Posted on 06/17/2005 10:41:23 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Ping to #16.
pinged for later, in case he tries to weasel out of his lies.
Senator regrets if remarks misunderstood (Dick d'Turban Durbin)
"During the Civil War, President Lincoln, one of our greatest presidents, suspended habeas corpus, which gives prisoners the right to challenge their detention. The Supreme Court stood up to the President and said prisoners have the right to judicial review even during war.
Let me read what that Court said:
The Constitution of the United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and in peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, and under all circumstances. No doctrine, involving more pernicious consequences, was ever invented by the wit of man than that any of its provisions could be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy or despotism.
Mr. President, those words still ring true today. The Constitution is a law for this administration, equally in war and in peace. If the Constitution could withstand the Civil War, when our nation was literally divided against itself, surely it will withstand the war on terrorism."
1) the soldiers of the Civil war, of both sides, were AMERICAN CITIZENS and subject to our Constitution, be they "rulers and people, equally in war and in peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, and under all circumstances." The terrorists are not. Even the ones that are, by taking sides with enemies of the U.S., should be either shot as traitors, or stripped of their citizenship and treated as one of the foreign terrorists.
If Turban Durbin wants to apply the Constitution to all the people of the world, then let him start with oppressed peoples (like Iraq for instance?) rather than terrorists. He is applying the ACLU standard of more rights for criminals than honest citizens.
2) the detainees are not even subject to the Geneva Convention stipulations, as they are neither signatories nor abide by any of the rules therein.
See below.
Congressman Billybob
Just Excellent, thanks for the Link!
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