The devastated wreck that was Europe at the close of World War II, has at least one critically important lesson for the United States today.
It is this:
Both the Nuremberg Trials and the Marshall Plan were critical to Europe's recovery and transformation into the economic and liberal-democratic powerhouses they are today.
Had there been no Nuremberg Trials, where would Europe be now?
Would anyone contend that we should only have concerned ourselves with rebuilding the economies of Europe while allowing "bygones to be bygones" for the Nazis?
The United States today has an eerily similar choice.
We know that we must transform our economy and our society through a plan like the Marshall Plan (the Apollo Alliance comes to mind).
But too many Americans and FAR too many Progressives believe that we should let "bygones be bygones" regarding the crimes of the Bush Administration.
That would be a terrible mistake.
We can and we must enact a new Marshall Plan.
We can and we must hold our criminal leadership to account.
Folks, I promise you that we can walk and chew gum at the same time.
In response to the horrendous crimes of Nazi Germany, the Nuremberg Trials were conducted in 1945 and 1946.
The entry from wikipedia starts this way:
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of trials most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of Nazi Germany after its defeat in World War II.
(emphasis mine)
As virtually the entire American Public knows, the list of crimes committed by the Bush Administration is long and severe. Torture, violation of many constitutionally protected rights including the suspension of habeas corpus, preemptive, illegitimate war on false pretenses, theft of elections, and much more.
If this list is not sufficient, then what exactly are you waiting for? At what point would you say, "The slope is no longer slippery, we've reached rock bottom and must take decisive action."
I've seen it argued here and I agree wholeheartedly, that the reason we have such astounding, illegal behavior on the part of this administration is a direct result of having pardoned Nixon. How many of the "crazies in the basement" (a quote from George Bush senior I believe) were part of the Nixon administration and then joined W's administration?
If we do not steel ourselves and demand from Congress that justice be done and impeachment proceedings begun, then we can be assured that in 5 or 10 or 20 years, we will see a repeat at least as devastating as the Bush years have been.
And finally, let me make a point to appeal to the bean counter in all of us and to the most pragmatic part of ourselves:
Impeachment of this administration is at least as good an investment as a new Marshall Plan. In fact, impeachment will provide money needed for our Marshall Plan. Here's why:
Right now, as I type, the 700 billion dollars under Sec. Paulson's control are bleeding away from us into the pockets and overseas accounts of criminals.
Impeachment is the ONLY way that we will stop the bleeding and get our money back, to invest in the new Marshall Plan.
Impeachment is the ONLY way to prevent a full-scale rape of America by the Bush Administration and its fascist corporate supporters, between now and January 20, 2009.
Impeachment is a necessary and defensive maneuver.
Although we have won the presidency, we are still, now, in grave danger.
The damage that is occurring now is huge. We are deluded and we are our own worst enemies if we do not put a stop to this now.
Impeach this Administration.
Each of us must demand that we do for ourselves as we did for Europe. We need our Marshall Plan and we need our Nuremberg Trials.
One without the other will leave us weakened and vulnerable.