Welfare? Seems like an odd choice of words. I don't think that our obligation for the proper treatment of prisoners is a matter of welfare. It's a matter of conducting ourselves in accordance with the law. I hope that our laws don't wrongfully deprive people of habeas corpus rights. If they do, then I think less of us as a country.

I read the Court's opinion yesterday. Looks reasonable to me. I need to read the dissents. I understand that Roberts and Scalia really went after the majority.

Works for me.

.

You really want to kill innocent people ?

You know this will only make things worse.
Why would you want to do that ?
I don't understand.

What if it was you ?

RichC
:jester:
.

But they are not innocent if they are going to attack us, thats whats in the title of your thread.


What are we supposed to do? Sit down and have coffee with them? Gee were sorry, they don't think like we do. Its not like the Germans or Japanese we rounded up after WW2. These people don't have a moral code like we do, they do not think like us, they only respond to strength. Why do you think Saddam was so successful at ruling them?

.

I have to believe that they are human beings and deserve everything
that I do.

I have been talking about the innocent people that have done nothing to us.
But we have done plenty to them.

I believe they have the right to be angry.

But I do not believe they have the right to try and kill anyone.
If they do, I think they should be held accountable for their actions.

RichC
:jester:
.

How about giving them a fair trial? Sounds reasonable to me. We gave it to the Nazis after WW2 and it showed to the world who we were. Unfortunately this time we're showing to the world how hypocritical we are, claiming to spread freedom and democracy but engaging in torture and denying legal rights to prisoners.

No to much red tape, and expense. Not to mention they will preceive that as a weakness.

The best solution right now is for the government to close Gitmo down and hand them over to countries that can handle them. Like Isreal and Syria, new Iraq government etc.

That comment is exactly wrong. The opposite is true.

I know not to blindly accept the written (or aired) word at face value.

Based on what do you say that? IIRC, OBL was even surprised that we pulled out so fast from Somalia when a few marines got dragged thru the streets. In fact, they threatened to do that again in Iraq.

I'm not sure that I see much connection between Somalia and habeas corpus, but I think that the Court's ruling is based in part on its confidence that the United States is strong enough to defend itself and comply with tradition rules for the detention of prisoners.

I heard a talk a while back by one of the defense attorneys for Zacharais Moussaoui. Moussaoui didn't believe that the American justice system would give him a fair trial. He was shocked when the jury decided not to recommend the death penalty. Despite all his efforts to belittle the judge, the prosecutors, and even his own lawyers, our system gave him a fair shake. That is when he realized that the United States is serious about due process. To me, that whole case conveyed a sense of American strength.

I haven't read Roberts' or Scalia's dissents, but from what I've read about them in the press, they seem to be based mainly on fear, which seems like a real sign of weakness. Sometimes fear is well-founded, but I am not sure that we should be so fearful that we start keeping prisoners without giving them fair hearings. "Fair" being defined according the circumstances.

So you are impressed. So what did that do? Did others break down and cry and want to leave OBL & Co? Just because YOU are impressed, doesn't mean that the enemy is, does it?

Aren't you?

I'm impressed. I'd be even more impressed if our justice system treated all terror suspects this way. Locking up suspects without a fair trial is the strategy of paranoid dictators.

I believe this is a great decision by the USSC.

What is the benefit to capturing the enemy? None.

USSC sent a message to the military.

Shoot the enemy dead; ask questions later. Point a gun anywhere near my direction - bang. Run away - bang. Harbor a known terrorist or enemy - bang.

Bullets are cheap.