[Winona Online Democracy]
Paul, I don't want to be critical, but you are making the mistake of deciding that foreign nationals can be adjudged guilty without any trial. Once you decide that someone who has not been tried or found guilty, it is easy to deprive him/her of civil rights. That defies all logic. Maybe you mean that foreign nationals simply do not have the protections of the American Constitution. Although that issue has already been decided in favor of providing those rights ( I can't cite the case for you), they are subject to deportation under the rules of the Immigration service. In those cases they do not get a right to a jury trial. The penalty, however, is only deportation. Foreign nationals who are brought to justice and convicted under our system are certainly deserving of punishment. My problem is that the administration is trying to bypass all of our constitutional protections by setting up a military tribunal to conduct trials that will not be subject to any public scrutiny and by the use of secret evidence. The attorney general has also declared that (not just foreign nationals) all federal prisoners will have their conversations with their lawyers will be wiretapped or eavesdropped by the government. That is a denial of the right to a lawyer and the right to a fair trial. These are the only things I have heard of that are being planned. That is why I am critical of the policies being adopted. The Constitution may be upheld fully and we can still convict and punish the terrorists. After all, the president and the British prime minister have both declared that the evidence of Bin-Laden's guilt is clear. If so, why do we fear a trial? ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Double <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Duane M. Peterson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 7:32 PM Subject: Re: [Winona] Our Civil Rights > Duane, > > The president does not nor will not ever have the right to repeal the Bill > of Rights. I do not remember the Constitution or the Bill of Rights > providing guarantees to "foreign nationals" who attack, kill or maim > citizens of the republic. Nor do I remember Bill Clinton interfering with > the election process in establishing his duly elected predecessor. > > > Paul Double > > At 12:41 PM 11/16/2001 -0600, you wrote: > >Paul, > >Do you have an opinion as to whether the president has the right and power > >to repeal the bill of rights? > > >From: Paul Double <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: Duane M. Peterson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 5:09 PM > >Subject: Re: [Winona] Our Civil Rights > > > > > >> Duane, > >> > >> To the best of my information the people won the last election according > >to > >> the rule of law. And every time the votes have been counted they won > >> again, and again and again! > >> > >> Paul Double > >> > >> > >> At 03:24 PM 11/15/2001 -0600, you wrote: > >> >Attached is a copy of an article that appeared in most papers about > >> yesterday's news conference announcing the plans for a trial of suspected > >> terrorists etc. by a military tribunal. > >> >http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20011114-645152.htm > >> > > >> >In addition to that the Attorney General has adopted a policy of > >> eavesdropping on all conversations between federal prisoners in custody > >and > >> their lawyers. Apparently the administration is intent on gradually > >> repealing the US Constitution, particularly the bill of rights. Although > >> military trials have been used in wartime, this is not an official war. > >An > >> official war can only be declared by the congress at the REQUEST of the > >> president. The people may have lost more than just the last election. > >> > > >> >Attachment Converted: "C:\LUMINET\EUDORA\ATTACH\WinonaOu" > >> > > >> > >> > > > > > > > > --------------- This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe All messages sent to the list must be signed with your actual name. Posting of commercial soliticitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems or questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
