BS: 2003: The Star Court Returns

Subject: BS: 2003: The Star Court Returns
From: Amos
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 06:26 PM

A very unsettling article by Declan McCullagh concerning one of over forty people currently detained without trial or limit under "material witness" clauses, denied due process and completely under wraps.

This kind of legal outrage is going too far. It is apparently spreading into totally arbitrary invasions of ordinary lives.

A.

Subject: RE: BS: 2003: The Star Court Returns
From: Amos
Date: 14 Apr 03 - 06:49 PM

As a follow-up, consider the following from Steve McGeady, speaking at the Portland Peace Rally:

>Do not believe those who say that this Nation is no longer at war. Let no
>one tell you that the War is over. Whether or not a battle has been won
>or a military action completed, even when our troops are brought home, let
>there be no doubt that we are engaged in a War for the most basic freedoms
>and ideals that we cherish as a Nation.
>
>The perpetrators of this War are not hiding in deserts far away. The
>perpetrators of this War are in plain sight, at the highest levels of our
>government. John Ashcroft, Dick Cheney, and George Bush are waging a War
>on every American's rights and freedoms. John Ashcroft, Dick Cheney, and
>George Bush want to strip you of your rights of speech, assembly, and due
>process of law.
>
>My friend Mike Hawash is a prisoner in this war. Over 3 weeks ago, my
>friend Mike Hawash was taken away by two dozen black-clad federal
>agents. He is being held in solitary confinement in Federal Prison
>despite the fact that he is charged with no crime. For three weeks my
>friend Mike Hawash has woken up in a 6x9 foot prison cell, not knowing why
>he is there, separated from his terrified wife and children. And for
>three weeks the Justice Department has refused to say why he is in Federal
>Prison.
>
>For three weeks Mike Hawash has been the victim of a new kind of secret
>imprisonment designed to frighten and coerce the Arab-American community,
>and to frighten and coerce all of us. And if John Ashcroft can secretly
>imprison my friend -- a University of Texas graduate, a U.S. citizen for
>15 years, a 20-year U.S. resident, a husband and father of three -- then
>Ashcroft can imprison any one of us.
>
>Because after they round up the Arab-Americans, who will they come for
>next? They will come for you and me!
>
>If they can hold Mike Hawash in jail without charge or trial, if they can
>deprive him of his most basic rights and freedoms, then any one of us may
>be the next prisoners in John Ashcroft's war on our Constitution.
>
>Consider the government's attempts to make this protest illegal. Consider
>the government's attempts to silence our voices. They call us
>un-American. They call us un-patriotic. But Thomas Jefferson said that
>"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
>
>It is you who are the patriots. It is our voices that can shout down John
>Ashcroft's secret justice. It is you whose voices and whose protests can
>free men like Mike Hawash. Mike Hawash must spend another two weeks or
>more in prison. But I ask every one of you, I ask everyone who cares
>about the freedoms on which this country was founded to join Mike's
>friends on the steps of the U.S. Courthouse on April 29.
>
>I ask each of you to tell John Ashcroft and George Bush that we will not
>stand for their assault on our liberties.
>
>Join us on April 29 to tell John Ashcroft and George Bush to stop their
>War on America, and Free Mike Hawash.

A

Subject: RE: BS: 2003: The Star Court Returns
From: GUEST,Clint Keller
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 12:53 AM

On December 6, 2001 I wrote a letter to the local paper that seems apropriate here:
_____

According to CNN, "Attorney General John Ashcroft lashed out Thursday at critics of the administration's response to terrorism, saying questions about whether its actions undermine the Constitution only serve to help terrorists."

But Senator Patrick Leahy had it right: "The need for congressional oversight is not -- as some mistakenly describe it -- to protect terrorists. It is to protect Americans and protect our American freedoms that you and everyone in this room cherish so much."

Back in 1940 I was attending Southside Grade School in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. I was in the fifth grade, and World War II was heating up in Europe. A lot of kids' fathers, like mine, had to register for the draft and we were worried -- and puzzled -- about the war. We wanted to know what anyone gets out of war; what good is it?

The teacher told us that unjust governments will use a war to increase control over their people; they can accuse anyone who disagrees with them of being unpatriotic, even traitorous, and in that way get them to obey.

Well, I was only nine years old, but I could understand that, and I never forgot it.

So. That knowledge was available in North Idaho sixty-one years ago, and in terms a nine-year old could understand.
______

Sixty-three years ago now. Lot of people still find it difficult.

Clint Keller

Subject: RE: BS: 2003: The Star Court Returns
From: Hrothgar
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 05:15 AM

Once again, one is forced to compare the two Bushes with the two Adamses.

Remember John Adams's defence of the troops involved in the Boston massacre? Dubya would have him thrown in gaol for it!

Remember John Quincy Adams's continuing championship of petitions to Congress against slavery? Dubya would have him thrown in gaol for that, too!

The only consolation I can find is that the Adamses each served only one term as President. I hope history can repeat itself.

Subject: RE: BS: 2003: The Star Court Returns
From: InOBU
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 08:05 AM

Hi Amos, the red squads are back in the New York police. There were arrests here, like in Chicago and LA of folks who were protesting within their legal rights. One of the arrested Quakers was told it was a PREMPTIVE! arrest to keep them from possibly doing vicil disobedience. The Quake was then brought to talk to someone who was introduced as a member of the political investigations unit of the NYPD. He pretended not to have ever heard of the term red squad, but our Friend told him that he had no intrest in speaking to him about his politics not as he was being rude, but in defense of the constitution. Wake up America.
Larry

Subject: RE: BS: 2003: The Star Court Returns
From: mack/misophist
Date: 15 Apr 03 - 09:53 AM

Ashcroft is one of the rare politicians who managed to lose an election to a dead man. Can any one imagine he loves democracy?