Elizabeth de la Vega: "The White House Criminal Conspiracy"

[understandinglife]

The White House Criminal Conspiracy

By Elizabeth de la Vega

Legally, there are no significant differences between the investor fraud perpetrated by Enron CEO Ken Lay and the prewar intelligence fraud perpetrated by George W. Bush. Both involved persons in authority who used half-truths and recklessly false statements to manipulate people who trusted them. There is, however, a practical difference: The presidential fraud is wider in scope and far graver in its consequences than the Enron fraud. Yet thus far the public seems paralyzed.

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The evidence shows, then, that from early 2002 to at least March 2003, the President and his aides conspired to defraud the United States by intentionally misrepresenting intelligence about Iraq to persuade Congress to authorize force, thereby interfering with Congress's lawful functions of overseeing foreign affairs and making appropriations, all of which violates Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

To what standards should we hold our government officials? Certainly standards as high as those Bush articulated for corporate officials. Higher, one would think. The President and Vice President and their appointees take an oath to defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States. If they fail to leave their campaign tactics and deceits behind -- if they use the Oval Office to trick the public and Congress into supporting a war -- we must hold them accountable. It's not a question of politics. It's a question of law.

Much more at the link:

http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=32550

Nothing to add, except, check this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4457345

And, this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5224943

Peace.