Birmingham Progressive Politics Examiner

by Karen Harper

71% of Americans are in favor of an investigation into the possible misuse of the Department of Justice by the Bush administration according to a Gallup poll released yesterday. The Bush administration has been accused of using the Department of Justice for political maneuvering including the firing of U.S. attorneys and the investigation and conviction of Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, a Democrat.

Of the 71% who believe Bush should be investigated, 41% want a criminal investigation while 30% are in favor of investigation by an independent panel. 71% is a very high percentage of the American population.

Though President Obama has shown little inclination to get involved in an investigation and possible prosecution of officials in the Bush administration, it seems the nation wants the former President Bush to be held accountable for his crimes.

Another 63% of Americans are in favor of investigating the Bush administration in connection with illegal wiretapping. 62% of Americans believe the Bush administration should be investigated for the use of torture.

As a nation that holds its citizens accountable for their actions, we should not let the President and those who acted with him, go unpunished for activities that would see the average American citizen in prison for committing torture, illegal wire-tapping or misuse of the Justice Department.

A House committee led by Representative John Conyers has already issued subpoenas of former Bush administration officials. Earlier this week, Senator Patrick Leahy announced he would like to see a special commission to investigate the Bush administration for alleged torture of terrorist suspects and the abuse of the Department of Justice.

The persecution of Democratic Governor Don Siegelman has been widely criticized by U.S. attorneys across the nation, both Democrats and Republicans and there is mounting evidence of political maneuvering aided by Karl Rove in a falsely created investigation and subsequent prosecution of the former Alabama Governor.

There is also a great deal of evidence in the case against the Bush administration for its use of torture as the former Vice-President has all but bragged about his role in the use of illegal torture.

Though the new Obama administration doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to investigate crimes committed by the Bush administration, Americans are keen to see the former President investigated.

President George W Bush was sworn to uphold the constitution of the United States but did not. He ignored Geneva conventions that America has held to since WWII.

To simply give a pass to those who break our nation’s laws and rules sets a frightening precedent. If officials in the Bush administration shouldn’t be held accountable for their crimes, then who should be?

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