instrumental in the pardon of Marc Rich, the comodoties trader who amased a fortune and was who was indicted on 65 counts of tax evasion. In these days of Wall Street corruption, this just doesn't look good.

Dan

Green Road A.

10:03PM PST on Jan 29, 2009

Remember, only Democrats can do wrong.. Republicans are all GODS, to be worshipped and seen as HOLY and above any blemish or human frailty or stain...

My gosh, what would happen if a Republican actually had to go to JAIL??? I cannot remember the last time that happened.. For some reason they all seem to get off scott free, no matter what they did... Kill a million innocent civilians, trash the Constitution, Spy on all Americans, break all kinds of international agreements, torture lots of innocent people, render thousands of others, corruption up the yazoo, lying to start a war, lying to continue multiple wars, using WMD on civilians, and ad nauseum.... I could go on for hours...

At the very least, a commission or hearing should be held to bring this stuff out in the open and expose it to the light of day, and then someone can pardon them all. Denying anything illegal happened just gives the next crook even MORE ammo to do EVEN WORSE, times 1000... The next guy will be a super dictator... if we do not clean up this mess first and ensure it does not happen again.

Past Member .

12:56PM PST on Jan 29, 2009

I agree with Melvin T. Americans have so forgotten 9/11 and support terrorists. Where is your concern for murdered babies and other atrocities inflicted on innocent, unborn babies in the name of "family planning?" I pray for the scales to be removed from the eyes of Americans so they can clearly see and discern between right and wrong. Time will tell just how courageous President Bush really is.

Marisa D.

8:31AM PST on Jan 28, 2009

I am all for our nation healing after 8 years (and some would argue more like 28 years) of darkness. Of getting to the business at hand of repairing our crippled country. BUT, we know what happened after Ford pardoned Nixon. If it sent only one message, it was that people in power could "get away" with the unthinkable, and set us on the course that lead to our country being in the shape it is. Rove and Norquist were in college at the time Ford pardoned Nixon, Cheney was a part of Nixon's staff. Lee Atwater was primed to do whatever it took, to elect Reagan and then Bush. Painfully, we all now know how that played out. I often thought, if our remaining WWII Veterans were not too aged that they would be protesting in outrage at the dismissiveness of the Geneva Convention. That was sacred to them! And that was but one egregious decision in many. Let's pay attention to HISTORY for once and not make this mistake again. Making our leaders TRULY ACCOUNTABLE sends the right message: that you will not get away with it and that the American public is paying attention!

Jerry A.

1:04AM PST on Jan 28, 2009

How about that guy Rove?
I think it would have been smarter for Rove if he would have gone ahead,showed up and been convicted of a crime(s).That way his buddy Bush would have pardoned him.
Now Rove has to depend on the people to pardon him,and it ain`t going to happen,so! it`s:Good by Rove,you gatta go,mio mio.
Sun of a gun,you`ll have big fun - in the slammo.

Dana R.

10:03PM PST on Jan 27, 2009

It would obviously be beyond the power of Holder to remove those attornies politically appointed by Bush. However, their status and power within their district could be minimized by Holder. Also, Holder might transfer them to jerkwater locations too unacceptable for them to remain in the Justice Department.

Juanita C.

10:02PM PST on Jan 27, 2009

Everyone is subject to the law; no exceptions, no exceptions, not even presidents.

Craig N.

9:50PM PST on Jan 27, 2009

This is simple: no one - NO ONE - is above the law. There needs to be a special prosecutor appointed, of the highest integrity, to execute an independent, non-partisan investigation into crimes that may have been committed. Then let the chips fall where they will.

The blanket pardon of Richard Nixon did irreparable damage to the faith of the American people in their government. This time we MUST get it right. Those who commit crimes at the highest level of government must be held accoutable, or else our votes become meaningless. What American would ever vote for a "king"?

Keeley M.

9:21PM PST on Jan 27, 2009

There is no "witch hunt." War criminals need to be prosecuted, no matter who they are. At least the World Court is working on arrest warrants for Bush and Cheney (they issued one for Rummy a few years back). The Bush Administration trashed our Constitution and rule of law. Republicans need to hear from all Americans that they are fed up with corruption and criminal acts by government EMPLOYEES. No matter what level they serve at -- they work for We The People!!!