Obama at Annapolis

Obama at Annapolis

by Stephen Lendman

Obama represents the worst of rogue leadership. He's a war criminal multiple times over. He's guilty of numerous other crimes. He belongs in prison, not high office.

On May 24, he addressed Naval Academy graduates. Why any showed up they'll have to explain. So does why those doing so didn't diss him.

The 2013 graduates include 1,047 men and women. Nearly three-fourths are navy ensigns. The others are marine lieutenants, three air force ones, and 16 foreign exchange students.

Midshipmen are required to take an Oath of Office, stating:

"Having been appointed a midshipman in the United States Navy, do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you God."

Key is supporting, respecting and abiding by constitutional principles. They include all US ratified treaties and conventions. They're automatically US law under the Constitution's Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2).

Supporting a war criminal president constitutes a flagrant violation. Perhaps Naval Academy instruction omits fundamental rule of law principles.

Those running it have much to explain. So do midshipmen. Failure to conduct proper due diligence is no excuse.

Presidents also take an oath of office. It's hard imagining it given how they govern. Obama's a former constitutional law professor. He knows the law. He taught it. He spurns it. He does so knowingly, willfully and maliciously.

Under the Constitution's Article II, Section one, Clause 8:

"Before (presidents) enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

That means faithfully abiding by all its provisions without exception for any reason any time.

No president ever did so. Some governed far more lawlessly than others. Obama exceeded the worst of all his predecessors.

A previous article called impeaching him a national imperative. Government officials guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors deserve that much and more.

They deserve to be held fully accountable to fundamental rule of law principles. They're inviolable.

No one is exempt. No violations can be tolerated. Major ones demand accountability. Articles of impeachment are essential. Prosecution should follow.

Obama remains president. He never should have been elected in the first place. On May 24, he addressed Naval Academy graduates.

He delivered his usual demagogic boilerplate. He said "each of you can take enormous pride…."

"You've proven yourselves morally, living a concept of honor and integrity…."

Whether or not true, he omitted saying their commander and chief spurns these and other fundamental principles.

He said "(t)he war in Iraq is over and we welcomed our troops home."

America destroyed Iraq. It did so lawlessly. Occupation continues. Iraqis suffer horrendously. Obama continued what Bush began. He didn't explain.

He took credit for "deliver(ing) justice to Osama bin Laden."

He did no such thing. Bin Laden was a CIA asset. He died in December 2001. He was very ill with kidney disease. He had other health problems. They took his life. The staged May 2011 incident was hokum.

Obama said the Afghanistan "transition is underway. Our troops are coming home, and by the end of next year our war in Afghanistan will come to an end."

False! War continues. No end in sight looms. It may go on for another decade or longer. Washington plans permanent occupation. The same goes for Iraq. Major bases in both countries remain.

Thousands of US special forces, CIA operatives, private military contractors, and other US personnel will stay there. America didn't attack, invade and occupy both countries to leave. Obama lied saying so.

He claimed US forces "decimated the al Qaeda leadership." Its elements and affiliate groups are valued US assets. They're used strategically as allies and enemies. At times, it's simultaneously in different theaters.

"We need you to project power across the oceans, from the Pacific to the Persian Gulf - 100 percent on watch."  

True enough. Obama stopped short of saying Washington does it lawlessly. America has no enemies except ones it invents.

Permanent war is policy. So is premeditated aggression. Obama knows the law. He didn't explain.

"We need you to partner with other navies and militaries, from Africa to the Americas."

Indeed so. He omitted saying it's for what's explained above.

He audaciously called America "our democracy." It never was and isn't now.

"Our military remains the most trusted institution in America," he claimed. It's hard imagining he did so with a straight face.

America's increasingly reviled. So is its military. It ravages one country after another. It threatens humanity. It may not survive its onslaughts. Commanders in chief bear full responsibility.

"When others have shirked their responsibilities, our Armed Forces have met every mission we've given them."

Left unsaid is they involve crimes of war, against humanity and genocide.

"(W)e need your Resolve," he said - "the same spirit reflected in your class motto: 'Surrender to Nothing.' "

What they and Obama mean likely reflect polar opposites. Most young graduates have little idea what they're getting into.

Rule of law issues aren't on their mind. Perhaps doing the right thing is. They'll find out soon enough about US militarism.

Whether they accept or reject it remains to be seen. They made their bed. They'll have to sleep in it.

Navy, army and air force field manuals incorporate Nuremberg Principles. They're issued to all military personnel.

They state military or civilian persons committing crimes under international law bear full responsibility. Punishment may follow.

War crimes are defined. Following superior orders is no defense. Nor is engaging in an "act of state." All US military and civilian personnel are responsible for their actions.

It's so up the chain of command to where the buck stops. For sure newly minted ensigns and 2nd lieutenants are included.

Obama concluded saying:

"….I'm absolutely confident that you will uphold the highest of standards, and that your courage and honor and your commitment will see us through, and that you will always prove yourselves worthy of the trust our nation is placing in you today."

"So, congratulations, Class of 2013. God bless our Navy, and God bless our Marine Corps."  

"God bless our Armed Services. God bless these United States of America."

Hopefully a special place in hell awaits presidents and other high officials governing extrajudicially like he does.

Perhaps new military grads one day will realize they've been had. They were lied to. They were betrayed.

America scorns democratic values. Aggressive war is prioritized. Warrior youths are enlisted to wage it.

High-minded defense of humanity is excluded from their mandate. Their job is no-holds-barred systematically destroying it. Obama didn't explain.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen [at] sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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