Now here's one of the most important stories of our times - and
yet the mainstream media is acting as if it did not exist. But
then the media's motto is: "Hear no Bush Evil, See no Bush Evil,
Speak no Bush Evil"..... - and let millions die in consequence.
Inquiry Into Bush War Crimes to Release Findings
Friday, 27 January 2006, 12:32 pm
Press Release: Not In Our Name
Commission of Inquiry Into Bush War Crimes And Crimes Against
Humanity to Release Preliminary Findings
WHERE: National Press Club, Washington, DC
WHEN: Feb. 2, 12 Noon
INFORMATION:
www.bushcommission.org
ARTICLE:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0601/S00395.htm
The International Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against
Humanity Committed by the Bush Administration met in New York
City the weekend of January 20th through the 22nd to work
towards fulfilling its mandate: "When the possibility of
far-reaching war crimes and crimes against humanity exists,
people of conscience have a solemn responsibility to inquire
into the nature and scope of these acts, and to determine if
they do in fact rise to the level of war crimes and crimes
against humanity."
A prestigious panel of jurists heard testimony documenting
criminal acts and policies allegedly perpetrated by President
Bush and his administration from prominent experts, former US
and UK officials, and eye-itnesses, in the areas of war,
torture, global environment and health, and Katrina. Hundreds of
people attended and the session was covered by CNN, Newsday,
all-news channel New York 1, Pacifica radio, and other media.
(See links at end of this e-mail.)
Musician, actor and human rights activist Harry Belafonte opened
the session: "It is important when all the instruments of
government collapse, we go in the final hour, to the most
important line of battle: the people themselves." (Full audio
and video of all speeches will be posted at
www.bushcommission.org)
Attorney Michael Ratner, President of the Center for
Constitutional Rights, stated: "We are putting the Bush
administration on trial. We investigate in order to expose. We
document in order to indict. We arouse consciousness in order to
create mass resistance."
* Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector, testified: "What
passes for intelligence is nothing more than politically
motivated propaganda...There was no intelligence failure because
the policy wasn't disarmament; it was regime change."
* Craig Murray, ex-UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan: "There was no
form of torture so extreme that the CIA would refuse the results
of that torture....You can't build security on evil. I don't
believe torture works, but even it if did work, I'd rather die
than have anyone tortured to save my life."
* Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski (Ret.): "When [General Geoffrey]
Miller arrived at Abu Ghraib, he said, 'It's my opinion that
you're treating the prisoners too well....You have to treat the
prisoners like dogs... Rumsfeld...authorized sleep deprivation,
stress positions, meal disruptions, serving meals late, not
serving a meal, leaving the lights on, playing loud music,
issuing criticism of their religions."
* Dr. Alan Berkman, Prof. of Public Health, Columbia University:
"[Bush's] ideologically driven prevention agenda has in fact
accounted for millions of deaths in the five years since he took
power."
* Daphne Wysham, of the Institute for Policy Studies: "The Bush
White House is deliberately targeting information policy-makers
have on climate change in an effort to protect some of the most
powerful industries on the planet, namely the oil, gas, and coal
industries."
* Hurricane Katrina Victim Larry McBride testified that he and
other prisoners in a New Orleans jail were left to die during
Hurricane Katrina, and were then beaten and denied food and
water by the National Guard when they fled to higher ground.
The panel of jurists is currently deliberating and receiving
further evidence. Preliminary findings will be made public at a
news conference scheduled for February 2nd at the National Press
Club in Washington, DC. at noon. The Commission will later issue
detailed findings, accompanied by full documentation. Video and
audio transcripts will be posted as available.
As the Commission has brought these proceedings to conclusion,
the aggregate impact of the scope and severity of these crimes
has shocked even the organizers and experts. People in different
fields have shared their information and were stunned. This
Commission's work is breaking new ground and will impact the
whole political terrain.
YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT ARE NEEDED!
Your participation is essential to fulfilling the Commission's
mission by making its work and findings known to millions. As
Michael Ratner said, this is a pivotal moment. It's no time to
sit on the side lines. It is up to all of us to take the
evidence of the Commission out into society, to fuel and reframe
the debate from one about 'dishonesty," "misconduct," and
"law-break" to a recognition of unconscionable crimes against
humanity. In doing so, this Commission becomes an
instrumentality of all of humanity.
We have a rare opportunity to help make this happen. Funds are
needed to fly jurists and witnesses from Europe and the U.S. to
Washington, DC for our Feb. 2 press conference. We urge you to
give all you can, and then give more. History, and global
humanity, demand nothing less. Checks should be made out to "Not
In Our Name" and mailed to Not In Out Name, 305 West Broadway,
#199, New York, NY 10013. Contributions can be made on line at
www.nion.us/NSOC/sign.htm .
Visit the Commission web site at
www.bushcommission.org .
Volunteers needed in the New York area!
Contact the office at
commission@nion.us . or call 212-941-8086.
Please post and circulate to your e-list.
LINKS TO COVERAGE:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012406Z.shtml
http://rwor.org/a/032/tribunal-indicts-bush.htm
http://www.newsday.com/mynews/ny-nychur224597668jan22,0,7488407,print.story
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/manhattan/am-chur0121,0,5904260,print.story
Craig's was also Newsday's quote of the day -- "I would rather
die than to have someone tortured to protect me."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20060123/cm_huffpost/014272_200601222006
http://www.observer.com/printpage.asp?iid=12260&ic=New+York+World
http://www.countercurrents.org/us-ritter250106.htm
http://www.townhall.com/news/ext_wire.html?rowid=46401
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_david_sw_060121_testimony_from_bush_.htm