Karl Rove: arrest that war criminal
I often think of George Orwell’s slogan “War is Peace” from his novel 1984, symbolizing how a totalitarian government can twist the meaning of language to have words signify their opposite definition. We’re no stranger to this phenomenon in democracies, either. Hence, “peacekeepers” carry weapons and kill people, and powerful men like former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who oversaw the “secret” bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, win the Nobel Peace Prize.
To a disturbing degree throughout history, countries herald the men who support and approve war while reviling those who abhor it. Hence, leaders often denounce peace activists as “subversives” or “thugs.” Since when does seeking peace and harmony make you a criminal?
One of the latest “war heroes” is Karl Rove, deputy chief of staff under former U.S. President George W. Bush. He is on a book tour in the States, speaking at private Republican Party gatherings about his new tome Courage & Consequence, My Life as a Conservative in the Fight. Without having read the book, I can say that I prefer the account of Rove in the citizen’s arrest complaint created by CodePink, a U.S. women’s peace group:
Arrest Complaint
In the matter concerning:
United States of America, plaintiff v. Karl Christian Rove, defendant
Under the authority provided private citizens by California Code: 837, you, Karl Christian Rove, are being placed under arrest for high crimes against the people of the United States committed during your role as Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush as well as while serving as a campaign consultant during the U.S. presidential elections of 2000 and 2004.
You are charged with willful violation of the following federal codes between the dates of January 1, 2000 until the present.
US Code: Title 42, the Voting Rights Act, for ELECTION FRAUD in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
US Code, Chapter 19.371, CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OFFENSE OR TO DEFRAUD UNITED STATES, for false information leading to the War in Iraq
Several sections of US Code, Chapter 115, TREASON, SEDITION, AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES including, but not limited to submitting and fomenting false information leading to the War in Iraq, illegal detainment and torture of prisoners in Guantanamo and elsewhere, and other fraudulent acts leading to the deaths of more than 4,000 U.S. military personnel as well as approximately 300,000 Iraqi civilians.
US Code, Title 18, Chapter 51, FELONY MURDER
Further, you may also be indicted for other violations of federal code not listed in this complaint.
Any United States Marshall or any authorized U.S. Law Enforcement Officer present is obligated under the provisions of California Code 837 to take you into custody and bring you forthwith before the nearest magistrate to answer these charges and to advise you of your rights with include:
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.
Respectfully submitted by and for citizens of the state of xxx
On this xx day of xx, 2010.
November 21, 2011 at 6:24 pmFrank McElroy
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November 21, 2011
We live in two countries which claim to respect personal rights, to the extent that one has a charter of rights and freedoms and the other a constitution. What amazes me is that whenever these personal rights are expressed in public, the expressors are depicted as traitors to the very documents which recognize their human rights. More troubling is the use of the police power, the “police,” to subvert these established rights, and in favor of whom or what?
Today Newt Gingrich, Republican candidate for US president, now the poll leader, suggested to the entire Occupy movement that each of them get a job, but shower first. I’ve seen so many on the right oppose Occupy, denigrating its message, not by dealing with its substance, but by raising the markers of their own failed system – no leader, no central message (are you serious?), nobody to attack directly.
Cheers to Gregor Robertson, even Bloomberg in NYC. Kick them out gently, make sure they have a place to gather, encourage them to change the world. They, we, will do it anyway.
When I watched those kids at University of California, Davis Campus, being sprayed face-on with pepper spray yesterday, I was reminded of a terrible confrontation which continues to change my life, at Kent State University, long ago.
We haven’t learned anything? No, we’ve learned that the political process is tainted and flawed, turned toward one group or another, ignoring most of us. It’s a nice idea that we can change all of that by “voting them all out,” but that hasn’t worked. More fundamental change is required, and that is what Occupy represents and states. And that is what the bankers and politicians who have lived on complacency fear. And they fear it in a visceral way. Follow Occupy, pay attention to what’s going on, assert yourself.
These are two powerful nations with many within who can and must stand for their rights, just simply for themselves. Why is it taking so long? FLM