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Shame on Us All
By Robert Parry
October 18, 2006
History should record October 17, 2006, as the reverse of July 4, 1776.
From the noble American ideal of each human being possessing “unalienable rights” as declared
by the Founders 230 years ago amid the ringing of bells in Philadelphia, the United States effectively
rescinded that concept on a dreary fall day in Washington.
At a crimped ceremony in the East Room of the White House, President George W. Bush signed
the Military Commissions Act of 2006 while sitting behind a sign reading “Protecting America.”
On the surface, the law sets standards for harsh interrogations, prosecutions and executions of
supposed terrorists and other “unlawful combatants,” including al-Qaeda members who allegedly
conspired to murder nearly 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001.
“It is a rare occasion when a President can sign a bill he knows will save American lives,” Bush said.
“I have that privilege this morning.”
but the new law does much more. In effect, it creates a parallel “star chamber” system of criminal
justice for anyone, including an American citizen, who is suspected of engaging in, contributing to
or acting in support of violent acts directed against the U.S. government or its allies anywhere on earth.
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Olberman Comment- Death of Habeas Corpus
Keith Olbermann has been calling it like it is. His "Special Comments" are indeed special because
no other talking head outside of Cafferty is willing to step up to the plate and say what needs to
be said on 24/7. "Your words are lies, Sir." They are lies, that imperil us all.' Sounds about right
to me.
http://movies.crooksandliars.com/OlbermannSpecialComment-RIPHabeus.mov
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Who Is 'Any Person' in Tribunal Law?
By Robert Parry
October 19, 2006
The New York Times lead editorial gives false comfort to American citizens by assuring them
that they will not be victims of George W. Bush’s new draconian system for prosecuting enemies
of the U.S. government in military tribunals outside constitutional protections.
“This law does not apply to American citizens,” the Times editorial stated, “but it does apply to
other legal United States residents. And it chips away at the foundations of the judicial system in
ways that all Americans should find threatening.” [NYT, Oct. 19, 2006]
However, the Times analysis appears to be far too gentle. While it’s true that some parts of the
Military Commissions Act of 2006 target non-citizens, other sections clearly apply to U.S. citizens
as well, putting citizens inside the same tribunal system with resident aliens and foreigners.
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by Sultan Muhammad
(Wednesday October 18 2006)
"Will Americans push for the repeal of the Military Commissions Act and avert Martial Law?
Will Americans say no to the unilateral power grab of President Bush? Or will we continue to
allow our rights to be openly subverted by the smokescreen politics of fear mongering."
Moments ago President Bush signed the Military Commission Act into law, stating “This bill
provides legal protections that ensure our military and intelligence personnel will not have to
fear lawsuits filed by terrorists simply for doing their jobs.
[The] legality of the system I established was challenged in the court, and the Supreme Court
ruled that the military commissions needed to be explicitly authorized by the United States
Congress. And so I asked Congress for that authority, and they have provided it.”
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The Deeper Evil Behind the Detainee Bill
By Chris Floyd, TO UK Correspondent
t r u t h o u t | Perspective
Monday 02 October 2006
There is no week nor day nor hour when tyranny may not enter upon this country - if the people
lose their confidence in themselves - and lose their roughness and spirit of defiance.
- Walt Whitman
1.
It was a dark hour indeed on Thursday when the United States Senate voted to end the constitutional
republic and transform the country into a "Leader-State," giving the president and his agents the power
to capture, torture and imprison forever anyone - American citizens included - whom they arbitrarily
decide is an "enemy combatant." This also includes those who merely give "terrorism" some kind of
"support," defined so vaguely that many experts say it could encompass legal advice, innocent gifts to
charities or even political opposition to US government policy within its draconian strictures.
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By Aziz Huq, HuffingtonPost.com
Posted on September 30, 2006, Printed on October 1, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/story/42345/
"Checks and balances" has a nice ring. But it's a currency that doesn't go a long way
in Washington today.
The Military Commissions Act of 2006, of MCA, passed by the House and Senate is a
wholesale assault on the idea of a limited government under law.
It will be taken by the Bush Administration as a blank check to torture, to detain indefinitely
without just cause, and to trample the values that win America respect in the world. From
tomorrow, counter-terrorism is the "land of do as you please" for the President and the wise
men of the Defense Department -- those savants who brought you Iraq, the gift that keeps on giving
(at least if you're a jihadist).
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Senate Passes Terror Detainee Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2006
(CBS/AP) The Senate passed legislation that endorsed President George W. Bush's plan to
prosecute and interrogate terrorism suspects, all but sealing approval for a bill Republicans
plan to use to spotlight their tough stance against terrorists weeks ahead of congressional elections.
The 65-34 vote means the bill could reach the president's desk by week's end to be signed into law.
The House of Representatives passed almost identical legislation on Wednesday by 253-168
and was expected to endorse the Senate bill on Friday, then ship it to the White House.
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