Responsibility?
A few hours ago President Barack Obama was sworn in with millions of blindingly faithful supporters behind him. And we now live in a world where war criminal George Bush is no longer in charge of the most powerful country in the world. Barack Obama and George Bush are two people that deserve equal attention over the next few months and I hope that the people and the new adminstration do not forget the Former President too easily. Eight years of disastrous economic policy, two illegal invasions into countries that posed no true risk to America, incitement to racial and religious hatred, the condoning of torture, and domestic spying should not be forgotten. In fact George Bush and Dick Cheney as well as any other perpetrators in the torture that should be tried for war crimes. Debating whether Bush and Cheney should be put on trial is redundant. These two men have repeatedly ackonwledged that torture has taken place and that they condone it. Under both US and UN law this is a war crime and both men deserve extended jail sentences.
If Barack Obama truly believes in his pledge of a “new era of responsibility” and of equality to all Americans then he should make it a pressing concern to deal with the heinous crimes of previous administrations. If Obama simply wipes these slates clean as previous presidents have done, apparently in order to uphold American pride and unity, then he will be another failed product of the US political system. Within a month of the World Trade Centre attacks the US had killed more innocent civilians than the 9/11 attacks themselves. Now consider that the civilian casualities at the hands of the US military and administration only got worse as Bush’s term got on and you can see its no stretch for Bush to be convicted under the Geneva conventions. America should not get a “clean slate” as many are calling it. America’s reputation should not be instantly restored amonst other countries as appears to be happening (at least in the Western world). Both war crimes and crimes against humanity should not be forgotten so easily and I truly hope Geore Bush’s eight years of terror will not be forgotten by the hope and excitement of the new President.
Essentially the most powerful man in the world, it will be up to Barack Obama to ensure that such criminals are brought to justice. I will be judging him on this. I have a great hope that he will restore US domestic affairs to a peaceful and more equal state. With foreign affairs I remain uneasy. This man has a lot to live up to.
