The Great Writ

Written by Matthew Warlick

October 11, 2006

In the wake of the ever-unfolding Foley page scandal most people missed a little piece of legislation passed though Congress last week called the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

I’ll let MSNBC’s Keith Olberman give you the quick breakdown.

Habeas Corpus is Latin for “you should have the body”.

It’s the Great Writ, giving you and everyone you know the right to challenge your accuser, in a court of law, with access to the evidence presented against you. It predates our own constitution, and has now been effectively neutered by our new Unitary Executive.

And here’s the problem; depending on how he words his signing statement, this could virtually wipe out America’s right to trial by jury. The definition of enemy combatant has been ever-so-slightly reworded to include pretty much anyone the president wants.

Don’t think it can happen to an American? Ask Jose Padilla.

And the fact remains that people like myself could easily be misconstrued as giving aid or comfort to supporters of terrorism, as I try to have sympathy for all sides. It’s called compassion, and it’ something the leaders of this country lack.

The fact is becoming increasingly clear who this administration considers the enemy. It simply reaffirms my beliefs about 9-11, and the supposed existence of the Global Organization known as Al-Qaeda.

It’s all about keeping you afraid, so you capitulate.

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