October 22, 2006
by Steve Hammons

New Congress must conduct necessary inquiries and investigations properly

With many indicators pointing to Democratic victory in taking over the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate, Americans are wondering if proper inquiries about alleged wrongdoing in recent years will proceed.

Many responsible Americans seem to want any investigations or proceedings to be conducted in a reasonable, appropriate and responsible manner.

Congressional actions, including advocating for independent prosecutors, might shed light on the many questions about significant circumstances that began before the 9/11 attacks and continue today, some people claim.

In fact, many Americans seem to base their current views of who to vote for on serious concerns about events and situations that may have not yet been fully brought to light.

AREAS FOR INVESTIGATION

Some of these concerns and questions include the following:

- Was intelligence information in the months, weeks and days before the 9/11 attacks acted on adequately and appropriately? And if not, why not? Were the 9/11 attacks in any way "allowed to happen" either through incompetence, negligence or other motivations, actions or inactions?

- Were agents of foreign governments in any way involved in the 9/11 attacks or in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq?

- Was deliberately false intelligence created to justify the invasion and occupation of Iraq? Was the Office of Special Plans one of these false-intelligence operations?

- Was the invasion and occupation of Iraq an illegal "war of aggression" as defined by international law?

- Are there additional cases of undiscovered war profiteering, fraud and corruption involved in the invasion and occupation of Iraq, as well in other areas of governmental activities?

- Has there been criminal negligence by any government officials in the way the Iraq War has been conducted? Have deaths and injuries to our troops resulted?

- Does the torture of suspects and prisoners constitute a war crime under U.S. and international law?

- Is the electronic surveillance of Americans' phone calls, e-mail and other private communications a violation of U.S. law?

These are some of the issues that trouble many Americans. Proper and reasonable inquiries should be conducted, in the view of many people.

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DISTRACTION OR DUTY?

The demand that appropriate investigations and proceedings go forward is sometimes an issue that contributes to concerns about future congressional, governmental and social dynamics.

Some say that congressional and other legal inquiries will create conflict and problems, and distract us from more important matters.

Others claim that there are so many indicators and evidence that serious wrongdoing has occurred, that there is really no choice but to proceed with responsible investigations.

There is probably truth in both of these ways of looking at future inquiries into alleged misconduct and illegal actions. Undoubtedly, congressional inquiries and other investigations would take time and effort, and could prove to be a distraction of sorts.

Yet, what could be more important than Congress fulfilling its responsibilities in dealing with these very serious questions that go to the heart of our Constitution, laws, our democracy and the honor of the United States of America?

The deaths of thousands on 9/11 require further complete and thorough investigations, according to some researchers and many citizens.

The deaths of thousands of American troops and the severe injuries to thousands more demand answers to important questions about the Iraq War, say troops' loved ones and other Americans.

The deaths and injuries to tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians, including women and children, also seem to demand full accountability.

Damage done to our own nation and our own liberties should also be explored and corrected, many people claim.

LET THE CHIPS FALL

Any such inquiries would certainly include some measure of partisanship and disagreement, both within Congress and among the rest of us. This is understandable and normal.

It does not, however, seem to be a factor that should deter Congress and other legal authorities, civilian or military, from pursuing appropriate investigations.

Uncomfortable as they may be, the necessary inquiries must go forward, according to some observers. They are needed to resolve many serious concerns about the actions of government officials in recent years and to strengthen our democracy.

Many Americans will be encouraging their senators and representatives to take responsibility, act with strength and honor, and pursue all appropriate cases of questionable activities.

On election day, our people will make a statement about their views and choices. Americans will vote based on their consciences, beliefs and their own strength and honor.

Then, we will move forward together to do whatever is necessary to answer the difficult questions facing us and try to resolve the very tough challenges that lay ahead.

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Steve Hammons [send him email] is the author of Mission into Light and Light's Hand, which are two novels about a U.S. Government and military joint-service research team investigating unusual phenomena. Click here to see Steve's homepage.