Mephisto
Philosopher
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2005
- Messages
- 6,064
It was reported today on CNN that the federal government has announced that it will (finally) seek indictments on José Padilla who has been held in MILITARY custody inside the U.S. for three years without being charged!
First off, there is something called Due Process that we Americans are particularly proud of; it guarantees us citizens that we won't be snatched off the street by a crooked military or police force for any expedient reasons. We are guaranteed a (somewhat) speedy trial and cannot (supposedly) be held against our will without being charged with a crime. We are also considered innocent until proven guilty.
Of course, the administration that is pushing Democracy on Iraq has been busy chipping away at our liberties and freedoms back home. In their arrogance, and again using the war on terrorism as an excuse, they have held an American citizen, José Padilla as a terrorist suspect without officially charging him with a crime. He has been in custody for three years and only today has the federal government decided to indict him.
What I'm wondering is; did they finally find his WMD, have they trumped up enough evidence against him, did they finally get their "intelligence" to collaborate their charges? If this suspect IS a terrorist then he should be punished for any involvment in a plot against the U.S. (or anyone), but our laws are very succinct in outlining the proper methods for detaining and imprisoning American citizens suspected of crimes.
I'm also wondering at the timing of this latest piece of news - the "fact" that a terrorist suspect in the U.S. is being indicted (after three years of imprisonment) might serve as a suitable substitute for the "Orange Terrorists Warnings" that we've all (FINALLY) come to see for the red herrings they are. I can already hear the next speech, "It's hard work, but our war on terrorism has captured a dirty bomb terrorist right here in the U.S! Heh, heh . . . "
First off, there is something called Due Process that we Americans are particularly proud of; it guarantees us citizens that we won't be snatched off the street by a crooked military or police force for any expedient reasons. We are guaranteed a (somewhat) speedy trial and cannot (supposedly) be held against our will without being charged with a crime. We are also considered innocent until proven guilty.
Of course, the administration that is pushing Democracy on Iraq has been busy chipping away at our liberties and freedoms back home. In their arrogance, and again using the war on terrorism as an excuse, they have held an American citizen, José Padilla as a terrorist suspect without officially charging him with a crime. He has been in custody for three years and only today has the federal government decided to indict him.
What I'm wondering is; did they finally find his WMD, have they trumped up enough evidence against him, did they finally get their "intelligence" to collaborate their charges? If this suspect IS a terrorist then he should be punished for any involvment in a plot against the U.S. (or anyone), but our laws are very succinct in outlining the proper methods for detaining and imprisoning American citizens suspected of crimes.
I'm also wondering at the timing of this latest piece of news - the "fact" that a terrorist suspect in the U.S. is being indicted (after three years of imprisonment) might serve as a suitable substitute for the "Orange Terrorists Warnings" that we've all (FINALLY) come to see for the red herrings they are. I can already hear the next speech, "It's hard work, but our war on terrorism has captured a dirty bomb terrorist right here in the U.S! Heh, heh . . . "