In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial
The Justice Department has finally decided to file charges against Jose Padilla after a mere three plus years of confinement in a Navy brig as an "enemy combatant." Alberto Gonzalez assures us that the timing of the charge has nothing to do with a pending Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of keeping US citizens in military prisons indefinitely without charges, nor the upcoming Congressional debate about extending provisions of the PATRIOT act. Andrew Cohen of CBS News (linked above) wonders what happened to the original crime John Ashcroft alleged: a plot to explode a "dirty bomb." And more importantly, Cohen wonders what happened for those three years to Padilla's right to a speedy and public trial, in which he has real representation and the right to question the witnesses and evidence against him. Nothing should disturb Americans more than the government's claim that it can lock up a citizen forever, without ever accusing him of a crime. That's the very definition of tyranny. I don't know if Padilla is a terrorist, a wannabe, or an innocent schlump - but now we finally have a chance to find out. One more time, Mr. President: if we want to be the good guys, we have to adhere to the laws and principles for which we claim to be fighting. That's what makes us different from people who chop off heads and bomb weddings.
posted by Anonymous at
4:51 PM
3 Comments:
This administration's heinous disregard for the values of individual rights embodied in the constition may be the thing that angers me most.
1:49 PM
Why should anyone be surprised or angered by this. Our history is full of instances where the Constitution was ignored. It is a piece of paper. Our government and the elite only refer to it when it is in their favor.
We were served a fine example of this today. Bush gave his "war-plan" speech (no less in front of the Navel Academy - forget addressing the public). In it he flat out disregarded the public and congress by stating that he will conduct this war how he wants and as long as he deems necessary. Forget the will of the public.
Where is the democracy in that? Where is the Constitution?
7:50 PM
jwsokol said
"Where is the democracy in that? Where is the Constitution?"
Keep in mind that our country isn't a democracy. It is a representative republic. The difference is that we elect people to represent us because we value theire judgment. We don't expect them to just vote with the majority of the people. If we think our representatives don't have good judgment, then we can try to oust them in the next election.
I don't agree with the war in Iraq, because Congress never declared war, and the war is illegal. However, we are there, and I expect Bush, as my representative, to use his judgment in making decisions.
7:02 PM
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