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American Gulag
20 January 2005 22:18Three of the grievances against King George from the Declaration of Independence:
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
And the sixth amendment in the Bill of Rights:
Article VI:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
It seems rather simple. Arresting a person without charging them with a crime. Throwing them in prison far away from home without a trial. Denying them the ability to speak with legal counsel. Every oppressive totalitarian regime in the history of the world has committed such crimes. Indeed it is a hallmark of such governments.
I remember as a child being told stories about the USSR where people were disappeared in the middle of the night, never charged, never tried, but thrown into a Siberian gulag, never to be heard from again. In high school I read a book about it, A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
But it could never happen here. The sixth amendment prevents it. Indeed, the US government would never take 640 men prisoner for three years, never charge them with a crime, never declare them prisoners of war, torture them, attempt to justify tortue, and build a permanent prison on foreign lands so that they will just dissapear since there is not enough evidence to charge them.
If these men have committed crimes against the US, charge them, take them to court, and if they are found guilty prosecute them to the full extent of the law. If they have committed crimes against humanity charge them as such. If they have commited acts of war threat them as prisoners of war. But this... How can Bush claim to love freedom, to want to spread it across the world while at the same time allowing this? These gulags are a crime against humanity and the administration must be held responsible.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
And the sixth amendment in the Bill of Rights:
Article VI:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
It seems rather simple. Arresting a person without charging them with a crime. Throwing them in prison far away from home without a trial. Denying them the ability to speak with legal counsel. Every oppressive totalitarian regime in the history of the world has committed such crimes. Indeed it is a hallmark of such governments.
I remember as a child being told stories about the USSR where people were disappeared in the middle of the night, never charged, never tried, but thrown into a Siberian gulag, never to be heard from again. In high school I read a book about it, A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
But it could never happen here. The sixth amendment prevents it. Indeed, the US government would never take 640 men prisoner for three years, never charge them with a crime, never declare them prisoners of war, torture them, attempt to justify tortue, and build a permanent prison on foreign lands so that they will just dissapear since there is not enough evidence to charge them.
If these men have committed crimes against the US, charge them, take them to court, and if they are found guilty prosecute them to the full extent of the law. If they have committed crimes against humanity charge them as such. If they have commited acts of war threat them as prisoners of war. But this... How can Bush claim to love freedom, to want to spread it across the world while at the same time allowing this? These gulags are a crime against humanity and the administration must be held responsible.
