COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO BUSH WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY TO RELEASE PRELIMINARY
FINDINGS
WHERE: National Press Club, Washington, DC
WHEN: Feb. 2, 9:30am
The International
Commission of Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity by the Bush Administration concluded
its second and final round of hearings on January 22 in New York City in
furtherance of its mandate: “When the possibility of far-reaching war
crimes and crimes against humanity exists, people of conscience have a solemn
responsibility to inquire into the nature and scope of these acts, and to
determine if they do in fact rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against
humanity.”
documenting criminal acts and policies allegedly perpetrated by President Bush
and his administration from prominent experts, former US and UK officials, and eye-witnesses, in the areas of war,
torture, global environment and health, and Katrina. Hundreds attended, and the
session was covered by CNN, Newsday, all-news channel New York 1, and other media.
Musician, actor and human rights activist Harry
Belafonte opened the session: “It
is important when all the instruments of government collapse, we go in the
final hour, to the most important line of battle: the people themselves.”
Attorney Michael Ratner, President of the Center for
Constitutional Rights, stated: “We
are putting the Bush administration on trial. We investigate in order to expose.
We document in order to indict. We arouse consciousness in order to create mass
resistance.”
* Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector,
testified: “What passes for intelligence is nothing more than politically
motivated propaganda…There was no intelligence failure because the policy
wasn’t disarmament; it was regime change.”
* Craig Murray, ex-UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan:
“There was no form of torture so extreme that the
CIA would refuse the results of that torture….You can’t build
security on evil. I don’t believe torture works, but even it if
did work, I’d rather die than have anyone tortured to save my life.”
* Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski (Ret.): “When [General Geoffrey] Miller arrived at
Abu Ghraib, he said, âIt’s my opinion that you’re treating the prisoners too
well….You have to treat the prisoners like dogs.’… Rumsfeld…authorized
sleep deprivation, stress positions, meal disruptions, serving meals late, not
serving a meal, leaving the lights on, playing loud music, issuing criticism of
their religions.”
* Dr. Alan Berkman, Prof. of Public Health, Columbia University: “[Bush’s]
ideologically driven prevention agenda has in fact accounted for millions of
deaths in the five years since he took power.”
The panel of jurists is currently deliberating and
receiving further evidence. Preliminary
findings will be made public at a news conference scheduled for February 2nd
at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, 9:30am.
The Commission will later issue detailed findings,
accompanied by full documentation. Video and audio transcripts will be posted
as available. Contact Commission for
interviews with participants.
Bush Crimes Commission
212-941-8086
commission@nion.us
www.bushcommission.org