Originally Posted by sgtdmski

To steal a line or two from Riddick,

The First mistake you made was using an article by Molly Ivins, an admitted plagiarist and user of made up statistics.

The Second mistake you made was relying upon her version of what the Bill in question will allow, rather than reading it for yourself.

And your final mistake was posting it here, where you knew that it was going to be critiqued.

Once again we see a journalist using fear-mongering, hoping that the American people are too stupid to see what the Bill really means.

Ms Ivins claims,

"It leaves the president with the power to decide who is an enemy combatant."

While this is in part true, she fails mention that the bill also establishes a panel that is in place to review and ultimately answer this question before an individual is brought to trail. Hmmm a lie, or the result of basing an opinion off a journalist who has no legal training.

Intangible Child you said,

"Furthermore, if imprisoned at said whim, you have no right to challenge Him. You, a U.S. citisen, would remain imprisoned until such time as the President decided you could be released, if ever."

Have you read the Bill??? Obviously not, how can I knowingly say this, because I did bother to read the Bill and the Bill says quite plainly in black and white that the purpose

"This chapter establishes procedures governing the use of military commissions to try alien unlawful enemy combatants engaged in hostilities against the the United States for violations of the law of war and other offenses triable by military commission."

Perhaps you missed that glaring word, alien, meaning not a US Citizen. So obviously either your statement is false and a lie, or it is only the opinion of someone who didn't even bother to take the time to read the Bill before opining.

This bill prohibits the use of statements obtained by Torture, and allows the the accused the right to call witnesses, produce evidence and respond to evidence produced against them. It also establishes a method of appeal to the Appeals Court of the District of Columbia and to the Supreme Court.

Again the error being made is treating detainees as criminals. The majority of detainees are not criminals, but rather individuals that have been captured in hostilities against this country during War. Even the Geneva convention allows for these detainees to be held without trail until the ending of hostilities. Furthermore, this Bill now establishes for which crimes the individuals may be charged with and held accountable. As illegal combatants this individuals were already in violation of the Geneva conventions and as such were guilty of war crimes. These are combatants, President Bush coined the term, "Enemy Combatants", the Geneva convention called them, "Illegal Combatants". That word used by the Geneva convention, "Illegal", presupposes that the individuals are guilty of a violating the law.

How about that, it would seem that these individuals have broken the law. Hmmm, and the majority of those individuals have been released without any tribunal.

Yes you fear-monger can continue to avoid the truth, for that is the only way that your arguments will stir up enough support to win. Unfortunately, in the end, all you are supporting is a lie.

dmk