Jonathan Turley on “The Rachel Maddow Show.” Skip to 3:15.
Jonathan Turley:
[I}t’s important for people who lift their hand in front of that building to understand the difference between the man and the mandate.
And the mandate here, as far as I understood it, is that we were going to have a true change, where people would be held accountable. And all this talk about civility makes it sound like it’s just simply uncivil to investigate people for war crimes… .
All they have to do is say: “we’re going to allow the law to be enforced.” That’s not a very difficult thing to say. But it’s going to be inconvenient. But principles are always inconvenient. It’s never a good time for principle… .
What I think the new Barack Obama — President Obama — is going to find it very hard to do is go around the world and say: “we’re now again a nation of laws,” if the first act he commits as President is to walk away from confirmed war crimes.
…
The status of George Bush is not that different from Augusto Pinochet. They’ve both been accused of running a torture program. Outside of this country, there is not this ambiguity about what to do about a war crime. There are four treaties that make this an international violation. So if you go abroad, and try to travel, most people abroad are going to view you not as “former President George Bush” — they’re going to view you as a current war criminal.
Text and emphasis via Glenn Greenwald.
One of my favorite articles of 2008 was on this topic: The Green Light by Philippe Sands for Vanity Fair.
