I am perplexed by the US Attorney General's decision, with obviously Obama's blessings, after 8 years of delay, to prosecute the five Guantanamo Bay detainees, including accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, in a civilian court in Manhatan. Obviously they know, that they are running a huge risk that these guys might "walk", based on some legal technicality of which this particular case is full of, ranging from where can anyone find 12 unbiased New Yorkers to sit as jury, to whether the "Miranda rights" of the accused have been infringed when they were arrested and interogated to whether Khalid's confession is admissible when the Administration itself has admitted in a memo that Khalid was waterboarded (a form of torture) 183 times in a single month? Why are they doing it?
Does the US Attorney General have an iron clad prosecution case? Is it going to turn out to be a parody of justice? Will we see the end of the ensuing legal saga before an asteroid hits Earth and irrevocably resolves the issue :-)?
Of course, there is the official reason which is that the "rule of law" demands it.
Any other thoughts on this intriguing development?
Of course, there is the official reason which is that the "rule of law" demands it.
Any other thoughts on this intriguing development?
3 comments:
On the other hand, the feds have a 100%conviction rate on terrorism cases.
GG,
The rule of Law demands it,so it is time to respect the Law.
Mylona,
They could have prosecuted them in military courts instead of civil, for instance,with almost zero risk of "legalese", as their alleged crimes could easily be defined as military actions. Explain why the other 5 were sent to military courts, and rightly so in my opinion, and these 5, who are allegedly the ring leaders, in a civil court? Too simplistic and a bit naive this rule of law explanation. So it is OK for me to bomb innocent civilians in a foreign land, 6,000 miles away, but I must observe the appearances (this is the key word here mates) of the full extent of the Rule of Law when a group of alleged thugs bomb my own country? There is something wrong with that picture!
It's like the Guantanamo Bay duplicity. We can torture there because it's not US soil, but when we bring them over here, then we have to wear "white skirts"! Not cricket, dude! Hahaha!
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