Civil Liberties Advocates Maintain Bush's Illegal Conduct Constitutes Impeachable Offenses

Interview with Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, conducted by Scott Harris

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., President Bush has used the power of the White House to authorize extraordinary measures that a growing number of observers believe violate the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Controversial actions taken by the president include the institution of policies that allow for the detention of foreign nationals and U.S. citizens without charge, access to an attorney or the courts. Many prisoners held by the Pentagon and CIA are subjected to torture and abusive practices permitted by the White House. The Bush administration has also secretly adopted a policy called, "extraordinary rendition," that permits the transfer of terrorist suspects to nations that employ brutal interrogation methods illegal in the U.S. More recently, the president has admitted to monitoring the phone calls and email communication of American citizens without a court order -- illegal under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Among the groups challenging the Bush administration's actions is the Center for Constitutional Rights. In June 2004, the Center won a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court that affirmed the legal rights of both U.S. and foreign citizens to challenge their military detention before a judge or other neutral decision makers. But recently, Congress has attempted to revoke that right with an amendment to an anti-torture bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. In another setback for civil liberties advocates, federal Judge David Trager recently dismissed a lawsuit brought on behalf of a Canadian citizen, Maher Arar, represented by the Center, who was forcibly taken from the U.S. to Syria by American intelligence agents where he was imprisoned and tortured.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, who outlines the criminal violations committed by the president that he believes are grounds for the impeachment of Bush. Ratner, along with his colleagues at the Center, have just written a book detailing their findings titled: "Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush."

Contact the Center for Constitutional Rights by calling (212) 614-6464 or visit the Center's website at www.ccr-ny.org. Michael Ratner is a contributor to the new book titled, "Articles of Impeachment Against George W. Bush."

Related links:

"The Case For Impeachment: Why We Can No Longer Afford George Bush," by Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, Feb. 27, 2006

"The Impeachment of George W. Bush," by Elizabeth Holtzman, The Nation, Jan. 30, 2006

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