Judge: "Ashcroft's Policies Idiotic"

CounterPunch.com ^ | May 31, 2002 | Walt Brasch

[JMJ333]

Alexander Cockburn is a raving socialist. Why should I care what his website thinks?

[Paul Atreides]

Millions dying as a result of a terrorist nuke is idiotic.

[linn37]

stop screwing around and deport the lil buggers

[gcruse]

Oh, my. Get ready for Bushbots on Parade.

[Mike4Freedom]

You should care because they are still holding hundreds of people without charging them and without any semblence of due process. Today it is the demonized Arabs being treated that way. Once is was the demonized Japanese-Americans. Who knows who will be the next demonized group. It might be a group that includes you.

[mrsmith]

timesdispatch.com
"The solicitor general's office argued in its appeal that U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar improperly strayed into foreign policy issues. Allowing a lawyer to talk to an "unlawful combatant" could damage interrogators' efforts to learn about the Taliban and the al-Qaida terrorist network, the government argued. "

''What is the law which governs an army invading an enemy's country?'' the Court asked in Dow v. Johnson.1535 ''It is not the civil law of the invaded country; it is not the civil law of the conquering country; it is military law--the law of war--and its supremacy for the protection of the officers and soldiers of the army, when in service in the field in the enemy's country, is as essential to the efficiency of the army as the supremacy of the civil law at home, and, in time of peace, is essential to the preservation of liberty.''

I think the judge just wants a higher ruling, and this article is a typical pantload.

[JMJ333]

I get suspicious when people like Cockburn are used as champions of freedom. I am more worried about the arabs starting a jihad over here than I am of what some socialist has to say about Ashcroft.

[Fish out of Water]

The Bush administration's quest for secrecy is understandable, considering it was primarily staring at headlights prior to Sept. 11. Newsweek and numerous other publications now report that the Bush administration, probably for political reasons, discounted the Clinton administration's severe and substantial warnings about terrorist activities.

To make the ridiculous claim that Clinton was on top of the terror war and Bush chose to ignore Clinton’s solid advice; proves this writer is incapable of intelligent analysis. What ever of the rest of the story may have some validity must simply be due to the authors parroting of someone else’s ideas, so why don’t you find the original source for the ideas and post their work.

[Texasforever]

Who knows who will be the next demonized group

The next "group" that decides to blow something up and I could care less how many times the word “patriot” is used in its name.

[tet68]

Yawn, another Ashcroft hit piece.

[elephantlips]

Well which way is it to be? Are we "demonizing" the Arabs and persecuting them or are we too soft on illegal aliens coming into the country, or did the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. drop the ball prior to 9-11? Comparing the events of WWII with the Japanese and the events subsequent to 9-11 with the Arabs just does not stand up. The potential for the Japanese during WWII to spy and carry out minor acts of sabotage cannot,in any way, compare to the capabillities of terrorists today. Until such a time as we have a greater control over the potential for terrorism in our country, we cannot expect that life will be as usual, it isn't possible. Our present laws were made in a time when these acts were either not possible or undreamed of. A new assessment is underway and will, in it's wake, cause some problems serious and not so serious. This is not a college debate, it truly is a matter of life and death. When in survival mode we must act to protect our very lives. I am NOT condoning an ignorance of our constitution but an awareness of the present situation.

[Alan Chapman]

Millions dying as a result of a terrorist nuke is idiotic.

And giving billions in foreign-aid to governments known to finance and harbor terrorists is what? And stationing troops in countries where they're not welcome is what? And threatening other countries with military invasion if they don't capitulate to our demands it what? And dropping bombs on civilians in other countries as punishment for the deeds of their governments is what?

[Alan Chapman]

Alexander Cockburn is a raving socialist. Why should I care what his website thinks?

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, as the saying goes. What are your thoughts on the content of the article?

[Tuor]

In a related case, U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler will decide if the government has any Constitutional basis to keep secret the names and charges against those it currently detains as terrorists.

We *must* be safe at whatever cost. It's for the children.

Tuor

[Native American Female Vet]

That is called setting 'the precedent' as I learned when Reno was AG.

[VOA]

I am more worried about the arabs starting a jihad over here than I am of what some
socialist has to say about Ashcroft.

While I'd like to see prosecutions move quickly on the detainees, this is an exceptional
band of terrorists we fight. The "true believers" that would gladly die setting off
a dirty nuke in downtown NYC have managed to disguise themselves as low-level Taliban
or perhaps our own neighbors.

Although the DOJ may be on thin ice with it's approach, what gets me is the inability of
those pushing for immediate release or prosecution to see the "unintended consequences" of their
position.

Although I've never heard/seen any such accusation, I suspect that once the "human rights"
crowd started their wailing about the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay,
I wouldn't be suprised if an unspoken "no prisonsers" mentality hit the US soldier
on the ground.

Why not just kill any suspected Taliban/Al-Quida when you encounter them...
the ACLU will just get them released if we capture them...
I wouldn't be suprised if the ACLU didn't just sign the death warrants of thousands
of combatants (and some innocent bystanders) with their do-gooder crusade.

[Texasforever]

It's for the children.

You don't have children do you?

[Tuor]

The next "group" that decides to blow something up

Not necessarily, and that is why you should be concerned.

Tuor