Completely sidetrack, but what the hell:
idiggory wrote:
And you realize that Amendments 5, 6, and 8 all guarantee American citizens the right to:
5. The right to trial by jury according to due process and prevents trial by self-incrimination.
6. The right to a fair and speedy trial by jury, with representation, to face your accuser and know of the accusations against you.
8. The freedom from cruel and unusual punishment.
And then amendment 9 states that the federal gov't has no right to infringe on these rights.
So, explain to me how the Republican President Bush was paying due consideration to these articles of the constitution when he threw American citizens in Guantanamo Bay prison, refused to grant them trials (let alone fair or speedy ones), doesn't inform them why they are there, and tortures them. I'm REALLY interested to hear that answer.
Sure.
1. No American citizens were held at Gitmo. This is actually irrelevant since the amendments in question refer to "persons" or "people", and not just to "citizens". But I figured I'd point it out anyway.
2. Trials are only guaranteed for cases of "criminal prosecutions". Those held at Gitmo were specifically held as "unlawful combatants", and thus fall under a different set of rules (as do all combatants, we don't grant POWs trials or let them go do we?).
3. They were certainly informed as to why they were there. You're confusing being informed, with being charged with a crime. Which is irrelevant given answer number 2 above.
4. Torture is a pretty subjective allegation, not a fact. How about we stick to facts, ok?
Oh. And for the record, I doubt seriously that you REALLY want to hear an answer. What you REALLY want is to hear the question asked again, and again, and again. Repeat it enough and most people will assume the questions have merit.
Edited, Dec 22nd 2010 7:10pm by gbaji