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WilliamPitt

(58,179 posts)
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:00 AM Jun 2014

They Belong in Prison, Not on Television



From left: former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Secretary of State Condleeza Rice,
former vice president Dick Cheney attend the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush
Presidential Library, April 25, 2013. (Photo: Stephen Crowley / The New York Times)


They Belong in Prison, Not on Television
By William Rivers Pitt
Truthout | Op-Ed

Friday 20 June 2014

I wrote my first article on the folly of an Iraq invasion in August of 2002. There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, I argued. There are no 9/11 connections in Iraq. There is no al Qaeda presence in Iraq, because Saddam Hussein was notorious for hanging Wahabbists from the nearest available light pole. An invasion would tear the country apart, explode sectarian tensions, and plunge the region into chaos.

Neither I nor the world knew at that time that George W. Bush and Tony Blair had decided four months earlier that the deal was going down no matter what. Neither I nor the world knew at that time that a decision had been made one month earlier to ensure that "intelligence and facts" would be "fixed around the policy" of invasion. I stayed on the no-invasion beat for the next seven months, writing dozens of articles and a book, as the world watched millions of people take to the streets in an attempt to stop something that was, as it turns out, inevitable.

Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Doug Feith, Condolleeza Rice, and of course, George W. Bush, piled the sandbags high and deep around a decision that had already been made. We know they have these weapons, we know where they are, we don't want the evidence to be a mushroom cloud, plastic sheeting and duct tape, 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11 9/11. Save for 23 bold souls, a craven Senate caved to the pressure and delivered the Iraq War Resolution to the Bush administration, and in late March of 2003, the skies over Baghdad glowed orange as the city was turned into a bowl of molten fire.

As the WMD argument fell to ashes, I kept writing. As the 9/11-connection argument collapsed, I kept writing...and then, first in a trickle and then a flood, people started writing me. Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters of American soldiers who had died in Iraq wrote me letter after letter, email after email, demanding answers. Why? Why did this happen? Why did my loved one die over there?

(snip)

Never mind the fact that I and so very many others spent so much time and energy for so many years trying to stop all this from happening. Never mind the fact that the perpetrators of this enormous fraud, this smash-and-grab robbery, this looting of the Treasury, this act of first-degree murder on a massive scale, all walked away scot-free to pursue new careers and live lives of comfort. Amazingly enough, that's not the worst part.

The worst part is that they're all on my television again, trying to blame President Obama for the circumstances created by their own feckless, murderous decisions.

Tony Blair: "We have to liberate ourselves from the notion that 'we' have caused this. We haven't."

Paul Wolfowitz: "Look, it's a complicated situation in which you don't just come up with, 'We're going to bomb this, we're going to do that.'"

Doug Feith: "This is the education of Barack Obama, but it's coming at a very high cost to the Syrian people to the Iraqi people [and] to the American national interest."

John McCain: "What about the fact that General Petraeus had the conflict won thanks to the Surge and if we had left a residual force behind that we could have - we could, we would not be facing the crisis we are today."

Karl Rove, when asked about the fact that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq: "Yeah, that's an old argument that we waste time on."

Dick Cheney: "He (Obama) abandoned Iraq and we are watching American defeat snatched from the jaws of victory."

(snip)

Let me put it plainly: these people do not belong on my television. They belong in prison, for the crimes of theft, torture and murder. They shattered the lives of thousands of American soldiers and millions of Iraqi civilians. They savaged the American economy paying for it all, and several of them got very rich in the process. They should be in orange jumpsuits and fetters, picking mealworms out of their gruel while shuttered in very small, very grim, very inescapable metal rooms.

I spent the first decade of the 21st century dealing with these blood-sodden bastards. Now, it appears, I will spend a chunk of a second decade watching them run around trying desperately to wash that blood from their hands...and the "news" media, also thoroughly culpable in this ongoing debacle, is all too happy to help them do it.

That, too, should be a crime.

The whole thing: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/24490-william-rivers-pitt-they-belong-in-prison-not-on-tv
53 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
They Belong in Prison, Not on Television (Original Post) WilliamPitt Jun 2014 OP
X 1000 onecaliberal Jun 2014 #1
And vile filth Cheney will use his fortune from profiting off the war to promote his ugly randys1 Jun 2014 #2
... napkinz Jun 2014 #3
Not sure what you're trying to say here... WilliamPitt Jun 2014 #5
well, if one picture paints a thousand words, then twenty-five pictures ... napkinz Jun 2014 #7
And it's still not enough SmittynMo Jun 2014 #15
Let's top that off with a pre-trial song. johnnyreb Jun 2014 #17
It all started there: Amonester Jun 2014 #52
My thoughts exactly! ffr Jun 2014 #11
napkinz, ugh, need brain wash.. saidsimplesimon Jun 2014 #22
+1 a whole fucking bunch. Enthusiast Jun 2014 #25
When are we going to have our own Nuremberg style trials for these war criminals? Initech Jun 2014 #29
These are GREAT, napkinz! calimary Jun 2014 #45
Yes Will, yes the do. warrior1 Jun 2014 #4
Cheney dug out his old cowboy hat for the occasion also. sabrina 1 Jun 2014 #6
But he kept his frozen sneer on his stroke-affected face erronis Jun 2014 #32
I'm surprised he didn't have himself wheeled in, sitting in a wheel chair. calimary Jun 2014 #46
Dick Cheney makes Guy Caballero look "upstanding". Frank Cannon Jun 2014 #53
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. suffragette Jun 2014 #8
k&r nt antigop Jun 2014 #9
Bravo sir, bravo! (K&R) nt Moostache Jun 2014 #10
That's the damn truth. Solly Mack Jun 2014 #12
Great Piece... supercats Jun 2014 #13
At least more people smallcat88 Jun 2014 #14
But putting them there should be televised! rock Jun 2014 #16
It does me good to see nobody buying their line of BS. Not even Fox News. pa28 Jun 2014 #18
All three are heaven05 Jun 2014 #19
History Beowulf42 Jun 2014 #20
Yes! Yes! stage left Jun 2014 #21
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #23
Kicked and recommended Enthusiast Jun 2014 #24
I am thoroughly disgusted that Dick Cheney is giving foreign policy advice in the media ... Martin Eden Jun 2014 #26
Agreed. And while Liz may not yet deserve prison, can we put her in a dunk tank ... 11 Bravo Jun 2014 #27
Which is why at the very least they should be bird dogged for the rest of their life... Agony Jun 2014 #28
... napkinz Jun 2014 #39
Ditto! I'm very angry and want bad things to befall the lovely Cheneys. sinkingfeeling Jun 2014 #30
Oh Yeah colsohlibgal Jun 2014 #31
K/R Jack Rabbit Jun 2014 #33
Absolutely superb piece! Thank you, Will! n/t markpkessinger Jun 2014 #34
Every single one The Wizard Jun 2014 #35
That would've been a good opportunity to round them up - TBF Jun 2014 #36
I've said it again and again Bickle Jun 2014 #37
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #38
To paraphrase... SCVDem Jun 2014 #40
Condi hibbing Jun 2014 #41
bush should have been impeached for being asleep at the the wheel on 911 Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2014 #42
MUST. LOOK. FORWARD. blkmusclmachine Jun 2014 #43
Yeh...but a worldwide broadcast of a Nuremburg type trial convicting them and sentencing Zorra Jun 2014 #44
Yeah but..... chknltl Jun 2014 #47
Cheney with a cowboy hat and mirrored sunglasses. :D :D :D C Moon Jun 2014 #48
"...but...but....we've got to look forward..." tomp Jun 2014 #49
IN PRISION!? imthevicar Jun 2014 #50
K&R! Owl Jun 2014 #51

randys1

(16,286 posts)
2. And vile filth Cheney will use his fortune from profiting off the war to promote his ugly
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:07 AM
Jun 2014

disgusting daughter in our political process.

Someone who has no concern for anyone but herself and her disgusting mother and father.

They will live lives of luxury and privilege, nothing will ever change this unless we get real mad.

We are a long way from that though, I can tell by the attitudes here at DU and elsewhere.

SmittynMo

(3,544 posts)
15. And it's still not enough
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:59 AM
Jun 2014

to put their ass in jail. What is it going to take to put them there? Forever!!!!!

Amonester

(11,541 posts)
52. It all started there:
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 11:14 AM
Jun 2014


on that $election night in FL when all the hyena-media$ thought "if fux said it, it must be true..."

saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)
22. napkinz, ugh, need brain wash..
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 01:12 PM
Jun 2014

Thank you, especially appreciated the revival of "chickenhawks"...

I've said it before, humans who profit from oil and war seem to suffer from early onset dementia. They don't care what world they leave for the majority. They care only about protecting their crimes from prosecution.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
6. Cheney dug out his old cowboy hat for the occasion also.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:24 AM
Jun 2014

It is sickening to see them having the gall to show their criminal faces again and even more so to watch our Corporate media excuses for journalism, treat them with respect rather than taking the opportunity to use their galling presence to educate the public on their crimes. Make them so scared to appear knowing they will be grilled mercilessly by some real journalists, that we won't have to see their infamous faces any more.

erronis

(15,241 posts)
32. But he kept his frozen sneer on his stroke-affected face
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 06:14 PM
Jun 2014

Maybe next time he goes in for an organ transplant they can replace that mug. Anything would be better - a baboon's ass (pardons to the baboons!)

calimary

(81,238 posts)
46. I'm surprised he didn't have himself wheeled in, sitting in a wheel chair.
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 02:34 AM
Jun 2014

As he did on President Obama's inauguration - to attract attention and sympathy to himself. FUCKER. WAR CRIMINAL AND FUCKER. If there's a Hell, there he belongs.

 

supercats

(429 posts)
13. Great Piece...
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:55 AM
Jun 2014

Thank you for writing it and posting it. There is no punishment too severe for the Bush Crime Family.

smallcat88

(426 posts)
14. At least more people
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:56 AM
Jun 2014

including journalists are asking the question, on the air, 'Why are we listening to the people who got everything wrong?' Not nearly enough yet, but hopefully it's a trend.

Best case scenario, they dig their own grave by making themselves so visible and reminding the world how wrong they were (and still are). But since that seems unlikely, I'd reluctantly settle for enough people calling them out on their lies to permanently damage their credibility to give anyone advice about anything. They should have been relegated to irrelevance years ago.

pa28

(6,145 posts)
18. It does me good to see nobody buying their line of BS. Not even Fox News.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 12:40 PM
Jun 2014

Last edited Fri Jun 20, 2014, 01:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Who knows? Instead of blaming Obama maybe the public will turn around and start demanding accountability for those days in 2002 and 2003.

 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
19. All three are
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 12:45 PM
Jun 2014

totally evil people WITHOUT a conscience. Sometimes I wish I really believed in HELL. All three deserve that place along with their little lapdog, the 'artist'.

Beowulf42

(204 posts)
20. History
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 12:58 PM
Jun 2014

Our nation has been permanently tainted by the actions of this cabal, but the resentment toward the U.S. is the logical outcome of too many years of overthrowing democratically elected governments and supporting despicable tyrants in the name of big business and American Imperialism. Our foreign policy should have been the projection of our democratic ideals, but it has been twisted into a single minded force to promote capitalism at the expense of the freedom and liberty of the people of the U.S. and other peoples al over the world. It has been used to perpetuate poverty and starvation, rather than promoting the humane treatment of all mankind. We are not a christian nation, a moral nation, we are egomaniacal agents of death and destruction, slavery and misery. Soplice.

Martin Eden

(12,864 posts)
26. I am thoroughly disgusted that Dick Cheney is giving foreign policy advice in the media ...
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 01:50 PM
Jun 2014

... instead of giving head in the prison latrine.

11 Bravo

(23,926 posts)
27. Agreed. And while Liz may not yet deserve prison, can we put her in a dunk tank ...
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 01:59 PM
Jun 2014

at the very least ... just for shits and giggles?

Agony

(2,605 posts)
28. Which is why at the very least they should be bird dogged for the rest of their life...
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 02:11 PM
Jun 2014


Thank You for being you Mr Pitt.

Cheers.

colsohlibgal

(5,275 posts)
31. Oh Yeah
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 06:11 PM
Jun 2014

Chickenhawks, War Profiteers, you name it, who took so many lives and ruined countless others. If they want to go back to fight they should be in the front line, let them get a taste of it.

I'm agnostic but if there is a Hell there should be a special wing for these lower forms of life.

The Wizard

(12,545 posts)
35. Every single one
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 07:38 PM
Jun 2014

of these lying scumbags and war profiteers should be stripped of their assets and be made to spend the rest of their days in a North Korean labor camp.

Bickle

(109 posts)
37. I've said it again and again
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 08:09 PM
Jun 2014

Letting e Confederacy was the start of all this the fact that Lee, and is, et al were not arrested and hung I've the Potomac, and that the treasonous states were not punished as much as humanly possible, forbidding representation until every last person who was part of the treason was dead for starters. Forbidding these gone with the wind fantasies, arrests and sedition charges for anyone flying that flag, and severe punishment, including public beatings for exalting literal, irrefutable treason. Our country would be a far better place

Obama, if he had balls, would have citizens arrested busy the second he stood relieved, and had the entire cartel frogmarched to Marine Ine for transport to The Hague. Nancy Pelosi forced to step doen for her cowardice for refusing to impeach every hour on the hour. It's enforcing the law. Those assholes who love the Constitution so much need to read Article 6, section 2, which expressly forbids disobeying treaties, which include the UN Charter.

hibbing

(10,098 posts)
41. Condi
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:06 PM
Jun 2014

While Condi serves as a Provost for Stanford. Where had Colin Powell been? Does he actually have enough sense not to show his face on the corporate media these days?

Peace

Rosa Luxemburg

(28,627 posts)
42. bush should have been impeached for being asleep at the the wheel on 911
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:20 PM
Jun 2014

and behind bars. Negligence was rewarded with medals. It is not too late to get these creatures.

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
44. Yeh...but a worldwide broadcast of a Nuremburg type trial convicting them and sentencing
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 02:24 AM
Jun 2014

them all to life in prison without parole would make a great party, a party that would bring all the decent people of the world together in a spirit of peace. love, and friendship

chknltl

(10,558 posts)
47. Yeah but.....
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 02:41 AM
Jun 2014

Over in Italy when the citizenry figured out that they had made a very poor choice, they hung that poor choice up for all to see!

This is America, we say that we believe in the rule of law. We give the accused their day in court and let all who care to see, see the evidence, hear all the arguments, maybe even attend the trial.

When I think of all the hate the misery the bloodshed the deaths and deaths and deaths these rat bastards unleashed upon our planet..... THE ENTIRE WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THAT TRIAL!

I suspect a great many of the citizens of this planet who were affected 'poorly' by the Bush Family Evil Empire watched in amazement as we who call ourselves American turned our attention elsewhere and there never materialized a trial.

I am KnR-ing this but my words here can not express my bitterness over what has happened in our name and over what will likely not happen to those who did it. Am I nuts for thinking such thoughts?

C Moon

(12,213 posts)
48. Cheney with a cowboy hat and mirrored sunglasses. :D :D :D
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 03:01 AM
Jun 2014

Do these freaks seriously think that BS works anymore?
HA HA HA!

 

tomp

(9,512 posts)
49. "...but...but....we've got to look forward..."
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 08:01 AM
Jun 2014

How can Obama resist prosecuting these scumbags at this juncture? It wasn't enough he let them off the hook for war crimes and the entire multitude of governmental abuses they carried out. No, they're back now second guessing and defending their crimes.

Unleash the hounds at Justice now, I say.

At least one of the charges should be: criminal arrogance.

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