Community | August 30, 2011 | 75 comments

Wilkerson: If someone will 'Pinochet' Cheney, I'll Testify!!!

source: http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/former-bush-official-promises-to-testify-if-someon...

KB723
Posted on 08.30.11
By David Edwards
Categories: Featured, Nation

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.

“And as a result, Dick Cheney goes around the country profiting off of this, you know, sleazy, sensationalistic, self-serving book, basically profiting from his crimes, and at the same time normalizing the idea that these kind of policies, though maybe in the view of some wrongheaded, are perfectly legitimate political choices to make. And I think that’s the really damaging legacy from all of this.”

“Colonel Wilkerson, do you think the Bush administration officials should be held accountable in the way that Glenn Greenwald is talking about?” Goodman asked.

“I certainly do,” Wilkerson replied. “And I’d be willing to testify, and I’d be willing to take any punishment I’m due. And I have to say, I agree with almost everything [Greenwald] just said. And I think that explains the aggressiveness, to a large extent, of the Cheney attack and of the words like ‘exploding heads all over Washington.’ This is a book written out of fear, fear that one day someone will ‘Pinochet’ Dick Cheney.”

Wilkerson was referring to former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who was arrested in London in 1998 after being indicted for crimes against humanity. It was the first time the principle of universal jurisdiction had been applied to a former foreign head of state.

Watch this video from Democracy Now, broadcast Aug. 30, 2011.

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/former-bush-official-promises-to-testi...

"Well, Let's Have at It!!!"
  1. groups:
    Community,   Politics,   US Politics,   Opinion,   8 more
  2. tags:
    Crime,  George Bush,  Dick Cheney,  Treason
  3.     
    |

75 comments // Wilkerson: If someone will 'Pinochet' Cheney, I'll Testify!!! // Video

  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  

    • My first major disappointment in Obama was his failure to prosecute the previous administration for war crimes. It is worth noting that Obama went on to commit some war crimes of his own.

      "[Obama]’s involved in war crimes right now. For example, targeted assassinations are war crimes. That’s escalated quite sharply under Obama. If you look at WikiLeaks, there are a lot of examples of attacks on civilians." -- Noam Chomsky

      "Barack Obama is committing the same crimes [as Bush and Cheney], in fact worse ones in Afghanistan. Innocents are being slaughtered, we’re creating more enemies, he’s violating international law, he’s not constitutionally authorized to do what he’s doing, he’s using State secrets, he’s engaging in illegal surveillance, the CIA is running wild without any kind of circumsribed legal standards or disclosure . . . why don’t we say what’s on the minds of many legal experts; that the Obama administration is committing war crimes and if Bush should have been impeached, Obama should be impeached.” -- Ralph Nader

    • 9 months ago
  • figgdimension
    • +2
      figgdimension  
    • Image

    • everything you know is an illusion there is no justice, no law , no nothing your on your own out here and they'll be hiding in their villas or bunkers while the chaos they have created takes our scary numbers down for their simple subjugation of the slaves...WAKE UP NOW!

    • 9 months ago
  • ghostofamerica
    • 0
      ghostofamerica  
    • figgdimension:

      oi! figgnuts, i love the poster, except for the 'fat' comment. I am not fat myself, but, contrary to popular opinion, most people whose self image is so damaged that they think they are fat because they are round shaped instead of stick figures, are not in fact fat or obese. and throwing the word fat around like round people are evil or that they all eat too much is an ignorant way of continuing to pollute the mental environment, just like advertisers and marketers get paid to do.

    • 9 months ago
  • jacksonN
    • +3
      jacksonN  

    • IT IS a DISGRACE that this dirtball SOB for all the crimes,lies,attacks,and abuses against the people of this country,including the heros and dead of the military,...even people around the world,can continue to spew his vile crap and even be compensated for it....while knowing he will never be held acountable for one single thing ...including the downfall of this country as we know it,all because there is no one with the ball's to insist and demand he be put on trial,for fear of retrobution by the politicians and their money grubbing backers...I Myself can only hope he dies a slow and painfull death,and that any and all ill gotten gains cause irreparable harm to whom ever he leaves it to....the lowlife piece of shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 9 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • noxidereus
  • gypsysailor
  • chew_chew
    • +3
      chew_chew  

    • Mr Cheney is a sad excuse for a human. He has earned the right, and deserves to be tried for war crimes. If our government won't do it, I hope a different government will.

    • 9 months ago
  • Wyley_Wombat
    • +2
      Wyley_Wombat  

    • Last year someone asked me why as a Vietnam Veteran, I refused to have anything to do with the VFW. It is because they allowed Chickenhawks like Cheney and his ilk to speak at their conventions. The recipient of 5 deferments whose "other priorities" included making big profits from wars he was too cowardly to fight in, deserves nothing but disgust from those who put their lives on the line.

    • 9 months ago
  • onex
    • +2
      onex  

    • Why is it that the little people in this country are so easily held accountable for the smallest of crimes, yet the ones in positions of power, can squander huge amounts of resources, or human life, and walk away unscathed? i think this country needs a reboot. The system as a whole is defunct, starting at the top, with politicians, moving down through the justice system.The media and corporations that own their asses, are are all lead by the carrot on the stick and their huge egos. It's not that I want the country to not have laws, but we are way off base now, clearly going the wrong way. So why not collectively move from the traditional parties, and get away from the insanity of red and blue, that perpetuate the country into division. If we all believe in democracy, we should be able to over through the pigs in power, weed out the ones that do not do unto others as themselves. A third party is certainly worth a try.

    • 9 months ago
  • nardo1224
    • +3
      nardo1224  

    • If only it were so. It really amazed me that one man (Cheney) had an entire country afraid of him! Time & time again during the last administration I asked, "What are you willing to die for" Cheney will go to his grave without ever experiencing any sort of repercussion for what he did, America is just too scared!

    • 9 months ago
  • SamuraiDave
  • KB723
  • alexandrek
  • attilatheblond
    • +1
      attilatheblond  
    • alexandrek:

      And the trials need to be in the Hague, not the US. We need to turn the suspected war criminals over to the proper INTERNATIONAL authorities and back off from any attempts to lead their investigations and resultant trials. We should be absolutely and completely cooperative in providing any and ALL documentations needed, whether requested specifically or not by investigators.

      Only then will the US begin the journey back to moral relevance in the world. Only then will we have show to be a modicum of what we claim to be. Only then can we work on real, lasting peace.

      But it will probably take grinding the MIC to dust first. I do not hold out hope that such a thing is possible.

    • 9 months ago
  • bike10
  • Conniepae
    • +2
      Conniepae  

    • Thanks for posting! I'm glad Wilkerson is not willing to 'move along' to the wrongs. If more people would find the courage to stand up, justice in America would be served. Bringing back accountability to America.

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
  • Frosty46
  • Frosty46
    • +2
      Frosty46  

    • I do not care what the murderer Cheney has to say about anything. I do care about the Republicans rewriting history but then again it's become normal operating from these traitors to America.

    • 9 months ago
  • PIANORAMA
  • KB723
  • Snails
    • +2
      Snails  

    • My honest reaction, I'm fighting back tears and a sick, sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, you know, the normal feeling you get when someone mention's dick cheney. I want to see him stand trial, but i want all those he works for to stand with him. I hope i see the day, i really do.

      Hopefully this is a good sign of things to come.

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
    • +1
      KB723  
    • Snails:

      Good things to come indeed... Did you see him on TV, that Cat is dying more everyday... I am guessing he is just trying to Right his Wrongs, but what else could we expect from The Right???

    • 9 months ago
  • Snails
    • +2
      Snails  
    • KB723:

      They've been trying to write they're own version of history since day 1. Not sure if your open to any 9/11 "conspiracy" talk, but there's an interesting video i found where someone compiled news footage from over the course of the day, they make a compelling argument that the crucial elements of the cover story were instilled immediately, starting that day. I just found the video a few days ago, but i remember having the same instinctual reaction my self 10 years ago, I saw people making statements that were ridiculously contrived and full of information that they would have no way of knowing. Anyway, sorry to go off on a tangent, but the lies are thick, and they're attempt to hide them is constant. How do you know dick cheney is lying? His mouth is moving.

      Cheesy title, but an excellent video -

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwq04_KhCeI

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
  • Frosty46
  • percipi224
    • +2
      percipi224  
    • Image
    • Snails:

      on Democracy now they had an interview of two men who are archiving news events. they archived all the news from that day. the reason being that if the raw feeds are available then people can put together the events themselves. part of the problem now, is that television has the power to control the image and the message. it is a filter or sieve of a sort. it is like a person that presents themselves to the world filtered through cultural prejudice and upbringing. case in point; the assumption that islamic extremists were behind the Norwegian murders and bombing recently. Back on 9-11 no one assumed that.

      http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/24/pioneering_internet_archivists_brewster_ka...

    • 9 months ago
  • Jake_Leonard
    • +1
      Jake_Leonard  
    • Snails:

      I am very much open to conspiracy theories (every fact begins with a theory or hypothesis). But there are better videos out there explaining "inconsistencies" within the whole incident, both beforehand and thereafter.

      This video does not set up a timeline for a viewer and seems to take the events out of context in order to persuade. That witness (Cover #1) does certainly sound like he's reading off of a script, but that isn't evidence enough to suggest he's an actor—and further that he's "in on it." For cover #1, I'm not convinced (and I DO believe something other than the final report says).

      Cover #2

      Jet fuel is essentially kerosene. Kerosene—unless exposed to high amounts of pure oxygen—will not come close to melting steel, and perhaps with fire-retardants not even warp the metal. There has been no evidence (from either side of the debate) that there was stored pure oxygen on the higher floors (or anywhere), and enough for that matter. I don't know who is talking [Jerome Hauer: "Terrorism Expert"], but it sounds like he's just reaching for straws to feed the reporter information. From what I've read from mechanical/structural engineers and architects, what he says is completely ridiculous anyway. Him jumping topics may just be a trick of video editing.

      Cover #3

      I do find it interesting how quickly they managed to tack Osama's name to the attacks, but I haven't looked into that aspect too much. If there was anything suspicious there, I doubt it would provide solid evidence in court.

      However, I thin what's very interesting are the documentaries: Hijacking Catastrophe and 9/11: Press for Truth, exposing multiple major flaws, one in particular being how completely terrible and stacked the commission report was. On top of that, Architects and Engineers for 9/11 have insurmountable evidence regarding the main towers and especially the overlooked tower 7.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIOC1J44RYw&feature=player_embedded

    • 9 months ago
  • Snails
    • +2
      Snails  
    • Jake_Leonard:

      Right on Jake, I think the evidence that Architects and engineers provides is really all you need to make a very strong case for controlled demolition, or simply that the official story is at least seriously flawed..

      But, like i said, i remember some of these statements being made that day, and thinking to myself, something here really stinks. There are better far more balanced videos i'm sure, this is just what i found.

    • 9 months ago
  • Snails
  • Jake_Leonard
    • +1
      Jake_Leonard  
    • Snails:

      I re-read my post, and it felt condescending or lecture-like. I'm certainly no expert on falsification or strong sources, etc... Let me clarify that the video "seemed" suspect in editing to me, in my opinion. I really meant to say that if I was on the fence with the matter (or knew little about the subject), that wouldn't be enough to convince me. I mean no disrespect to you. With that, we are certainly on the same page, and we both know there is evidence stacked as high as the former towers themselves to suggest something other than the official statements occurred.

      The way I see it, there are only a few possibilities:

      1: The Bush Administration by some extension was able to hash this scheme, separate from Bin Laden. Remember that Bin Laden never actually accepted the blame for the attacks. Still, Osama had long-time resented US for what we did to his Saudi Arabia (occupation). In other words, it was a complete inside job.

      2: The Bush Administration aided Bin Laden directly..

      3: The Bush Administration had intelligence that there was a plot to attack the towers, but merely let it slide on by, if not "nudge" the plot in the right direction. They saw this as an opportunity by way of disaster capitalism. I find this to be the most likely.

      4: The Bush Administration, by way of complete negligence, was unaware of the attack, but took advantage of the moment, wrapping the nation in fear to make a move for money and power.

      Remember, the nazis succeeded in their plot to burn the Reichstag. And also, according to the architects/engineers for 9/11 truth, there needed to be a team of demolition experts to achieve what happened to those THREE buildings.

    • 9 months ago
  • Snails
    • 0
      Snails  
    • Image
    • Jake_Leonard:

      http://hands.th

      Jake, Your weren't being condescending, but thanks anyway for being cool. The problem I see with your 3rd option is that it doesn't really take into account the need for inside help in setting the demolitions. This would be a massive undertaking, Also the unexploded "nano-thermite" that they have found doesn't exist on any type of commercial level, were talking state of the art military grade explosives. They can find the patents for nano-thermite, its a real thing, it exists, but its impossible to test the actual stuff because it's only in military hands. All we know is that whats been found in the WTC rubble, matches what the patents say the stuff should be like chemically, and structurally. "Al-Qaeda" just simple would not have been able to pull this off, they don't have futuristic high grade explosive with the theoretical properties of being sprayed or painted on, but our own military does. It would have taken some serious strings being pulled to set this up. I no longer think of this as an act of the rogue bush administration. There is simply an insurgence, or element with our government that is sub-party, and is the true leading force of our government. I imagine this element is made of banksters, military contractors, corporate titans, and you basic masters of industry and war. The kind of people it would take, to reasonably pull off something of this scale. Coincidentally, these would also be the same type of people to benefit from something like this.

    • 9 months ago
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +5
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • Image

    • Can't we get some country to offer Dick Cheney a fabulous award for his contribution for his diligent fight against Terrorism Worldwide and THEN have INTERPOL arrest him for the Nigerian warrant they have issued? We just have to get him 12 miles off the coast into International waters...

      You know what I mean. How cops here arrest fugitives using a new car or something they've "won". All they need to do is come down to the dealership and pick up the keys.

      And then the cuffs come out and off they go to jail.
      -------------------------------------------------------------

      "IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER if this warrant, just issued by Interpol (the “International Criminal Police Organization“) for the arrest of former “Vice” President Richard Bruce Cheney, had been related to some of his many real, serious crimes against humanity. I mean, the ones he committed as shadow President from 2000 to around 2006, as he steered and manipulated George W. Bush to be not just the simple easy-going right-wing mediocrity he was as Texas Governor, but by most accounts the WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER."

      "No, unfortunately, this arrest warrant, if it’s ever served, is for a $180 million bribery charge in Nigeria predating the disaster that was his Shadow Presidency – obviously a serious business to Nigerians, but small potatoes to those of us who’ve seen all the other damage this snarling, pulseless cyborg has caused to our nation and the world."
      (Source: http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2010/12/interpol-issues-arrest-warrant-for-war-cr...)

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
  • KB723
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +2
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • KB723:

      He goes there now. He takes secret fights when he goes there to count his money! As he makes a quick stop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to count what he has stashed there, too!

      So, they would not be of any help.

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +3
      Buckeye_Bill  
    • KB723:

      So long as there's a Bush alive, there won't be any digging into Cheney's past. They have covered their tracks too well.

      Remember, GHW Bush was the CIA Director. He has chitola on EVERYONE. People are too afraid to talk. Especially now that there a laws that says the government can arrest you for nuttin' and put you anywhere on the planet and don't have to tell a soul!

      I'm talking too much again.

      Check out this video at the three and a half minute mark and hear what happens to others in parts of the world if they even say one small thing about their president.

      Once a Republican becomes president again....that's exactly what will happen here!

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
  • percipi224
    • +2
      percipi224  
    • Buckeye_Bill:

      they let a that IMF rapist go why would they prosecute Cheney? the bigger the crime the less likely to serve time. He hasn't pissed off the "right" people yet. If he pissed off his "crew" then he might have a nusiance to two but never jail. ever. not any of them will ever see time. or be prosecuted. perhaps Obama and Holder won't do it because their skeletons are being dangled before them or their families threatened. hedges said it; We have lost.

    • 9 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • Hardytoo
    • +4
      Hardytoo  
    • p122345:

      Good for Taos - as a former resident of NM, I would gladly have helped run him out on a rail. Dirty, slippery,horrible excuse for a human. (Can you tell how much I hate this moron?)

    • 9 months ago
  • p122345
  • Hardytoo
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • Hardytoo
  • Buckeye_Bill
    • +5
      Buckeye_Bill  

    • There is this ol' bastard named Dick
      Who thought the whole world he could kick
      But when his free time is over
      And as he scrounges for cover
      We'll jail him 'cause he's a Big Prick!

      (Whew,,there, I fixed it!)

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
  • Leen61
    • +4
      Leen61  

    • I hope Wilkerson is right when he says Cheney wrote "heads will explode in Washington" and the rest of the book out of fear. I totally agree with Glenn Greenwald. It is disgusting that Cheney gets to go around and make money pushing his book. He was a war profiteer when he was VP and continues to be one with this book. PS...Glenn Greenwald rocks!

    • 9 months ago
  • KB723
    • +2
      KB723  
    • Leen61:

      I agree Leen and Yes Greenwald Rocks!!! I just think it is too little too late, but he was silenced when he had the right to speak out... Now that this Breed is fading into the Sunset, we will hear from others, and someday just as sad as the JFK assassination, this will all just be spoken but never Proven, just more water under the Bridge in a Time not soo long ago...

    • 9 months ago
  • Leen61
    • +3
      Leen61  
    • KB723:

      " Now that this Breed is fading into the Sunset, we will hear from others, and someday just as sad as the JFK assassination, this will all just be spoken but never Proven, just more water under the Bridge in a Time not soo long ago..."

      I so totally agree, KB. That's what bums me out. :( Excellent commentary...voted up!

    • 9 months ago
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • Leen61
  • Schnookums
  • KB723
  • KB723
    • +4
      KB723  

    • Wilkerson: If someone will 'Pinochet' Cheney, I'll Testify!!!

      "Sadly it will NOT be our Leader that Promised "CHANGE!!!!"

    • 9 months ago
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • p122345
  • KB723
  • KB723
more from Community:
from the community

top videos