Court Grants Guantanamo Rights

[Theophylact]

From the Beeb.

Detainees being held by the US military at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba should have access to lawyers and the US court system, a federal appeals court has ruled.

The court said their detention was contrary to US ideals.

It did not accept that the US Government had "unchecked authority".

The ruling relates to the case of a Libyan national captured in Afghanistan and currently being held at Guantanamo.

About 660 people are currently being held as "enemy combatants" at the base.

[Toadman]

As stated they are enemy combatants and should not be subject to US laws, especially in a non-US territory. The Federal Appeals court should have no jurisdiction at Gitmo. Why do you think the detention facility is there instead of Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands or even the mainland?

I'm sure after over two years of interrogation those 650 people in custody are just one great big misunderstanding. Quick, someone call Amnesty International, The Taliban and now Saddam need legal counsel.


My only concern is since Congress never formally declared war against a legitimate nation the enemy combatants cannot be classified as POW's under the rules of the Geneva Convention.

[Mike]

Well, we should hurry up and charge them with something. Kind of like what can happen in the United States. Thanks a lot John Ashcroft, The Patriot Act was a brilliant thing that you thought up while on the toilet.

Toadman: Read something from the AP several months ago, talked about innocent people that were mentally abused for weeks, then the CIA realized they were innocent, and said "sorry." Luckily it didn't happen in the United States, or our lovely government would be getting sued.

[RayH]

I don't like this "enemy combatant" tag at all. Too much secrecy. The government can scoop up anybody they so please. Sounds like what we are fighting against.

[Epidemic]

Originally posted by RayH
I don't like this "enemy combatant" tag at all. Too much secrecy. The government can scoop up anybody they so please. Sounds like what we are fighting against.

Can scoop up anybody perhaps. But have only scooped up a few. Not exactly what you would call a massive threat to your freedom at this point. Perhaps the power to be abused but apparently not being abused all that much.

[RayH]

It usually just starts with a few!

[Epidemic]

Yep and it only takes a few to blow up 3000 people.

Hell had they been better at it and devoted the other planes to the towers the death toll could have been in the 20,000 body range.


How many innocent people would you risk accidentaly encarceration if it guaranteed saving 3,000 or more lives?