POLITICS: Sacrifices of War

It began in November of 2001. Bush and a select band of White House officials hammered out a new set of laws for the new war on terrorism. The new laws dismantled American civil rights and exposed good people to harassment and intimidation, but Americans fought for their right to sacrifice, in the name of freedom. The nation believed its safety was worth a few freedoms. Three years later, not one terrorist has been prosecuted.



This article is long, and just the first in a series. But it�s worth the read � full of hard information and balanced analysis.

Related atsnn Links:
www.abovetopsecret.com
www.livejournal.com...
[edit on 27-10-2004 by soficrow]

[edit on 27-10-2004 by soficrow]

White House officials said their use of extraordinary powers would allow the Pentagon to collect crucial intelligence and mete out swift, unmerciful justice. "We think it guarantees that we'll have the kind of treatment of these individuals that we believe they deserve," said Vice President Dick Cheney, who was a driving force behind the policy.

That confirms it. Dick Cheney thinks he's GOD. Damn the consititution and everything the USA used to stand for! No suspected terrorist is going to stand in the way of our God given right to the World's oil!

"On nearly every issue, interviews and documents show, the harder line was staked out by White House lawyers: Mr. Addington, Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Flanigan. They opposed allowing civilian lawyers to assist the tribunal defendants, as military courts-martial permit, or allowing civilians to serve on the appellate panel that would oversee the commissions. They also opposed granting defendants a presumption of innocence."

Very interesting stuff. Military JAGs enforcing the Constitution when Bush Administration lawyers wanted it to be done with.

I have to say that our criminal judicial system has become a joke. If you get a good enough lawyer and get the right kind of exposure, then you're home free.

My impression was that this tribunal system was set up to avoid some of these guys getting off of the hook using those methods. I have a number of arab friends of all ages and none of them have had any trouble (aside from a few uncertain stares immediately following 9/11); certainly no loss of rights. Most of those being held are most likely terrorists (or connected to terrorists in some way), but as always there are probably a few innocents.
I'm sure there are quite a few innocent people that are in prison for murder right now that may never again see the light of day... and they DID get a trial. In the end... what's the difference?
The only thing that will guarantee you your rights in this country is money, and if you think that any of us were EVER actually "free"... well I don't really know a nice way to say it lol. The rights that we DO possess, have been taken away in the past and will probably be taken away again.

As for these guys not getting a trial yet... I think that they probably won't get a trial until they no longer have any value to the US. I'm sure that at least some of these guys still have some pretty important connections in the terrorist underworld. Life isn't fair. Probably best to keep them under wraps for now anyway.

I'm sure that at least some of these guys still have some pretty important connections in the terrorist underworld. Life isn't fair. Probably best to keep them under wraps for now anyway.

...That's what's special about democracy - it tries to make things fair, and doesn't rely on anyone's 'sure' yet totally unverified opinion.