Returning To The Rule Of Law

To the Editor:

In reference to last week’s letter by Alison Berk (Letter Hive, “Let’s Fix This Country Ourselves,” 12/12/08), in which she puts forth a number of considered and thoughtful points, I do not disagree with any of them. However I believe that Ms Berk did truly not understand my letter, the letter she referenced that I wrote in response to Mr Vitarbo in which he denounced the Democrats and Obama as corrupt and essentially evil (Letter Hive, “The Majority’s Mistake,” 11/14/08).

The Bush Administration and their supporters have declared themselves to be the enemies of rational thought, of science, of democracy, of peace. Please understand that this is not my interpretation. This is self-declared on their part. The record of the past eight years supplies ample evidence. They have certainly demonstrated time and again that they are not interested in discourse. They are interested in power.

There are a significant number of legal and constitutional experts, among them people like Vincent Bugliosi (prosecutor in the Manson case), and Jonathon Turley, who are convinced that not only have Bush, Cheney, and others committed war crimes, but also they should be tried for them. They are also convinced that if tried they will be convicted. I share that view. I believe that if we fail in our obligation to prosecute our own leaders for war crimes like torture, how can we ever again hold the moral high ground and insist that others do the same? Or how can we ever prosecute another war criminal for torture or any other crime if we ignore evidence and calls for justice from responsible members of the justice community.

In World War II we prosecuted Japanese generals and political leaders for war crimes including torture, specifically water boarding, found them guilty, and subsequently executed them.

In a nationally televised interview on December 16 US Vice President Dick Cheney admitted responsibility for water boarding of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. As a civilized society what are we to do with this information? Do we say it’s a crime if others do it but if we do it its okay dokay cause gee whiz guys we’re Americans?

Or after eight years do we finally return to the rule of law? There are those who will say we need to put all this behind us, that it will tear the country apart if there is a trial of this magnitude. I say that justice demands a trial and that it is the Bush Administration that tore the country apart; we need to remind the world and especially us that we are indeed a nation of laws.

 “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.”

Robert Karnoff

66 Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook                         December 17, 2008