Should Ted Kennedy be charged with TREASON?

Post-9/11 Era Forum

Senator Kennedy: Is There a Case for Treason?

Posted by Joe Mariani
Saturday, May 15, 2004


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At some point, we will have to muster the courage to face the facts about Senator Edward ''Ted'' Kennedy (D-Mass). Since the decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power was made, his criticisms of the president have become more shrill and accusatory.

For the most part, that's fine--the First Amendment protects the right to freedom of speech that we all have, within certain limits. (For instance, one cannot yell ''Fire!'' in a crowded building if there isn't one.) However, Ted Kennedy may have crossed those limits in his excessively vitriolic attacks on the president and his decision to liberate Iraq from Saddam Hussein.

President Bush, having been granted the Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq by Congress, decided to use that authorized force to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Whether the liberation of Iraq was justified as part of the War on Terror became merely an argument for historians at that point, in a certain respect. The fact is that the United States was and remains at war, like it or not.

Though our Taliban enemies and Saddam Hussein were swiftly defeated, the larger war against terrorism and the States that support it has not ended. At the moment, it is concentrated in that same Iraq that was once a prime supporter of terrorists under Saddam, including the open poured into Iraq to prevent that country from becoming an open and democratic nation. Such an event would begin the destruction of terrorism as the only way for--from their point of view--disaffected and disenfranchised Muslims to make their voices heard.

Many Middle Eastern countries are repressive Islamo-fascist dictatorships, if not outright theocracies. Whether the rulers are minority Sunni subjugating a majority Shi'ite population, a self-perpetuating religious oligarchy controlling a restless population through fear, or a single extended family ruling just about everyone else, the pressure is only relieved by channeling it into anti-Western rage. The most restive and angry--and brainwashed--people are the most likely to become recruits for terrorism. Repressive dictatorships must have an escape valve, or the pressure of their own restive populations would cause them to explode.

We do have enemies, and our enemies have chosen this war. The terrorists have declared that we are their enemy. Whether we like it or not, whether we agree on how we got there or not, we are at war with them in Iraq now. The recent horrific beheading of Nick Berg shows us exactly what kind of people those enemies are, and what they want. We must rid the Middle East of these terrorists--that's what the War on Terror is all about. And Ted Kennedy has repeatedly given aid and comfort to the enemy in various ways in the course of this war.

He has sought to undermine the credibility of the commander-in-chief--by accusing him of manufacturing the case for war in Iraq for his own personal and political ends. ''This was made up in Texas, announced in January [2003] to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud,'' Kennedy said in September 2003. The resolution authorizing the war became law by Congressional vote in October 2002, three months earlier. In October 2003 Kennedy said, ''The trumped up reasons for going to war have collapsed,'' and ''the President's war has been revealed as mindless, needless, senseless, and reckless.'' These accusations can only have a detrimental effect on the morale of our armed forces fighting ''the President's war.''

He has sought to decrease the effectiveness of America's ability to prosecute war--by demanding that Bush fire Donald Rumsfeld in the middle of a war. ''I think we need a new beginning,'' Kennedy said after Rumsfeld's testimony before the Senate regarding the mistreatment of some prisoners in Iraq. By all accounts the abuse seems to have been performed by guards exceeding their orders, on their own initiative. When the abuse was reported, it was immediately investigated. The report from Major General Taguba found, as he told the Senate, that there were no actual orders given to the guards or policy set to mistreat the prisoners, though it was ''suggested'' by General Geoffrey Miller that they set the ''conditions for the successful exploitation of internees.'' There is no evidence whatsoever that Rumsfeld had anything to do with it, yet this situation is being used to demand his replacement. Removing the Secretary of Defense on such a flimsy pretext in the middle of an ongoing conflict would cause a serious disruption of our military's coherence and efficacy.

He has sought to damage the morale of US troops in the field of combat--by comparing them to Saddam Hussein's torture squads, speaking of the same prisoner mistreatment. ''On March 19, 2004, President Bush asked, 'Who would prefer that Saddam's torture chambers still be open?' '' said Kennedy. ''Shamefully, we now learn that Saddam's torture chambers reopened under new management: U.S. management.'' Saddam Hussein's torture methodology included eye gouging, the piercing of hands with an electric drill, suspension until ligaments were torn, acid baths and feeding the victim feet-first into a plastic shredder.

Title 18, Part I, Chapter 115, Section 2381 of the United States Legal Code defines ''treason'' in the following way: ''Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason.'' Senator Kennedy's accusations have given comfort to our enemies, who must surely think that they can force us to back down from them when they hear his vitriolic attacks. His words have aided the enemy by sapping the morale of American troops facing them in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For the successful prosecution of the fight against terrorism, our enemies must see that while we may argue among ourselves, we are united against them. For the good of the country, Senator Kennedy must step down from the Senate.

Ted Kennedy should still be in jail for killing that girl.

I heard a guy from the SAS being interviewed on TV a couple of days ago, who's just got back from Iraq, saying that US troops feel there is a lack of leadership, both politically and militarily, they see a lack of knowing what they're doing there, and they see that they have no clear idea where this whole thing is going - that's what he said is sapping the morale of US troops. And he said it is sapping the morale of American soldiers more than British soldiers.

Ron this is indeed a stretch. Treason?

I see, let's jail Kennedy for saying Bush lied and lets RE-ELECT Bush who obviously did. We find nothing Bush said was there and we can find excused from everywhere.

"They were moved to Syria."
"They're hidden in the sand"
"Bad intelligence"

I find it hard pressed that the author of this article could sit down and put it to ink without it searing his conscience.....that is if he has one.

Let's jail Kennedy for killing the lady he drove a bridge with while drunk.

It's hard to believe that Ted is related to John or Robert. What a pig.

Please provide a link to Bush stealing this money and I will check it out.

You know if this were news I wouldn't mind doing so. Since you are older even than I USA I know you remember the S&L scandal in the late 80’s. George Jr. and Jeb was involved and $500 million came up missing. It was the biggest scandal of the 80’s. Subsequently before Bush Sr. left office he pardoned everyone that had anything to do with it “saying the nation needs to heal” thereby letting his sons off Scott free.

Either you’re being disingenuous or you should know this since it was the scandal of the era. Either way you should know it and therefore I refuse to provide you with information you can easily access on the net if you wanted to. You know about Kennedy then you definitely should know about this as well.

Oh and PS, guess who footed the bill for these missing funds? Yep you guessed it, American taxpayers!!!!

Just one more way he continues to raid the nations treasure chest.

To continue discussing Bush and the S&L Scandal use this forum thread.

http://www.inreview.com/showthread....&threadid=20791

I have no opinion on the S&L issue. As for Ted Kennedy, my only opinion is this:

"Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech , or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Ron, this is the scariest thing I have ever seen you post. And you know why? Because I can actually see millions of Americans going for it, simply based on ideological differences. If this happens, The United States is truly dead.

I was merely pointing out some facts about the Bush family, including the one sitting in office today. I didn't expect a thread about it but none the less George Sr. pardoned everyone involved before he left office.

That should be enough to tell you something was dubious about the entire situation, including the illegal loans made and never paid back to this day. I was simply pointing out how many here want to see Ted Kennedy go down for killing that girl and are oblivious or impervious to Bush’s actions over the last few decades.

I remember parts of it but at that time I wasn't to interested in those things. A lot has changed since then.
That's good that he pardoned them otherwise GW wouldn't be president.

Two things to remember here.

1) Kennedy was probably drunk so he can't be held responsible for what he says caues we all now how one can be biligerent while under the influence. LOL
2) Laws don't apply to Democrats LOL

Do you REALLY want to compare skeletons in the closet between the Bush and Kennedy families?


Joseph Kennedy's Nazi business dealings, Jacks numerous presidential shortcomings and scandals (rampant drug addiction/ womanizing to the point of making Clinton look abstinate). Teddys excused murder of Mary Jo Kopechne, Nephew William Smith's Rape, e.t.c.

Camelot was a series of smoke and mirrors covering up a poor president.
Before you scream "peace corp/ civil rights.....e.t.c."

Id say......Vietnam........Bay of Pigs.

Id take a Bush over a Kennedy any day of the week.

Conspiracy theory junk as I suspected.

Isn't it funny how you can post that about my post (which I assume you were responding to) and completely ignore gdogs post about Kennedy.

I believe your true motivations are showing and the only reason you care anything about Bush's decision is because you and he are republican.

At least you're loyal to your party, but it's to a fault.

But don't forget that Iran was once our friend too. When the Shah was overthrown I had 3 Iranian students in my class (I was an Air Force Avionics Instructor). 2 were pro Shah and 1 was pro Ayatolah. We just have to remember that that things change. Who once was our friend may now be our enemy and who once was our enemy may now be our friend.

That is true Ron, however there's two things here that sticks out and separates the issue.

First, usually when we're friends of another nation, it stays that way as long as the current leader is in powered.

Second, Saddam was not only the current leader then but he was just as much of a butcher as he was in taking over Iraq as he was when we took him out if it. We knew of his animalistic inhumanities yet we supplied him with the critical pieces to a puzzle that caused the deaths of thousands.....and we said NOTHING while he was committing them.

This is the difference with Iraq and lets say Iran. When the Iatollah (Spell ck) took over he was not US friendly and that's how our troubles began. With Saddam, he invaded Kuwait and the US then and only then labled him a mad man.

Bush should be charged with crimes against humanity and treason to the USA, then sentenced to either life at Gitmo or the chair in Texas.

PS..."Womanizing" is both legal and lots of fun as well!

peace, only you would know what an idiot looks like. Look in the mirror you arshole.

Alright now let's stop the name calling and get back to good discussion.

Thanks, I needed that.

What you need is a dosage of your medication. Your ignorance is only out measured by your immaturities. As usual you're challenged to respond intelligently which makes me believe it's lacking in the first place.