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Originally posted by radardog
Wow, do you really believe that the current U.S. looks like the former U.S.S.R. under Stalin?
Well.. let's see, I remember a time, not so long ago, when disappearing citizens, taking away their rights as citizens and detaining them into perpetuity without legal recourse was something we accused the Soviets of. This is now a practice prerogative of King George. He also feels that no one has the right to question his authority on these matters. You see no tryanny in that?
"The high court has made it clear it will limit its decision to the narrow but key legal question of whether the Guantanamo detainees—all of them non-US citizens and mostly Muslims seized in Afghanistan nearly two years ago—have a right to seek redress in US courts to their being held incommunicado by the US government."
www.wsws.org...
(emphasis added)
Originally posted by radardog
What disappearing citizens? We have only detained noncitizens into perpetuity without legal recourse
February 14, 2005
The Lynne Stewart Verdict
Stretching the Definition of "Terrorism" to New Limits
By ELAINE CASSEL
On February 10, after thirteen days of deliberations, a federal jury in New York City returned a guilty verdict in the case of 65-year-old attorney Lynne Stewart. The jury found Stewart guilty on five counts of defrauding the government, conspiracy, and providing support for terrorism.
Stewart will be sentenced on July 15. She may serve up to thirty years in prison. Appeals are expected to consume years. In the meantime, Stewart will lose her right to practice law and face hard prison time.
The eavesdropping on attorney-client communications that led to this prosecution would have been unimaginable before September 11. I will argue that this eavesdropping has a serious cost in inhibiting defense attorney's ability to zealously represent their clients. This cost is of a constitutional dimension: The Sixth Amendment's right to counsel cannot be served while the government is a third party present at attorney-client meetings.
Another problematic aspect of the Stewart prosecution is how far the definition of support for terrorism was stretched. Stewart never provided any financial support, weaponry -- or any other concrete aid -- for any act of terrorism. No act of terrorism is alleged to have resulted from her actions.
www.counterpunch.org...
Originally posted by radardog
When the enemy won't wear an obvious uniform, these things get harder to pan out.
Originally posted by radardog
Even if you're against the patriot act, one shouldn't blame the Administration for it: It's everyone's fault. The patriot act had nearly full support of everyone in congress. It's not just a republican power grab.