We call upon Congress to assert its responsibility under the Constitution by forming a bipartisan Congressional panel to investigate whether George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and Alberto Gonzales committed impeachable offenses. We understand the great seriousness of this action, but believe the evidence compels an investigation to determine if the following constitute high crimes and misdemeanors under Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution:
Did they lie to Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq?
It is a felony to lie to Congress, and there is no more serious crime against our democracy than lying to the American people to gain support for war. Specific statements for investigation include:
The linking of Saddam Hussein to 9/11.
In a letter to Congress delivered three years ago, President Bush wrote: ?The use of armed forces against Iraq is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or person who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.? In one 2003 pre war prime-time press conference, Bush mentioned Sept. 11 eight times, he referred to Saddam Hussein many more times than that, often in the same breath with Sept. 11, and said "There's no question that Saddam Hussein had al Qaeda ties,"
On September 18, 2003; Bush contradicted these statements by saying:"No, we've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th," Speaking in Ohio on March 20, 2006 , Bush said "I don't think we ever said, at least I know I didn't say that there was a direct connection between September 11th and Saddam Hussein."
This treacherous lie divided families and used American's patriotism to trick them. .
"We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."
Cheney, started the nuclear doomsday drumbeat in three August 2002 speeches, describing Saddam as "actively and aggressively seeking to acquire nuclear weapons."
On September 8, 2002, Rice conjured visions of American cities being consumed by mushroom clouds. On an appearance on CNN, she warned: "We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."
Dr. Rice also claimed that she had conclusive evidence about Iraq's alleged nuclear weapons program. During that same interview, she also said: "We do know that he is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon. We do know that there have been shipments going into - Iraq, for instance, of aluminum tubes - that are really only suited for nuclear weapons programs."
In his address to the U.N. General Assembly on September 12, 2002, Bush said, "Iraq has made several attempts to buy high-strength aluminum tubes used to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon."
On October 7, 2002, Bush said in Cincinnati: "Evidence indicates that Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Saddam Hussein held numerous meetings with Iraqi nuclear scientists, a group he calls his 'nuclear mujahedeen' - his nuclear holy warriors... . Iraq has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes and other equipment needed for gas centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons."
These statements did not accurately reflect the intelligence reports of the time. Bush had been informed of dissents in a one-page President's Summary that specifically told Bush that "most agencies judge" that the use of the aluminum tubes was likely intended for conventional weapons uses." These statements about Iraq's nuclear program were fraudulent.
Another part of the nuclear fraud is the forgery of documents purporting to show that Iraq had tried to purchase uranium, and the retribution exacted against those who questioned that lie (including Ambassador Joseph Wilson and IAEA Director General and now Nobel Peace Laureate Mohammed El Baradei). The New York Times has reported on a State Department memo that, in early 2002, had debunked the claim that Iraq had tried to purchase uranium in Niger
The indictment of Scooter Libby, by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald high lights the attempted criminal cover up of the use of these forged documents.
In January 2003 President Bush and his senior officials made five false and fraudulent statements that Iraq had sought uranium including in the state of the union speech. At the time that President Bush and his officials made their uranium claims there were Congressional efforts to delay the start of the war. After these lies, the Congressional efforts to delay the war stalled and soon thereafter Bush started the bombing of Iraqi cities that continues to this day.
Bush knew of the sharp debate within the government over the nuclear evidence during the time that he, Cheney, and other members of the Cabinet were citing clear evidence of an Iraqi nuclear program. Neither the president nor the vice president told the public the truth.
The smoking gun could be a mushroom cloud was based on fraudulent documents and they knew it when they said it.
The imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction.
The highly revealing Downing Street minutes written by the head of British intelligence state: "Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and the facts were being fixed around the policy."
The war was sold to the American public using a "marketing plan,? that was introduced in September 2002, because, as White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card told The New York Times, "you don't introduce new products in August."
Many people understand the deception that led to this war. Colin Powell's former chief of staff, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, calls the run up to war a "hoax on the American people". The World Council of Churches issued a statement this February which reads in part "We lament with special anguish the war in Iraq, launched in deception." The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church and the United Methodist Church were among the U.S. churches backing this statement. We urge all Mecklenburg county residents, to discuss this statement with a minister, priest, rabbi or other spiritual leader.
Did they authorize torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment ?
Such actions would be in direct contradiction of 230 years of American tradition. These values date back to George Washington's orders to not torture prisoners of war.
Did they authorize illegal wiretaps on American citizens ?
The President's decision to ignore the required warrants is a direct assault on the Bill of Rights.
Did they loot the Treasury of the United States ?
Evidence for this crime includes the plethora of no bid contracts awarded to political cronies, the failure to rebuild the Gulf Coast, the $ 2.5 Trillion dollars added to the national debt in the last 5 years, and the direct connection of the White House to Jack Abramoff.
Did they misstate science to confuse the American people regarding the danger from global warming and climate change ?
James Hansen, the head of NASA's top institute studying the climate has stated "In my more than three decades in the government I've never witnessed such restrictions on the ability of scientists to communicate with the public,".
Impeachment is a constitutional necessity, not a political strategy.
This is about the Constitution and American democracy. If they can brazenly lie to the American people about war, what crime can?t they commit? It will set a precedent that will lie around like a loaded gun, able to be used indefinitely by any future President. We should just stamp the Constitution of the United Sates null and void.
Brian Staton wrote and submitted this statement at the Mecklenburg County Democratic Convention on April 1 at which time they voted in support of it. He can be reached at [email protected].
Operation Impeachment
www.OperationImpeachment.org