Bush administration compared to Nazi regime

[Dystopian]

Francis Boyle, Prof. of Int'l Law, Univ. of Chicago

Statement On Behalf Of Lt. Ehren Watada

One generation ago the peoples of the world asked themselves: Where were the “good” Germans? Well, there were some good Germans. The Lutheran theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer was the foremost exemplar of someone who led a life of principled opposition to the Nazi-terror state even unto death.

Today the peoples of the world are likewise asking themselves: Where are the “good” Americans? Well, there are some good Americans. They are getting prosecuted for protesting against illegal U.S. military interventions and war crimes around the world. First Lieutenant Ehren Watada is America’s equivalent to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Vaclav Havel, Andrei Sakharov, Wei Jingsheng, Aung San Suu Kyi, and others. He is the archetypal American Hero whom we should be bringing into our schools and teaching our children to emulate, not those wholesale purveyors of gratuitous violence and bloodshed adulated by the U.S. government, America’s power elite, the mainstream corporate news media, and its interlocked entertainment industry.

In international legal terms, the Bush Jr. administration itself should now be viewed as constituting an ongoing criminal conspiracy under international criminal law in violation of the Nuremberg Charter, the Nuremberg Judgment, and the Nuremberg Principles, because of its formulation and undertaking of wars of aggression, crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, and war crimes that are legally akin to those perpetrated by the former Nazi regime in Germany. As a consequence, American citizens and soldiers such as Lieutenant Watada possess the basic right under international law and the United States domestic law, including the U.S. Constitution, to engage in acts of civil resistance in order to prevent, impede, thwart, or terminate ongoing criminal activities perpetrated by U.S. government officials in their conduct of foreign affairs policies and military operations purported to relate to defense and counter-terrorism. If not so restrained, the Bush Jr. administration could very well precipitate a Third World War.

Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law, University of Chicago
College of Law
www.ThankYouLt.org

PEACE~

[diamondsndust]

1. More and more people are seeing and saying this every day...

when the hell is someone going to DO something about the Chimperor? This should be a call to action to every person in this Country. By GOD, it is time to take to the streets and demand some action, demand some accountability, demand that some of our elected officials take action, and if they don't, it is time to take drastic actions ourselves. I can no longer sit idly by and watch this debacle. No more, dammit! It's time for the strong to step up because the pacifists are not getting the job done.

[nofurylike]

9. it is because "the pacifists" are about the only ones out there. have you

been?

how many always have excuses why they can't be out there, leaving the same people out there time after time?

those who have the strength, courage and devotion TO BE OUT THERE over and over again, while the rest do armchair revolts...

"It's time for the strong to step up because the pacifists are not getting the job done"?!

:puke:


we'd love all you big strong ones to show up

[diamondsndust]

24. speaking of armchair revolutionists...

YOU must be the leader. You speak of "the strength, courage and devotion TO BE OUT THERE over and over again", yet you fail to show an example or state what YOU have done. That statement is about as ambiguous as your name is: no fury like ... you can't even decide what you're furious about! It falls short, just like your armchair analysis of me. Where have I been? I've been working on a grassroots campaign for a Senate candidate in MY district, where have YOU been? You talk big, yet fail to back yourself up with FACTS or examples. More hot air and ambiguous fury. Put up or shut up.

You'd love for all us big strong ones to show up? I highly doubt that. You would just whine because we show up with guns.

[Vidar]

37. As long as thery're aimed in the right direction.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I am on the street twice a week

Our group is growing, but its size sure doesn't seem to reflect the anger I see growing and growing.

[diamondsndust]

25. Thanks for being out there...

have you tried recruiting new members? I'm trying to come up with a comprehensive plan for a nationwide civil uprising but I wind up beating my head against the wall a lot. It's really hard to get support in a predominately red state, but I am seeing more and more people starting to change their thinking. I'm pretty loud and vocal when I'm out, and I don't care who likes it or not. I'm starting to get more questions and less evil stares when I say something in public. This is a good sign, IMHO. Thanks to time spent here on DU, I myself have become better educated on some issues and am better able to speak to others with facts and figures instead of half cocked rantings from a pissed off individual.

Good luck with your efforts and I hope your movement grows!

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Oh yeah we post stuff and appeal to just about everyone we know

I think we need to face the facts that protesting is not everyone's cup of tea. Good progressives who I work with on other campaigns ask me what good it does to stand there holding a sign. Frankly, I have a really hard time answering that question. If they don't know, and are dumb enough to ask, I doubt I can tell them anything that will enlighten them.

I just got sick and tired of sitting here in front of my computer. I didn't seem to be accomplishing anything other than educating myself. And the more I learned, the angrier I got. Then I went down to Crawford last August and was inspired. I haven't quit protesting since. And I am mad at myself that it took two+ years of war to get me off my butt.

If that sign I hold gets ONE person to think about the war for ONE minute, I feel like I have accomplished something. Most people in this country don't even know how many of our soldiers have died in Iraq. And an even smaller number knows how many innocent Iraqis have died. They won't get angry and out into the streets if they don't know these things. And since the media avoids keeping a death count and can't show us coffins, standing there on the street corner holding a sign is a civic duty.

[Dystopian]

30. You are very dedicated....

Twice a week says a lot! We shouldn't need 'special occasions' to spur people into action....
You're out there...thank you to you and yours!

:yourock:

PEACE~

[nofurylike]

34. i am very thankful for what you, and others are doing.

perhaps you will re-read the particular post i replied to, and understand what i responded to.
for one example, the juxtaposing of "the pacifists" and "the strong" is grotesquely offensive.


thank you for all you do!!


peace and solidarity!

[nofurylike]

36. ps, my mistake. i mistook your comment as to me. still, i thank you. eom

[Dystopian]

28. Call to action~

Yes, this is a call to action. On June 27, everyone should hit the streets in support of Lt. Watada. This date is on his site....national day of action. I ordered my T-shirt...the first I'll ever wear in support of someone or something. There are posters to download, also. I'll be placing these all over the surrounding towns with location and time of the rally....There are many peace/anti-war groups listed as supporters. This is another opportunity for us to be heard.....
Please PM if from MA
www.ThankYouLt.org

PEACE~

[nofurylike]

35. absolutely. thank you for the word, and your OP, Dystopian. eom

[rman]

2. Bush dynasty linked to Nazi regime

NAZI-CIA; October Surprise; Bush-Moon Axis; Corporate McPravda...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1450222&mesg_id=1450222

[wake.up.america]

3. We should be careful with the analogy. Bush ist kein Hitler!

[rman]

4. Right, Bush is worse than Hitler

[tritsofme]

5. Bush is a horrible president

And history will surely note his list of illegal and unjust wars, along with many of his predecessors.

But that statement is just ridiculous.

[rman]

6. The Bush dictatorship is still in pre-1932 phase

Hitler also took some time to get up to speed. Just wait and see what happens after the next 9-11.

Daniel Ellsberg Interview
The day after the next 9/11 our freedoms are gone.
In 1971, as a Defense Department Official and Vietnam Vet, he "released" 7,000 pages of Nixon's secret war plans, "The Pentagon Papers", to The New York Times. Placing him at the top of Nixon's "Enemies List" and having Henry Kissinger call his "The most dangerous man in the world!"

Run Time 4 Minutes

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13540.htm

[tritsofme]

8. That doesn't support your assertation that Bush is worse than Hitler.

At the latest, Bush leaves town January 20, 2009 at noon.

[rman]

11. Bush has bigger guns, more money, better propaganda

than Hitler.
A lot can happen bewteen now and 1-2009 - and a lot can happen after.

[tritsofme]

15. 60 million people died in WWII

I don't think Bush has that much killing left in him over the next few years.

[rman]

16. WW2 took place after 1932

Which part of "Bush is in pre-1932-phase" did you not understand?

[tritsofme]

19. And my granddaughter is worse than Bush in his pre-1949 stage

And Hitler only took power in 1932, so I guess what you're getting at is Bush is worse than Hitler before Hitler came to power.

These comparisons to Hitler are counter-productive to serious arguments.

[rman]

20. The comparison to Hitler is just a metaphore.

Of course the events now are not an exact copy of the Nazi's rise to power. What it's about is dictatorship. Just look at what this admin has already done to the Constitution.



Daniel Ellsberg Interview
The day after the next 9/11 our freedoms are gone.
In 1971, as a Defense Department Official and Vietnam Vet, he "released" 7,000 pages of Nixon's secret war plans, "The Pentagon Papers", to The New York Times. Placing him at the top of Nixon's "Enemies List" and having Henry Kissinger call his "The most dangerous man in the world!"

Run Time 4 Minutes

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13540.htm

[GuvWurld]

21. Depleted Uranium is Mr. Bush's slow-motion holocaust

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=947936&mesg_id=954766

Bush has condemned to death far, far more people than Hitler ever killed.

[mwb970]

27. What makes you think Bush will leave office?? (n/t)

[cali]

12. Actually, he's not.

It's fair to look at this in a bifurcated way, comparing Hitler's foreign policy to bush's and then comparing their respective domestic policies. It's valid to compare bush's attempt to secure oil laden lands with Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia- not all that useful but valid. As regards domestic policy, there really isn't much to compare. The Patriot Act to the legal marginalization of the Jews and events such as Krystallnacht? The murder of those with psychiatric and mental disabilities? The persecution of communists and others? What has bushco done that's in that league. In addition, as someone pointed out, bush will be gone in 2 years.

[rman]

13. Hitler was around before Krystallnacht,

Bush's Krystallnacht is yet to come.
Just wait for the next 9-11.

[cali]

14. forgive me for not believing you have a krystal ball.

Yes, I believe that if we had another attack on the same scale as 9/11, our civil liberties would be in even greater peril, but you, of course, have no way of knowing if that's going to happen while bush is president, and how it would play out if it does. It's pointless discussing something with someone who simply makes broad assertions, without any logic or valid history behind them.

Krystallnacht happened in November '38, so hitler had been in power for just about 6 years, but plenty happened prior to that event that was far more grievous, on the domestic front, than anything that's happened under bush.

[rman]

17. American fascism is in pre-1932 phase

Of course the events now are not an exact copy of the Nazi's rise to power.
The comparison to Hitler is just a metaphore. What it's about is dictatorship. Just look at what this admin has already done to the Constitution.


Daniel Ellsberg Interview
The day after the next 9/11 our freedoms are gone.

In 1971, as a Defense Department Official and Vietnam Vet, he "released" 7,000 pages of Nixon's secret war plans, "The Pentagon Papers", to The New York Times. Placing him at the top of Nixon's "Enemies List" and having Henry Kissinger call his "The most dangerous man in the world!"

Run Time 4 Minutes
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13540.htm

[Dystopian]

31. Great post, thanks n/t

[Philosoraptor]

7. Wouldn't that be considered Hyperbole?

Cause I just love hyperbole. I've been saying it for years, and I'm usually scolded for it.

[Minnesota Libra]

10. Thank you for this - we should be spreading this far and wide.............

.....printing it out and posting it on telephone poles or where ever we can put it so people will see it. That would be the :patriot: thing to do.

[Dystopian]

29. You're welcome.....and.....

You're right...people need to see this, and there are other suggestions for more public awareness, posters, and national call for action on June 27....
It IS the :patriot: thing to do!

www.ThankYouLt.org

PEACE~

[Karenina]

18. Watada is a HERO!

And Boyle is correct.

[Jed Dilligan]

23. Or is it an extension of the Nazi regime?

It's a fact that Bush's grandfather was an ardent advocate of Hitler, especially on race, and a major active supporter of the National Socialist German Worker's Party through his financial activities.

What I've never heard is a public denunciation of this legacy from either President Bush.

My question is simply, did the Bushes ever stop being a clan of American Nazis, and if so, when?

[Cleita]

32. It seems more and more that the things we discussed years

ago in DU are now going mainstream.

[me b zola]

33. k&r