Holder Intimates Possible War Crimes Investigation For Bush & Company

Looking at testimony from Eric Holder's confirmation hearing today I get the feeling the folks in the lame-duck Bush Withe House are preparing their pardons right now. Holder was asked the question if waterboarding qualified as torture, Holder didn't mince words.

"If you look at the history of the use of that technique used by the Khmer Rouge, used in the inquisition, used by the Japanese and prosecuted by us as war crimes, we prosecuted our own soldiers in Vietnam, I agree with you, Mr. Chairman, waterboarding is torture,"

When asked directly if the President could authorize torture he was pretty direct.

"No one is above the law," said Holder. "The president has a constitutional obligation to faithfully executive the laws of the United States. There are obligations that we have as a result of treaties we have signed and obligations to the Constitution."

That mention of war crimes should send a red flag up for Bush and Cheney. If Holder considers what the White House authorized as a war crime, then he as an obligation to investigate and prosecute as he sees fit. This sounds like potential good news for the thousands of people who have backed the idea of investigating the potential war crimes of the Bush administration.

Now if President Elect Obama will only let Holder do it!