Today, in Congress, Bush signed a new bill on terror prosecution. This bill will allow the government to be able to interrogate terrorists in TOUGH, UNSPECIFIED ways - translation: Torture.
This bill also will allow the government to be able to arrest anyone they believe is connected with terrorism, and punish them without a fair trial. Habeus Corpus has officially been suspended in Washington if you are "linked to terrorism." One can even be put to death for a link to terrorism, with no trial to be proven guilty or not guilty.
Bush will be celebrating tonight, no doubt waving mission accomplished signs around the oval office: they have finally won the fight against a natural right guaranteed to us American citizens by the Bill of Rights.
Let's look at Amendment V, in the Bill of Rights:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
As guaranteed in this amendment, no American citizen can be arrested without a fair trial, the due process of law, unless they are serving in the military at the time.
Amendments VI and VII all concern the details of the due process of law as well. That is three amendments, three amendments which have been dismantled by the Bush administration.
Also, take note of Amendment VII:
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Nor cruel and unusual punishment. And the new bill allows CIA to use "tough, unspecified" interrogation methods.
In signing this bill, Bush has taken away 4 of the 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights. And Congress has let him do it. How does America elect these men?! How can this happen?
The law was signed "in memory of the victims of September 11th." And as Bush said that morning he signed it, "It is a rare occasion when a president can sign a bill he knows will save American live. I have that privelege this morning."
Does anyone see the deception in this? Bush can do any kind of unamerican act he wants in signing a new bill that dissembles the Bill of Rights as we know it, but by saying these optomistic words, he can get away with it.
What happened the morals of our country? Does anyone see the truth? We must act. We must do something to slow down the loss of our rights. I can't vote yet, but if I could, I would definetly vote democrat in the upcoming elections. Even if you do not support the individual, we must overturn the Republic dominance in Congress. These congressmen are Bush's yes-men, and we must put in people who will think for themselves.
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So now we're resorting to this primitive technique...wonderful.
Isn't this the legislation that was a compromise between McCain and the White House? Being that McCain is anti-torture, that should ease your concerns.
By the way, as I understand it, those who practice coercive interrogation know how to use it because as part of their training, it is used on them! So at least I don't think any permanent damage is ever done.
*sigh* Well, knowing the way things have been going since Bush was re-elected, I'm not surprised.
It is horrible and tragic. I'm becoming numb to this kind of violation though after the events of September 12, 2006, which you can read about on my blog (here: http://www.progressiveu.org/190000-unconstitutional-raid-on-va-farm-79-animals-massacred ).
I will have to look up the bill and see exactly what the wording is, but if it's as bad as you say, and I have little doubt that it is, I think when I go to Iceland for grad school I won't be coming back to the US in a hurry, which is sad because I really love America. Expatriate adventure time, anyone?
RaeSofSunshine
facere quod in se est
I read an article about this a couple of days ago, and I couldn't believe it then, and I still can't believe it now, considering what you pointed out in the Bill of Rights.
I was always aware of the "rumors" that the CIA had intense questioning methods - torture, as you may say- but they were not allowed to do them on US soil. It does make me wonder what kind of country, what kind of world, we're coming to when things such as this will become the new norm.
Very intriguing blog very , very interesting.