White House Proposal Would Expand Authority of Military Courts

Betty · 08-02-2006, 05:37 PM

OMFG! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080101334.html

Here's a taste:

"A draft Bush administration plan for special military courts seeks to expand the reach and authority of such "commissions" to include trials, for the first time, of people who are not members of al-Qaeda or the Taliban and are not directly involved in acts of international terrorism, according to officials familiar with the proposal. "

"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."

" 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."

So - let me see if I got this right. You don't have to be in the military or a terrorist to be tried by a military court where they don't have to present you with a lawyer, a speedy trial, any evidence they hold, or even have any valid evidence at all.

Even better it goes on to say "To secure a death penalty under the draft legislation, at least five jurors must agree, two fewer than under the administration's earlier plan. Courts-martial and federal civilian trials require that 12 jurors agree."

So - the administration that respects life in the womb so much that it won't support stem stell research - but will kill a guy when a majority of people don't think he's guilty, even after he hasn't necessarily rec'd a fair trial in the way most of us would think of one.

Discuss.

LSPoorEeyorick · 08-02-2006, 05:42 PM

Oh, my. Just when you think your government can't get any scarier-- or stupider-- they take you by surprise again.

wendybeth · 08-02-2006, 05:54 PM

I'm sure it's for our own good.

Again, nothing this man tries would surprise me. Maybe the Pope was right.

Scrooge McSam · 08-02-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendybeth

I'm sure it's for our own good.

You're getting it. Everything's gonna be fine. Half the population can't be wrong. It's not possible.

And we DON'T torture. I can't tell you how relieved I was to find that out.

Scotch? I know I've got some here somewhere.

wendybeth · 08-02-2006, 06:41 PM

You know, the President does not approve of drinking.

scaeagles · 08-02-2006, 06:45 PM

Just to be on record, I do not support this.

mousepod · 08-02-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wendybeth

You know, the President does not approve of drinking.

Suuuuure.

BarTopDancer · 08-02-2006, 06:46 PM

I just ordered this shirt.

wendybeth · 08-02-2006, 06:46 PM

Scaeagels-

I didn't think you did. You're not insane.

innerSpaceman · 08-02-2006, 06:54 PM

I love you all .... but I'm looking for a new country.

08-02-2006, 05:37 PM	#1
Betty Kicking up my heels! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Silver State Posts: 3,783	White House Proposal Would Expand Authority of Military Courts OMFG! http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...080101334.html Here's a taste: "A draft Bush administration plan for special military courts seeks to expand the reach and authority of such "commissions" to include trials, for the first time, of people who are not members of al-Qaeda or the Taliban and are not directly involved in acts of international terrorism, according to officials familiar with the proposal. " "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." " 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." So - let me see if I got this right. You don't have to be in the military or a terrorist to be tried by a military court where they don't have to present you with a lawyer, a speedy trial, any evidence they hold, or even have any valid evidence at all. Even better it goes on to say "To secure a death penalty under the draft legislation, at least five jurors must agree, two fewer than under the administration's earlier plan. Courts-martial and federal civilian trials require that 12 jurors agree." So - the administration that respects life in the womb so much that it won't support stem stell research - but will kill a guy when a majority of people don't think he's guilty, even after he hasn't necessarily rec'd a fair trial in the way most of us would think of one. Discuss. __________________ Nee Stell Thue
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08-02-2006, 05:42 PM	#2
LSPoorEeyorick scribblin' Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: in the moment Posts: 3,872	Oh, my. Just when you think your government can't get any scarier-- or stupider-- they take you by surprise again.
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08-02-2006, 05:54 PM	#3
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	I'm sure it's for our own good. Again, nothing this man tries would surprise me. Maybe the Pope was right. __________________
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08-02-2006, 06:41 PM	#5
wendybeth Nevermind Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,847	You know, the President does not approve of drinking. __________________
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08-02-2006, 06:45 PM	#6
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Just to be on record, I do not support this.
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08-02-2006, 06:46 PM	#8
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	I just ordered this shirt. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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08-02-2006, 06:54 PM	#10
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	I love you all .... but I'm looking for a new country.
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