One Republican member of the Bush Regime, in my opinion, is Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff for Secretary of State, Colin Powell. He has been up front about his own role and willing to take responsibility for his own offenses. He has repeatedly told the truth, and usually been ignored, about what transpired. Now he says that if Dick Cheney were to face trial for his crimes against humanity, he would testify, even if that testimony resulted in his own conviction.
The former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell pledged Tuesday to testify against former Vice President Dick Cheney if he is ever tried for war crimes.
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson told Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman that he would participate in a trial even if it meant personal repercussions.
"I, unfortunately — and I’ve admitted to this a number of times, publicly and privately — was the person who put together Colin Powell’s presentation at the United Nations Security Council on 5 February, 2003," Wilkerson said. "It was probably the biggest mistake of my life. I regret it to this day. I regret not having resigned over it."
In an interview that aired on NBC Monday, Cheney told Jamie Gangel that unlike President George W. Bush, he did not have a "sickening feeling" when they discovered there were no weapons of mass destruction after the invasion of Iraq.
"I think we did the right thing," Cheney said.
Joining Wilkerson and Goodman to discuss Cheney’s new book "In My Time," Salon’s Glenn Greenwald said that it was disturbing to see the former vice president treated simply as an "elder statesman."
"The evidence is overwhelming… that Dick Cheney is not just a political figure with controversial views, but is an actual criminal, that he was centrally involved in a whole variety not just of war crimes in Iraq, but of domestic crimes, as well, including the authorization of warrantless eavesdropping on American citizens in violation of FISA, which says that you go to jail for five years for each offense, as well as the authorization and implementation of a worldwide torture regime that, according to General Barry McCaffrey, resulted in the murder — his word — of dozens of detainees, far beyond just the three or four cases of waterboarding that media figures typically ask Cheney about," Greenwald explained… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Crooks and Liars>
Here’s the video.
Lawrence Wilkerson also joined Lawrence O’Donnell to counter Cheney’s lies.
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Wilkerson is a perfect example that people are not beyond redemption, and I praise Wilkerson for coming out from among them and doing the right thing.
22 Responses to “Wilkerson Would Testify in a War Crimes Trial”
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More of them might come out of the woodwork to testify yet. Cheney cares about nothing but himself.
I hope so, Patty!
There is a movement afoot to for customers to move Cheney’s book from the Biography section to the Crime section. Here is a list of the reasons it should be done.
http://my.firedoglake.com/codepink/2011/08/29/ten-reasons-to-move-cheney%E2%80%99s-book-to-the-crime-section/
An idea worth helping out on. Oh sure, it may make someone at Barnes & Noble move them back – but by keeping them busy, it may also just increase their job security.
(When you get to be my age, your allowed a modicum of outright orneriness. OK – so I may have exceeded my limit, but still …)
I like the idea too!
UNLIKE DICK Cheney, Wilkerson is a highly intelligent man of great integrity. I hope he DOES get the opportunity to testify against DICK in a war crimes trial and that his testimony will not only help convict Cheney, but will wipe the arrogant smugness off of Cheney’s face forever!
Amen, Pope Jack!
I have not yet read Cheney’s book— (seldom read pornography -) So My opinion at this point comes from reading comments- reviews etc-; However it seems that in his own words Cheney confesses to unspeakable crimes ;- The more attention paid- the more light is given the vile acts of this vile man- the more possible he can and will be called to account for his war crimes-
I have no intent to read it. I’ve heard enough outtakes.
“No End In Sight” Is a 2007 documentary that sheds a lot of light on the atrocities commited by the Bush crime family with interviews of Col. Lawrence Wilkerson and David Armitage and a host of others that were envolved.
There is an in-depth synopsis on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_End_in_Sight
Thanks, Johnny!
I have been supporting every call to have this evil “author” brought up on crimes against humanity and war crimes – yesterday TomCat mentioned he did not wish him dead – I definitely do wish him dead – and I definitely wish his death to be one of great suffering – of course, unlike TomCat – I don’t believe in heaven/hell, so I say get the SOB while he’s still alive! There are others complicit (several of that administration) that I would also like to be brought before a tribunal, but agree with TomCat that some might be spared execution – or at least make it a mercifully quick one!
got to add that it isn’t just because he’s evil, but the entire world should see us make amends, as well as to make sure that this sort of evil is not accepted in this country – that hasn’t been made a point! As Keith said yesterday (I think it was him) “Where is the outrage?) That’s what I want to know – how is it that this country continues to allow the previous administration to get away with crimes against nature? Putting our soldiers at risk, and creating a “wag the tail” war, and killing and torturing thousands? To my mind it makes me ashamed to be called a citizen of this country!
Lee. He deserves everything you say, but what he deserves does not matter. He should be imprisoned for his crimes, but in humane conditions and treated decently, because we are humane, decent people. When we adopt evil to oppose evil, we become what we oppose.
Dahlia Lithwick at Slate lucidly details why Cheney needs to be tried for torture:
http://www.slate.com/id/2302751/
Right on, Nameless.
Good post. Thanks.
Thanks, Paul!
In thie first photo of Cheney, he looks like a vicious junkyard dawg! When you listen to various interviews, you know he not only looks like a vicious junkyard dawg, but he is a vicious junkyard dawg! I don’t think he would know the truth if it bit him on the ass. I certainly don’t find him charismatic, so it makes me wonder how he was able to deceive so many for so long — or is it that money talks louder than anything else?
I have no desire to read his book, but if it can be considered a confession, then I think that he should be prosecuted for war crimes to the full extent of the law. I seem to recall that after Mr Obama was elected, he was asked if there would be action taken against the previous administration. He replied that he wanted to look forward, not backwards (someone correct me if I’m wrong please). In this case, especially with what has been showing up, I think that there must be a trial, honest and fair which is more than Cheney ever gave anyone else, to promote national healing and repair some international reputation.
Amen!
I forgot to mention Wilkerson. He was open and candid, accepting responsibility for his role in this. Cheney should learn, but never will, from this. Cheney, you do the crime, you do the time.
Was Baby Bush duped by Cheney because I don’t think Bush has the brains to fight his way out of a paper bag? That does not make him any less guilty. Try them both.
Amen again!