The International Criminal Court is about to open its first trial. Congolese rebel leader Thomas Lubanga is charged with genocide and crimes against humanity. Dick Cheney should stand in the dock with him. A grand jury in Texas alleges the Vice-President is complicit in the abuse of prisoners incarcerated in privately run prisons. It also alleges that Cheney summarily used the power of his office to prevent an investigation of the charges. Small wonder: Cheney is reported to have invested $85 million in companies who realize most of their profits from the private prison industry.
The accusation is appropriate for the White Houses second in command who, since September 11, 2001, has been accorded presidential privileges. The former CEO of the Halliburton energy services company has been more successful than anyone else in maximizing profits from dirty political deals. He and his team laid the policy strategy as well as the legal basis for a number of crimes. The keyword list is long and includes not only the Iraq war, Guantanamo and CIA torture, but also the savaging of political opponents to the point that their livelihoods are endangered. In addition, he is responsible for the creation of Washington insider energy, environmental and financial policies geared toward big profits.
If anyone deserves to stand before World Court judges, its Dick Cheney.
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