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Pinkerton on Gitmo Decision: Who Wants Lawyers as Main Weapon in War on Terror?
Fox & Friends Weekend/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 07/01/2006 5:32:14 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

July 1, 2006

When America marches off to war, do we want lawyers on the front line? OK, I can already hear the thunderous response: 'Yes! Put those tassel-loafered shysters out there as cannon fodder!" But Jim Pinkerton, conservative columnist at Newsday and TCS, was making a more profound point this morning when he and Ellen Ratner of Talk Radio News made their 'Long & Short' appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend.

The subject was the recent Supreme Court ruling that it is impermissible to subject Gitmo prisoners to military tribunals. In fairness, short-'n-liberal Ellen Ratner did stop short of suggesting they should have full US-style trials. But she predictably applauded the ruling, advocating significantly expanded due process for the detainees.

That's when long-'n-conservative Pinkerton weighed in: "It's not like we have access to evidence. What are we going to do - go to Afghanistan and find witnesses and stuff and find out if they're guilty or not?"

As Pinkerton observed earlier in the conversation:

"It was probably a mistake to ever bring them out of Aghanistan and Iraq to begin with, to take them to US soil . . . so that people like Ellen can get their hooks in them. I think we're having a test. Can we win a war with lawyers as the key force on the American side?"


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fnc; guantanamo; lawyers; pinkerton; ratner; scotus; wot
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1 posted on 07/01/2006 5:32:17 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; Miss Marple; an amused spectator; netmilsmom; Diogenesis; YaYa123; MEG33; ...

Fox & Friends Weekend/NewsBusters long-'n-short ping to Today show list.


2 posted on 07/01/2006 5:33:12 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Who Wants Lawyers as Main Weapon in War on Terror?

It's an interesting idea - what altitude can we drop them from, and what kind of penetration capability do they have??

3 posted on 07/01/2006 5:33:32 AM PDT by Tennessee_Bob ("Those who "abjure" violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
That's when long-'n-conservative Pinkerton weighed in: "It's not like we have access to evidence. What are we going to do - go to Afghanistan and find witnesses and stuff and find out if they're guilty or not?"

Don't we already have evidence on them? If we don't know that they did something then why are we holding them?

4 posted on 07/01/2006 5:36:03 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: Tennessee_Bob

LOL. I could see this one coming!


5 posted on 07/01/2006 5:37:44 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show Since 2002 So You Don't Have To.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
In fairness, short-'n-liberal Ellen Ratner did stop short of suggesting they should have full US-style trials.

The Dems just got bit by the libs on the SCOTUS. This is a classic case of be careful what you wish for because you may just get it. It'll be fun to watch them try to squirm out of this now that it's in Congress's lap.

6 posted on 07/01/2006 5:40:54 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: Non-Sequitur

Just being in a battle on the other side is enough of a threat. That's why they are called enemy combattants. Lawyers ill get you turned around every time.


7 posted on 07/01/2006 5:42:57 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: Tennessee_Bob
Think about it. A lawyers profession is to shield clients from the law. They stand up for their client. It's but a slight shift to human shields. 

/sarc

8 posted on 07/01/2006 5:44:08 AM PDT by Zon (Honesty outlives the lie, spin and deception -- It always has -- It always will.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
“All your lawyers are belong to us!” -Al Qaeda
9 posted on 07/01/2006 5:59:02 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda... what's Fonzie like?!”)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"It was probably a mistake to ever bring them out of Aghanistan and Iraq to begin with, to take them to US soil . . . so that people like Ellen can get their hooks in them...."

Check back to the postings about Gitmo when it was first announced. Many postings on FR questioned the sanity of the same. Many postings questioned why we would bring prisoners to US soil. Regrettably, the decision-makers in Washington weren't operating with full mental capacities then, apparently.

Too many times what may look good on paper is a fiasco in reality.
10 posted on 07/01/2006 6:06:25 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: DevSix

Ping :)


11 posted on 07/01/2006 6:17:25 AM PDT by GarySpFc (Jesus on Immigration, John 10:1)
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To: Non-Sequitur
Don't we already have evidence on them? If we don't know that they did something then why are we holding them?

Aw c'mon now. Just because they're trying to kill you doesn't mean they were not "bird hunting" or something.

We need to gather witnesses to say they were trying to kill you and not some hapless pheasant.

This is EXACTLY the argument a lawyer would make.

12 posted on 07/01/2006 6:35:36 AM PDT by Chuck54
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

We have tens of thousands of trials to conduct,most in abstencia.Every nazi and japanese pow held inside the borders of the United States during ww2 has been denied justice based of these rulings.They were each entitled to a fair trial,right?(sarcasm)


13 posted on 07/01/2006 6:37:39 AM PDT by INSENSITIVE GUY
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Thanks as always GLGB. You are so helpful in showing these loonies for the dumba**es they really are.


14 posted on 07/01/2006 6:41:44 AM PDT by Chuck54 ("A truly wealthy man is one who can live his life as he wishes")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

They make good cannon fodder????


15 posted on 07/01/2006 6:42:02 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kaboom"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Who Wants Lawyers as Main Weapon in War on Terror?

I do. With the warhead of your choice....

"What time is it?"
"...I dunno."
"Time...to unpimp ze country!"

[mash! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHH!!!]

16 posted on 07/01/2006 6:44:08 AM PDT by RichInOC ("AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!")
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To: Tennessee_Bob
"...what altitude can we drop them from, and what kind of penetration capability do they have??"

Excellent question!. I suggest the HANO method here. Best penetration into enemy territory for our special forces is many times achieved by the HALO (High Altitude Low Open) method, but in the case of the attorneys the HANO or High Altitude No Open method is far more desirable. In my opinion if they land head first the penetration would be in the area of 18-24 inches into the ground, depending of course on soil conditions and the weight of the projectile..err lawyer.

17 posted on 07/01/2006 6:49:27 AM PDT by Eagles Talon IV
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

The Democrats just lost the midterm elections with this latest debacle.


18 posted on 07/01/2006 7:33:35 AM PDT by Chgogal (The US Military fights for Freedom of the Press while the NYT lies about the Military and cowers...)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Did Ellen disclose her conflict of interest in this matter? Probably not. Her brother, Michael Ratner is the Vice President of the Center For Constitutional Rights, which has led the Leftist legal war against Gitmo.

http://www.humanrightsnow.org/articles/resume%20complete%20sept%2099.htm


19 posted on 07/01/2006 7:56:10 AM PDT by ConservativeMajority
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Close Gitmo and transfer the prisoners to Iraqi authority. Let the Iraqi military intern them in the most fetid prisons they can find in Iraq. Pay the Iraqis to house, feed, interrogate and beat them to pulps.

That's the ticket.

(.........I wouldn't be surprised if my solution is actually in the works already)

Leni

20 posted on 07/01/2006 8:27:56 AM PDT by MinuteGal
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