Sunday, February 22, 2009

President Obama's Nuanced View on Detainee Rights

In a story that has been largely ignored by the MSM, the Obama administration has showed just how nuanced their view of detainee rights is.

Detainees being held at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan cannot use US courts to challenge their detention, the US says.

The justice department ruled that some 600 so-called enemy combatants at Bagram have no constitutional rights.

Most have been arrested in Afghanistan on suspicion of waging a terrorist war against the US
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As the article goes on to say, this move has disappointed the true believers like Human Rights Watch. What this ruling means is that those in GITMO will likely have more rights than those in Bagram.

To put this in perspective, what this means is that those responsible for 9/11, like Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, will have more rights than those that have fought on the battlefield of Afghanistan against our troops.

The Obama administration will get away with this "nuanced" position only until they make their plans for GITMO public. In reality, those at GITMO are the most dangerous terrorists in the world. Like those at Bagram, they wear no uniforms and represent no country. Unlike many at Bagram, they commit acts of war that specifically target civilians.

In fact, of the two groups, it is those at Bagram that deserve rights more than those at GITMO (that's of course all relative). Yet, according to the Obama administration, it will be those at GITMO that will get far more protections.

Well, that is likely to only happen until GITMO plans are finalized. Such a dual stance would never pass any logical or legal mustard. Once the Obama administration makes their GITMO plans public, you can bet that lawyers representing those at Bagram will demand their clients get the same protections. It will be difficult for the Obama administration to defend the dichotomy they have created. You can bet that those at Bagram will soon enough get the same protections as those currently at GITMO. That will not only be embarrassing for the Obama administration but frankly dangerous for Americans.

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