Enemy Combatants

[MadsenOMC]

This looks like a good ruling to me:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8PMQCN80&show_article=1

[Jim H]

I can't possibly see the justification for being able to hold people indefinitely without any charges.

It's wrong.

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by Jim H
I can't possibly see the justification for being able to hold people indefinitely without any charges.

It's wrong.

It is wrong, but this administration has certainly tried hard to justify it. Just say you're fighting terrorists and people are un-American if they question it. It's the Bush administration mantra.

[Badbird]

Originally posted by Jim H
I can't possibly see the justification for being able to hold people indefinitely without any charges.

It's wrong.

Hmm...

Sounds like somebody hates America.

[QUENTIN]

Thank God such blatantly illegal and unconstitutional things like this are being ruled against formally.

Unfortunately, if the Bush Administration has shown us anything, it's that they have nothing but contempt and disdain for law, the constitution, or the rights guaranteed to people, so in all likelihood they'll just continue to do this but now do it illegally and in black sites rather than brigs.

[EVILxxx]

American residents should have the right to challenge their accusers in court. Those found on the battlefield...fuck em.

[Tuukka]

Originally posted by EVILxxx
American residents should have the right to challenge their accusers in court. Those found on the battlefield...fuck em.

If an american soldier gets captured on the battlefield by the enemy, do you think that he should have no rights either? Personally I think that prisoners of war should have rights.

And I'd like to think that USA is morally better and more righteous than some opressive 3rd world dictatorship.

[EVILxxx]

Originally posted by Tuukka
If an american soldier gets captured on the battlefield by the enemy, do you think that he should have no rights either? Personally I think that prisoners of war should have rights.

And I'd like to think that USA is morally better and more righteous than some opressive 3rd world dictatorship.

Of course those detained have rights, they're just not subject to our constitution.

[Tuukka]

Originally posted by EVILxxx
Of course those detained have rights, they're just not subject to our constitution.

Yes, I don't think they should have equal rights as Americans. But I just don't think that it's right to hold prisoners of war indefinitely without any charges. This is practise we can expect from some 3rd world dictatorships, but I would prefer for USA to not to do the same.

[EVILxxx]

The complicated thing about terrorists as POWs is that there is no one to negotiate their release as they and their commanders are apart of illegitimate organizations. Nations at war are able to do this and typically after the conflict is over all POWs not guilty of war crimes are returned.
I would further add that many countries do not want these people back especially when it comes to Al qaeda, who are not only against the West but the established Islamic hierarchy.

[Jim H]

Originally posted by EVILxxx
Of course those detained have rights, they're just not subject to our constitution.

Please define them. As near as I can tell, they actually DON'T have rights.

It's also sometimes pretty haphazard what the "battlefield" is when you're talking about "terrorists" in foreign countries.

[EVILxxx]

Well they have the right to live for one thing, which is more than I can say for our military when they're captured.


It's also sometimes pretty haphazard what the "battlefield" is when you're talking about "terrorists" in foreign countries.

Maybe so, but it isn't like there is a tactical advantage to incarcerating random people in the wrong place at the wrong time. The military does do thorough investigations to make sure that the suspect is worth traveling halfway across the world.

[Tuukka]

Originally posted by EVILxxx
Maybe so, but it isn't like there is a tactical advantage to incarcerating random people in the wrong place at the wrong time. The military does do thorough investigations to make sure that the suspect is worth traveling halfway across the world.

There are many reported cases in Iraq where a standard Iraqi citizen was captured well after the war had ended, held for several months, and then released without any charges. In some cases, these citizens didn't even know why they were arrested. Worse still, there were cases of torture, even if it didn't cause permanent damage (Only sleep deprivation, etc).

Granted, they were imprisoned only for months, not years, but it still feels wrong to do something like this.

The following is an Amnesty site, and just reports facts, without any kind of political bias (Gotta respect Amnesty for always being so unbiased and level-headed). Scroll down to the bolded headline "Without charge or trial – detention by the Multinational Force" and read from there on.

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde140012006

[EVILxxx]

Originally posted by Tuukka
There are many reported cases in Iraq where a standard Iraqi citizen was captured well after the war had ended, held for several months, and then released without any charges. In some cases, these citizens didn't even know why they were arrested. Worse still, there were cases of torture, even if it didn't cause permanent damage (Only sleep deprivation, etc).

Granted, they were imprisoned only for months, not years, but it still feels wrong to do something like this.

The following is an Amnesty site, and just reports facts, without any kind of political bias (Gotta respect Amnesty for always being so unbiased and level-headed). Scroll down to the bolded headline "Without charge or trial – detention by the Multinational Force" and read from there on.

http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engmde140012006

That kind of thing happens in the regular justice system though as well. Mistakes will be made.
The article is pretty interesting. One of America's policies that have been established in Iraq is that of noninterference with how their military conducts themselves. In an effort to show that we are not pulling their strings American troops are prohibited from reprimanding the Iraqi troops,while we conduct joint security operations. Unfortunately this means that if we observe harsh treatment of citizens essentially we are supposed to stay out of it unless the situation gets out of control.
I wouldn't be surprised if this policy was practiced throughout the whole of the Iraqi government.
I don't agree with any forms of torture ( I don't include sleep deprivation or stress positions as torture)although it is important to note that many Al queda members are trained in media relations, guiding them on what to say to make America look bad regardless of their treatment.