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BREAKING NEWS – SUPREME COURT RULING
Judge Roberts Abstains
Breaking News:
Supreme Court rules Bush overstepped authority for Guantanamo trials (CNN)
Supreme Court blocks Bush, Gitmo war trials
WASHINGTON D.C. (Washington Post) 5 minutes ago — The Supreme Court ruled that President Bush overstepped his authority in ordering military war crimes trials for Guantanamo Bay detainees.
The ruling, a rebuke to the administration and its aggressive anti-terror policies, was written by Justice John Paul Stevens, who said the proposed trials were illegal under U.S. law and Geneva conventions.
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
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Thanks for the heads up. I haven’t been able to find many details yet. I really want to learn more about this.
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Supreme Court blocks Bush, Gitmo war trials
See update in diary
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
Thanks.
I loved these opening words:
“The Supreme Court today delivered a stunning rebuke to the Bush administration “
“…a stunning rebuke to the Bush administration”
Hopefully the start of many more 🙂
much info in my dailykos diary here if you are interested.
follow the links to opinions on this
also read comments, as well
I have been reading all afternoon on this. From what I gather, the WH is in trouble unless the republicans in congress can cover his a$$. He can be tried for treason in and of itself if taken to the extreme. He has broken the laws set out in the constitution.
Then again, we really must study the readings of the whole action taken for what it is worth. The WH is already out in full force to play defense.
Yeah, good argument: Bush has gone beyond his legal authority before, so it’s okay now.
And how many wars have we had? Hasn’t it been just one endless war? Or does it just seem that way?
How many divisions does the SCOTUS have?
If Roberts had not abstained, the decision would still have been 5-4, giving me hope that Bushco does not own the SCOTUS.
Roberts, as a party to the lower appeals court ruling, could not rightly participate in hearing and voting on an appeal of a case in which he was a party.
Thus, he recused himself. To me, that’s not the same as an abstention from voting–which a member of the court might do on his own initiative.
By the vanishing standards of fair play in the judicial system, Roberts’ recusal should not be seen as optional or as a sort of “gift”.
The only thing I find “stunning” about this case is that it was allowed to grind on for years as Bush demolished one democratic institution and principle after another. It ought to have been done in three weeks; Bush ought to have been impeached, and then brought up on criminal charges and tried, convicted and sentenced years ago.
This case is no cause for celebration; it’s a monument to the failure and the wreckage of our so-called “justice” system.
And even less nice to tell the Supreme Court that in the grand scheme the court really doesn’t have any power unless the president says so. Look out for those lightening bolts Mr. president!
I wouldnt be surprissed if that shit-head decides to close the Supreme Court, because it interferes with the WoT.
The term “enemy combatants” has no legal meaning, it was invented by the Bush admin.
The prisoners at Guantanamo have not been charged with any crimes, just being enemy combatants. The precedent that is being used against them is the case of five German spies who were caught on Long Island after they had been dropped off by a sub during WWII. Since they were not in uniform they were (allegedly) not covered by rules applying to POW’s. I’m sure the French resistance would have appreciated that distinction.
The Supreme Court has already ruled that foreign nationals do not has the same rights to due process as do citizens. Even naturalized citizens and “green card” holders don’t have equal rights. They can (and have been) deported regardless of how long they have lived in the US.
The US is using these rulings to hold many immigrants in the US in limbo for various real and imagined ties to terrorism.
I would interpret the ruling as more about procedural deficiencies rather than human rights abuses. The fact that these prisoners don’t have access to counsel or the court system is what bothered the Justices. When it comes to reaffirming the scope of the court’s powers they always rule in their own favor. The connection with the Geneva Convention also reflects this concern with legalistic procedures.
I doubt this ruling will have any immediate practical effect, except to stop the trials that were about to begin.
might I ask then, why is bush looking so pissed today? He really flared up over this, I thought. I think I could even see blood in them there vessels bulging…;o)
NO actually, I think he sees it as his party is being crashed and he will now have to go home. I hope it is all beginning to fall apart for them all.
Someone told him “NO” and he’s having a tantrum.
No more to it than that.
Perhaps this is why he looks like he’s totally freaking out. Dare I hope this much though?
reported that two U.S. soldiers were abducted or kidnapped. If the War on Terror is a war then you can’t be “abducted” or “kidnapped” by the enemy……you are captured by the enemy. So many fucking word games with these people!
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From friend and partner Israel.
An IDF soldier was captured and held captive by Palestinian freedom fighters – activists – terrorists …
So Israel goes into Gaza and destroys the only electrical power plant of Rafa and two main bridges. This is nothing more than collective punishment for the civilian population.
CUT OFF: Palestinians assess a bridge destroyed by Israeli warplanes on a main road in the northern Gaza Strip. Israel knocked out electricity and attacked exit routes. Hatem Moussa/AP● IDF bars East Jerusalem residents from using Bethlehem crossing
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY