Posted on 11/16/2001 1:09:11 PM PST by Elkiejg
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, D-Mich., said Wednesday a decision by President George W. Bush that terrorist suspects might face a military tribunal adds to questions about civil liberties.
In a Nov. 14 letter to Committee Chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., Conyers called for hearings on civil liberties, including an administration plan to monitor some defendants' communication with their lawyers, and the status of suspects detained in the government's investigations of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Conyers said Bush's Tuesday decision to establish military tribunals run by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld only adds to his concern.
"Indeed, the very purpose of the directive appears to be to skirt the usual constitutional and criminal justice rules that are the hallmark of our democratic form of government."
While Sensenbrenner did not return calls seeking comment, Conyers' request comes one day after United Press International reported that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., might soon hold hearings on the new government policy on monitoring communication between defense attorneys and their clients, and the status of what lawmakers said could be 1,000 people detained by the government. Some of those detainees have reportedly been released.
Leahy twice sent letters to Attorney General John Ashcroft on the issues on Oct. 31 and Nov. 9.
"We also have received no cooperation from the Justice Department in our effort to obtain information regarding the 1,000 plus immigrants who have been detained in connection with the terrorism investigation, as reflected in a letter that several Democratic Members transmitted to the attorney general on Oct. 31, 2001," Conyers wrote to Sensenbrenner Wednesday. "We would be remiss in our duties, however, if we did not also oversee the extent to which the Department may be abusing its authority and wrongfully targeting innocent Americans."
If your entire effort depends on one horse, you have bigger problems than you think.
Jeffords was never a Republican anyway and being a Republican nowadays doesn't mean a damn thing anyway. They have caved into or adopted most of the liberals plans.
I suppose the 'donning' of black robes, changes people instantly to some sort of 'God-Like fashion.'
People who intend harm to our citizens,and our country, like the WTC Bombing do not deserve equal Protection.
. That wouldn't bother Conyers, He's too busy making sure People like Clinton can sell the country out.
I think President Bush has got it right and we don't need any comments from the likes of Conyers and his Socialist Buddies in the Democrat party.
Decide.
That should not come at the expense of civil liberties, however. I agree with the "spirit" of Conyer's "concern" for our civil liberties. However, given his unparralled record of promoting laws designed to destroy the power of the individual, I am more than a little wary of his true motives. What is the Arab population like in his district...
I think you ought to read post 21 by Magnum44. He obviously understands the purpose and the process being implemented. I'm not sure you understand it, at least your post doesn't imply that you do. Respectfully.....GG
No, but most judges, and particularly military judges, are professionals, they are well versed in the law; they do not let shifty lawyers misguide them, and they understand the importance of the role that they fill in both administering justice, and in maintaining the public faith in the justice system through proper adminstration of justice.
But mostly, the military justice system is not backlogged with three years of case load and other delays that would make a mockery of justice to these terrorist, and in fact does make a mockery of justice in our criminal system.
Its all the media 'indoctrination' and the result of an failing education system that no longer teaches people to reason for themselves.
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