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Quote by: RickSp  Manual to allow executions based on hearsay
So this is what "American justice" now means. Heresay evidence or a confession elicted under torture can now be used to condemn an "enemy combatant" to death. No habeas corpus, no rules of evidence, no oversight. It is the judicial equivalent of what happened at Haditha.
And who is an "enemy combatant"? Anyone the government says is an "enemy combatant." The Bill of Rights is null and void. |
I heard about this last night and I had a feeling you were going to start a thread on this.
Is this against the constitution (if it is American being held)? Absolutely!
Is this against the Genva Convention? Absolutely!
On the Constitution:
The constitution is designed to protect Americans, so some Islamic Terrorist who would cut anyone of our throats if he had the chance, are not protected.
If an American is detained, then that is a different story, but the terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay are Foreign Nationals (OK maybe a few are Americans). It is an insult to expect the constitution to protect these men.
Geneva Convention:
This is a different story, while the constitution was not created to protect these douche bags, the Geneva Convention was. You can make an argument that none of our enemies since WW II ever follow respected this treaty: (1) Korea, (2) Vietnam, (3) Iraq etc and nor will any of our future enemies.. If one of our boys is caught he would be tortured unmercifully. Nevertheless, this act goes against the Geneva Convention. Unless the US is ready to repeal the treaty, then we would be breaking an international agreement.
Torture to extract data to stop future attacks is one thing. But using hearsay information extracted to but these guys to death just seems wrong. Yes we are at war, but POWs are supposed to be detained not murdered.