The newly passed legislation regulating the treatment of terrorism suspects also takes away your right to a trial by jury.
NPR Story: Yoo Defends Detainee Measures as 'Rules of War'
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This was an interesting news story I heard this morning while getting ready for work. Listen to it if you get a chance...
The part that is most upsetting to me is that if the government decides (for any reason, including donating to the wrong charity) that you, an American Citizen, are an "enemy combatant" then you no longer have the right to a trial. The government can imprison you for as long as they want, they can take away your freedom, and they can do it without a trial. You get one Habeas Corpus review where you can plea for a jury to hear your case, but if that fails you can be held indefinitely. After that: no trial, no jury, no lawyers, no judge -- just you and a prison cell.
It is even worse for a non-citizen living in the United States or anywhere else - they don't even get the right to a Habeas Corpus review.
Once you are a detained enemy combatant and (in the case of a US citizen) you have lost your Habeas Corpus review, your only chance for a jury trial is if the President of the United States decides you get one. I would assume that the President will only hold trials that the government thinks they can win... so if you have a good case for your freedom, (for example: you are innocent) get used to those prison walls.
This war against terror is billed as one to defend our rights. But, if we have to give up those rights to win this war, what will we have left when we win?
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1 comment:
You would think that, but apparently "enemy" is a term that can be used fairly loosely as seen in this AP news article.
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