Replies

Yup

Nope, the proper and constituional thing to do is exactly what was done. Squeeze every bit of information out of him regarding his fellow travelers and then try and hang him.

Of course treating him as a criminal rather than as a combatant would necessarily hamper that squeezing.

And taken to its logical conclusion for those that support treating him as a common criminal, he should have simply been released or at worst be released on bail.

Would you support that?

You have a firm grasp on the REALITY of the situation...

He will have his day in court... there was vital information being held in his brain that needed to be extracted...

Had he been allowed to "lawyer up" we would have missed a good opportunity to gain insight into the workings of our enemy. Not only that, we would have another fiasco like the one in Indonesia... with the terrorist scum laughing at the families of the victims, etc.

He'll get his laywer, he'll have his trial, and he will hopefully face the chair.

Nope, the proper and constituional thing to do is exactly what was done

Not at all. If in fact he was an "American citizen", then the Constitution is clear on what to do with him, and Mr. Bush and Mr. Ashcroft have no basis for the Ad Hoc designation of "enemy combatant", nor for military trials of US Citizens under such circumstances.

IIRC, the baffle speak a couple of years ago was that only aliens would be anointed with the "enemy combatant" label, that we were all not to worry. So, what happens? Richard Reid - an alien - ends up in a federal court and Sr. Padilla - allegedly a citizen - ends up in a Navy brig. Please. They can't even be consistent in applying their non-law. It's an ad hoc exercise of power, with no underlying Constitutional rationale.

As far as release on bail, his bail would probably be in the tens of millions, and there are plenty of suspects sitting in jails being held without bail because of the risk they present. Padilla would be going nowhere.

By the way, last time I checked, Richard Reid was tried, convicted, and currently headed for a natural lifetime in taxpayer custody. Have a little faith, pal. The criminal justice system works better than you think.