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Okay, what the sunny fuck is this shit?
Sep. 6th, 2006 11:36 amBush to unveil plan for Gitmo trials
What. the. fuck.
He wants to change the law so that he can have the people held at Gitmo tried the way he wants them tried. Even though the Supreme Court already ruled that the way he wants them tried violates U.S. and International law.
And Bush isn't the only fuckwit here. Add to the mix Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who has objected to rules that would give terror suspects the right to remain silent or to challenge hearsay evidence.
Note the bolded word. Suspects. Some of these guys, no doubt, were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of them are, quite probably, terrorists. But regardless, if we are going to try them under U.S. law, we need to not change the rules mid-stream. They should have the right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves. If there's a strong enough case against them, then it shouldn't be necessary to force them to testify against their own interests. And here's another interesting point... let's say Captain Clueless and AG Apparently-never-read-a-lawbook get this boondoggle passed through Congress. What in the name of God's little fish in trousers makes them think that even if they somehow force terror suspects to testify that they would even tell the truth?
I mean, come on! Common sense, people. They're being charged with terrorism. You really think a fucking perjury charge is going to scare them at this point?
On to the hearsay bit... I have even more of a problem with this part. You see, if we allowed hearsay testimony in criminal courts, anyone could be found guilty of anything if he (the defendant) was unpopular enough. "Yeah, I heard Bob say that he heard from Carl about Doug wanting to blow up a busload of nuns." I mean, fuck, you can manufacture practically any evidence you want if you allow hearsay in. And that's just what they seem to want. They apparently need the ability to rely on unsubstantiated evidence in order to mount a prosecution against the various Gitmo detainees.
Here's hoping Congress gives Bush the hairy purple shaft on this one. The way his approval rating is right now, and with midterm elections coming up, I can only hope enough Republican Congress-critters will think it will hurt their chances of re-election if they pass this legislation.
What. the. fuck.
He wants to change the law so that he can have the people held at Gitmo tried the way he wants them tried. Even though the Supreme Court already ruled that the way he wants them tried violates U.S. and International law.
And Bush isn't the only fuckwit here. Add to the mix Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who has objected to rules that would give terror suspects the right to remain silent or to challenge hearsay evidence.
Note the bolded word. Suspects. Some of these guys, no doubt, were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of them are, quite probably, terrorists. But regardless, if we are going to try them under U.S. law, we need to not change the rules mid-stream. They should have the right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves. If there's a strong enough case against them, then it shouldn't be necessary to force them to testify against their own interests. And here's another interesting point... let's say Captain Clueless and AG Apparently-never-read-a-lawbook get this boondoggle passed through Congress. What in the name of God's little fish in trousers makes them think that even if they somehow force terror suspects to testify that they would even tell the truth?
I mean, come on! Common sense, people. They're being charged with terrorism. You really think a fucking perjury charge is going to scare them at this point?
On to the hearsay bit... I have even more of a problem with this part. You see, if we allowed hearsay testimony in criminal courts, anyone could be found guilty of anything if he (the defendant) was unpopular enough. "Yeah, I heard Bob say that he heard from Carl about Doug wanting to blow up a busload of nuns." I mean, fuck, you can manufacture practically any evidence you want if you allow hearsay in. And that's just what they seem to want. They apparently need the ability to rely on unsubstantiated evidence in order to mount a prosecution against the various Gitmo detainees.
Here's hoping Congress gives Bush the hairy purple shaft on this one. The way his approval rating is right now, and with midterm elections coming up, I can only hope enough Republican Congress-critters will think it will hurt their chances of re-election if they pass this legislation.