Bush officials didn’t commit these crimes by themselves. Virtually the entire Washington establishment supported or at least enabled most of it

So when these media and political elites are defending Bush officials, mitigating their crimes, and arguing that they shouldn’t be held accountable, they’re actually defending themselves.

People who bear culpability in the commission of destructive and criminal acts always oppose investigations and accountability — i.e., what they’ll call “looking backwards” or “retribution.” They’re the last people whose opinions we ought to be seeking on that question.

When poor and ordinary Americans who commit crimes are prosecuted and imprisoned, that is Justice. When the same thing is done to Washington elites, that is Ugly Retribution.