Author: Katy Dhanens
As power and influence transfers from the Administration of George W. Bush, to Barack Obama’s Administration, there has been speculation on whether or not Obama should prosecute the Bush Administration for its war crimes committed in the post-9/11 era. Unfortuantely, however, no easy solution to this problem has come to the forefront. Although, hypothetically, justice should prevail, the current political climate presents many challenges that demand quick action, such as in the case of the current economic crisis. Many believe that the past should be ignored in order to focus on present issues. Meanwhile, the public is unsure whether to demand justice or to simply leave the past behind in efforts to focus on the pressing present concerns.
I personally believe that the Obama administration cannot and will not succeed in their goals unless they work to resolve the errors of their predecessors. As Ari Melber of the Nation asserted in late 2008, “Obama must scrutinize and disassemble the post-Sept. 11 imperial presidency, even if he reduces his own power in the process.” Retrospective remedy alongside progress is necessary for the success of the new presidential administration. However, the Obama administration cannot focus on future goals while maintaining to ignore the past. Justice, integrity, and accountability must be reinstalled into the United States government, beginning by making a definitive and unbudging statement regarding its attitude toward actions taken by the Bush administration.
The Obama Administration must prosecute the Bush Administration for its crimes in order to restore the faith of the people in the American government. The corruption that infiltrated George W. Bush’s administration furthered the people’s distrust of the government, leading to Bush’s amazingly record low public approval ratings.The Obama administration must institute legal proceedings concerning the war crimes of the Bush administration to restore accountability in the White House and to prove that it will not continue the mistakes that occurred during the past eight years. If Obama turns a blind eye to the crimes of his predecessor, he will inherit the Bush administration’s lack of credibility with the American people.
By prosecuting the officials who committed war crimes, Obama will also move towards restoring the faith of the international community in American actions. That the United States has crossed countless boundaries, engaged in near, if not outright torture, and angered many countries in the past eight years cannot be refuted. Before he is able to garner the respect and cooperation of other nations, President Obama and his administration must reassure the international community that the United States will remain true to its own laws and stated values.
If everyone is equal under United States law, they must be treated as such. If the United States sees itself as a champion of democracy, it must uphold democratic principles by restoring the integrity to the United States government through prosecution of government officials who have broken laws.The Bush administration must be prosecuted to uphold principles of democracy and to thus restore the domestic public’s and international community’s faith in the political leaders of our country. Although the new Obama administration must address the economic crisis, immigration policy, environmental concerns, the continuation of the war in Iraq, and additional international tensions and conflict amongst other pending crises, it absolutely cannot work within a broken system. If Obama neglects the cracks in the American government’s foundation and constitution caused by the Bush Administration, he will not be successful in his term. As Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr asserted in the impeachment trial of President Clinton, “Absolutely no one is above the law.”
I repeat, absolutely no one.
Katy Dhanens is an undeclared first-year. He can be reached at dhanens@oxy.edu.
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