Janet Reno has no right to talk about terror law
Posted on 11/21/2006 6:17:16 AM PST by Kaslin
Former Attorney General Janet Reno and seven other former Justice Department officials filed court papers Monday arguing that the Bush administration is setting a dangerous precedent by trying a suspected terrorist outside the court system.
It was the first time that Reno, attorney general in the Clinton administration, has spoken out against the administration's policies on terrorism detainees, underscoring how contentious the court fight over the nation's new military commissions law has become. Former attorneys general rarely file court papers challenging administration policy.
Suspected al-Qaida sleeper agent Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri is the only detainee being held in the United States.
The former prosecutors challenged the Justice Department's right to bring al-Marri before a military commission.
A citizen of Qatar, he was arrested in 2001 while studying in the United States. He had faced criminal charges until authorities designated him an enemy combatant and ordered him held at a naval base in South Carolina.
The Justice Department said in court papers last week that a new anti- terrorism law strips detainees such as al-Marri of the right to challenge their imprisonment in court.
"The government is essentially asserting the right to hold putative enemy combatants arrested in the United States indefinitely whenever it decides not to prosecute those people criminally _ perhaps because it would be too difficult to obtain a conviction, perhaps because a motion to suppress evidence would raise embarrassing facts about the government's conduct, or perhaps for other reasons," the former Justice Department officials said.
Some of the eight attorneys named in the document are now in private practice and represent detainees at the military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Most served under President Clinton, though the list includes former U.S. Attorneys W. Thomas Dillard and Anton R. Valukas, who served under President Reagan.
"The existing criminal justice system is more than up to the task of prosecuting and bringing to justice those who plan or attempt terrorist acts within the United States - without sacrificing any of the rights and protections that have been the hallmarks of the American legal system for more than 200 years," the attorneys wrote.
The al-Marri matter is before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., and is one of three appeals court cases that will help determine the scope of the new military commissions law. That law allows the CIA to use tough - but undefined - interrogation techniques and says detainees may not use civilian courts to challenge their imprisonment.
Human rights groups have challenged the law. The former prosecutors wrote that they worried the government would increasingly use the law to avoid criminal trials "and the rights associated with them, such as the defendant's right to counsel and the government's obligation to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."
Last weekend, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended the nation's handling of the detainees. He said they are afforded more rights than required.
"What is extraordinary, in other words, is how much - not how little - our law protects enemy combatants," he said.
Treason.
So, Janet, baking children alive -- or returning them to a murderous regime-- is not enough?
She really doesn't see herself as the abuser in these cases. In her mind those children knew what they were doing.
Janet, your name brings terror to Americans.
Not only is she evil, she's also not very smart
This can be easily solved. Have Janet visit the accused in jail for a counseling session. Hide a large knife in the room and tell them both about it.
If Janet (and her head) actually go in and come out -attached - we'll change the ruling.
Exactly
Same here.
When that baby burning b*tch and everyone responsible for the Waco fiasco is brought to justice, maybe, just maybe I'll try not to cringe when I hear her/its name.
Oh yeah, remember the storm trooper with a sub-gun reaching for Elian?
What don't they understand that he is an enemy combatant? Not somebody that came here and ran a red light while drunk. I just can't fathom how somebody is going to defend him.
Ahhhh.
Janet Reno.
Miami Dade
"Tick Tock"
Case blown.
Janet Reno is to the Criminal Justice system what the SS was to Jewish life in Europe circa 1933.
Janet Reno incinerated American citizens, and was never forced to resign. As a matter of fact she went on to become a viable candidate for the democrats as they told quaint stories about her driving her little red truck. I can't believe the American people seem to want more of that.
The Clinton Democrats are doing all they can to hide thier failed legacy.
At least they got the kid out of the US Lol
Remember the story about Reno falling off a bar stool? LOL!
We don't want more of that. Unfortunately, this smells of the Clintons in action. In the next few months, many of their stinking operatives will be heard from, inciting hatred of the opposition party.
Say, it never occurred to me before, but is there somewhere a combination zoo and nuthouse?
Wasn't there a guy rotting in jail for a long time who was accused of child molestation by Reno back in her Miami days?
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