Riding Scooter

Policy and moral lessons for US — and for us — from a high-profile conviction

The conviction of I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby, former chief of staff to American Vice President Dick Cheney, brings the Bush administration a setback and an opportunity. Libby stands convicted of misrepresenting facts to the FBI officials and a grand jury in investigations into the outing of the identity of a CIA agent. That 2003 scandal was so intimately wound up with the case being made for the invasion of Iraq, that this moment will demand of the administration — specifically, George W. Bush who has taken almost individual control of representing policy on Iraq — repentance by clarity. That CIA agent’s husband, it may be recalled, had cast very serious doubts then about the administration’s case that

Saddam Hussein’s Iraq had a robust programme to manufacture weapons of mass destruction.

The WMDs, as we know, never turned up. And Libby’s conviction on charges of perjury will leave Bush even more isolated in tackling the aftermath of that invasion. The congressional elections in November took away Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, with Cheney the most prominent votary of the war. Libby’s conviction will now diminish Cheney’s verve. But here’s the opportunity. There were some good reasons for going to war, good liberal reasons. Bush seems to heed them by rejecting immediate withdrawal of American troops, and instead deciding upon a “surge” of reinforcements in an effort to calm sectarian strife. If ever there was a moment to concentrate minds in the administration and among its critics on the question of modernising post-war Iraq, this is it.

Closure on a case of high-level executive and political excess therefore brings benefit beyond the immediate future of erring persons. The contrast between the US and India in this regard could not be greater. Too much of our politics and our policymaking remains muddled, because closure is not attained. Appointment of independent special prosecutors would definitely help. But to gain meaningful accountability, India must make perjury a serious crime.

‘Why weren’t TVK leaders told it wasn’t right day for a big event’: Cong MP Jothimani

Political Pulse6 hr ago

A stampede at TVK founder Vijay's rally in Karur led to the death of 40 people and injuries to many. Congress's Karur MP Jothimani identifies overcrowding, poor planning, and the timing of the event as possible causes. She recommends setting clear guidelines for political gatherings and consulting all parties to prevent similar tragedies.

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