Michael Salla, Ph.D.Honolulu Exopolitics ExaminerMarch 6, 7:55 AM
On March 3, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy, held a hearing on creating a nonpartisan "commission of inquiry" to investigate wrongdoing during the eight years of the Bush administration. The proposed “Truth Commission” focuses on a number of areas since 9-11 where the Bush administration broke the law in the "war against terrorism". According to a statement released by Leahy, “Nothing has done more to damage America’s place in the world than the revelation that this Nation stretched the law and the bounds of executive power to authorize torture and cruel treatment.” Six expert witnesses spoke at the hearing on behalf of or against Leahy’s proposed Truth Commission which he believes will help restore America’s “moral leadership.” Leahy’s proposal needs to be expanded to investigate all wrong doing in the Bush administration. A Truth Commission with a broad mandate can expose many areas in addition to those pointed out by Leahy where laws were violated in classified programs. Getting witnesses to emerge to reveal these violations has the potential to expose many secrets, including unanswered questions about 9-11 and the facts behind the UFO phenomenon.
Leahy’s proposal is a compromise between those wanting Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate wrong doing during the Bush administration, and those seeking, in the words of Leahy, to “obstruct and delay” such an investigation. Leahy further elaborated on the merits of his “middle ground” position:
Over the last month, I have suggested a middle ground to get to the truth of what went on during the last several years, in a way that invites cooperation. I believe that that might best be accomplished though a nonpartisan commission of inquiry…. Such a commission of inquiry would shed light on what mistakes were made so that we can learn from these errors and not repeat them.”
If a Truth Commission goes ahead, then former Bush administration officials are given amnesty to testify about all they knew. According to Leahy:
People with first-hand knowledge would be invited to come forward and share their experiences and insight, not for purposes of constructing criminal indictments, but to assemble the facts. If needed, such a process could involve subpoena powers, and even authority to obtain immunity to secure information, in order to get to the whole truth. Of course, this avenue would be pursued in consultation with the Justice Department and would not rule out prosecution for perjury."
A Truth Commission will encourage many former officials, in exchange for amnesty, to testify about all they know and did. Many illegal activities can be revealed that occurred in classified programs that provide cover for those authorizing such activities. The idea of restricting a Truth Commission solely to the Bush administration’s policies in dealing with detained prisoners, however, should be dismissed. A much broader mandate is needed.
Turley and other "Truth Commission" critics overlook the high standards of evidence needed to successfully prosecute criminal cases. For example, the criminal investigation into the leaking of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame's name lasted more than three years (December 2003 - March 2007) and resulted in the conviction of a single person many regard as a scapegoat - Lewis “Scooter” Libby. More senior officials responsible for authorizing Valerie Plame’s name for political purposes were never prosecuted since documentary evidence was hidden and/or destroyed. A Truth Commission would be more likely to have the truth emerge on Bush administration policies since it would not be burdened by the high evidentiary standards needed for criminal prosecution.
If Leahy’s Truth Commission goes ahead with a broader mandate to explore all wrong doing in the Bush administration, then truth will emerge about more issues rather than soley the treatment of terrorism detainees. Three months after President Bush began office on January 20, 2001, a Press Conference was held at the National Press Club in Washington DC., concerning UFOs. Twenty two witnesses came forward on May 9, 2001, to reveal evidence that UFOs are intelligently guided vehicles of possible extraterrestrial origin, and governments are illegally suppressing the release of this information. Four months later, the world was absorbed by events on September 11, and interest in the May 9 UFO Press Conference quickly waned. There has been relatively little interest in a possible relationship between 9-11 and UFO secrets revealed at the May 9, 2001 Press Conference. A Truth Commission will do much to release the secrets behind unanswered questions concerning 9-11 and the truth behind the UFO phenomenon.
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Source: Honolulu Exopolitics Examiner
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