"Marvin Long, Jr." wrote: > > It does appear to be a direct refuation of the principles of open > government and inter- & intra-national rule of law that we're so fond of > espousing. Did Ashcroft actually say "terrorists don't deserve the same > standard of justice?" That's effin' insane. > > Marvin Long > Austin, Texas
Excuse me, it was President Cheney who said this (presumably from his secret underground bunker - good to know he's safe..) "They don't deserve to be treated as a prisoner of war. They don't deserve the same guarantees and safeguards that would be used for an American citizen going through the normal judicial process," Cheney said. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1656000/1656919.stm) Ashcroft, on the other hand, "merely" said this: "Foreign terrorists... in my judgement, are not entitled to and do not deserve the protections of the American Constitution," (http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/2001/11/16/FFXT6CLE1UC.html) (transcript of the press conference - http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/terrorism/terrorismmilash.htm) Some of the more choice bits from General Ashcroft's expert legal mind: "[W]e may capture terrorists in places like Afghanistan, who I don't think we should have to bring back to the United States in order to bring them to justice." "I think it's important to understand that we are at war now." [except that we're NOT at war, as no declaration of war has been made by congress..] -j- -- "O! for a Muse of fire, that would ascend, The brightest heaven of invention!"
