The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #41172   Message #593131
Posted By: GUEST,Greg F.
15-Nov-01 - 09:10 AM
Thread Name: POL: Dumbya's Star Chamber
Subject: POL: Dumbya's Star Chamber
Don't worry- we're only going to ignore the rights of
"Non Americans"---for now. Emphasis mine.

Best, Greg

-------------------

WHITE HOUSE DEFENDS PLANS FOR SECRET TRIALS
By STEWART M. POWELL, Washington Bureau
First published: Thursday, November 15, 2001

CRAWFORD, Texas -- Senior Bush administration officials on Wednesday
staunchly defended preparations for secret military tribunals to try, convict
and speedily execute foreigners who prepare or carry out terrorist attacks
against Americans.

Vice President Dick Cheney, Attorney General John Ashcroft and White
House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer commented hours after President
Bush issued an emergency executive order approving the tribunals, which
were used to try, convict and execute Nazi saboteurs during World War II
and conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

Bush issued the order permitting military tribunals with little fanfare late
Tuesday. "The President thought it was appropriate to provide
this as an option '' Fleischer said.

Cheney, addressing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, said
the only individuals who would be subjected to the trial by military tribunal
in the United States or overseas would be non-American citizens "believed
to have engaged in or believed to be participating in
terrorist attacks designed to kill Americans , or have provided
sanctuary to those who are conducting terrorist operations against Americans .''
[ Its apparently OK if they're killing non-Americans- so much for the 'global
coalition rhetoric]

Laura W. Murphy, director of the American Civil Liberties Union in
Washington, condemned the President's decision. "The move to
establish a military tribunal when Congress has not declared war is
unprecedented,'' she said.

Murphy said the order could result in "secret trials without a jury
and without the requirement of a unanimous verdict.''

Bush's five-page order permits admission of any evidence that
may have "probative value to a reasonable person.''
It said it was "not practicable'' to rely upon the "the principles
of law and the rules of evidence generally recognized in the trial of
criminal cases in the United States district courts.''