Bob's Links and Rants

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Thursday, August 03, 2006

Guilty until...well, just guilty

The misadministration's new plans for kangaroo courts make a mockery of kangaroo courts everywhere.
Under the proposed procedures, defendants would lack rights to confront accusers, exclude hearsay accusations, or bar evidence obtained through rough or coercive interrogations. They would not be guaranteed a public or speedy trial and would lack the right to choose their military counsel, who in turn would not be guaranteed equal access to evidence held by prosecutors.

Detainees would also not be guaranteed the right to be present at their own trials, if their absence is deemed necessary to protect national security or individuals.
...
John D. Hutson, the Navy's top uniformed lawyer from 1997 to 2000, said the rules would evidently allow the government to tell a prisoner: "We know you're guilty. We can't tell you why, but there's a guy, we can't tell you who, who told us something. We can't tell you what, but you're guilty."
And anyone could be thrown into this legal hell:
U.S. citizens suspected of terror ties might be detained indefinitely and barred from access to civilian courts under legislation proposed by the Bush administration, say legal experts reviewing an early version of the bill.
Comrade Stalin would be proud. It appears he may have won the Cold War at long last. And Bubble Boy still has the gall to accuse ANYONE of "undermining democracy." Have I mentioned that I hate him?