Question to conservatives/Republicans: Is this the justice system you want?

Question

Read the link. All of you that say we don't need the same protections/rights for "terrorists" what about this? Are you willing to let this happen again...do you realize this could be you and/or your friends?

How did his arrest protect you? You might say, "Mistakes happen" and shrug it off but this is deliberate. How would you like to be locked up for 5 years and no charges pressed? Oh I forgot, they're Muslim so it doesn't matter. Conservatives strike again!

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/911-detainee-released-after-nearly-five/20060813130409990006?ncid=NWS00010000000001

I know liberals were involved but it's maily conservatives who still support Bush and all his policies. They also were okay with Abu Ghraib, the killing of civilians, and Gitmo so that is why I am aiming this at conservatives.

Answer 1

Those who don't think detainees under US authority are entitled to civil rights should take the time to read the Constitution.

The protections in Article I Section 9 (Habeas Corpus), and the protections afforded by the 4th (no unreasonable search or seizure), 5th (due process, right to a grand jury), and 6th Amendments (right to counsel, right to trial, right to present evidence and confront witnesses) are NOT limited to citizens.

They are limitations on government action. Period. Read the text yourself. Then, read the dozens of Supreme Court cases for the past century that have confirmed this simple fact.

And on top of that, we have international treaties (which have the same force as federal law), including the Geneva Convention that spell out the same thing. The Supreme Court has had to remind Bush of this twice now. The detentions are illegal.

If we're going to be a nation of laws, and if we're going to claim to be any better than Saddam or other terrorist leaders, we need to start acting like it.

And that means not ignoring our own laws.

Answer 2

Sad.. however, it seems that it was the immigration dept that kept him so long, being Muslim doesn't matter. I'm more upset with bureaucracy than the injustice. You get stuck in the system and you're out of luck. As far as Abugrab, I don't condemn our whole military for the actions of a few. And Git mo is necessary. I don't feel a bit sorry for the "mistreated" prisoners there. I am up set with a media that prints false (flushed Koran) stories without even checking.
Stuff happens, no system is perfect... but I'll put ours ahead of most others in the world.

Answer 3

interesting story. this is bad, but what is worse is that the people they are putting in charge of these prisons and the ones that watch these prisioners do not know their job, which usually ends up causing these abuses. My friend works for a Federal prison and if that kind of stuff happend in there, the Correction Officers that perpetrated these events could likely end up in jail or at the least fired.

Answer 4

That is horrible. I'm Canadian and both of our governments owe this guy an apology and some compensation.

I hope he can stay here and start a life.

Here is another case, shorter duration but totally brutal. The Canadian government did not make any real efforts to protect this man in US custody. He was deported to Syria and tortured.

Answer 5

If he was in the U.S. he should have most of the rights we do. MOST. No system is perfect. There are many cases that swing the other way also. Be careful not to base all of your ideals on the rare example.

Answer 6

War is hell, and it was not just the conservitives decision, others were also involved.....add the fact that democrats were just as involved.....their own party is at war with each other......

Answer 7

the thing is that libs don't care one whip about protecting this country...that is so sad.