I don't think it can happen unless Dems control both House and Senate after the mid-terms. Also don't think he will get a supermajority of State Legislatures. I want him to try, though.
I think that the right wing Republicans would say that the GITMO detainees are non- combatants. (My old brain lost that word.) The "War on Terror" isn't over so we can continue to hold them.
Yes, they need to get over it and accept that military power cannot solve all problems.
Bill - You said "he was an unlawful enemy combatant who did not follow the Geneve Conventions on War." This is true, but the United Stated is committed to follow those Conventions.
IANAL, but it seems to me that the constitutional requirement that an accused be confronted with witnesses prohibits trial in absentia.
Other than being elected to office, I don't recall that the constitution gives citizens any special rights over non-citizens. These rights that Awlaqi has are the same rights that every person has.
It is problematic that Awlaqi is in a country that either has not the power or has not the will to enforce its authority. It would be nice if the US could ask Yemen to arrest Awlaqi and deliver him for trial.
@Colin: Silly me. I was thinking of morality and people being responsible for their own destiny rather than global power politics and corporate profits.
That sounds cynical and sarcastic, but I am willing to give up some future income for a world based on self-determination and respect for others.
I worry. I worry that Iraq and Afghanistan will come apart when the US leaves. If the US does not leave, there is a continuation of the aggravation caused by US presence. I would not want the US to leave until there is high likelihood that there will be a peaceful transition.
BUT, it is not up to us to make the Iraqis or the Afghans behave as we would like, it is up to them to live their lives their way. We cannot turn them into little mini-Americas. I guess we have to just let go and let them work it out themselves, warts and all.
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I don't think it can happen unless Dems control both House and Senate after the mid-terms. Also don't think he will get a supermajority of State Legislatures. I want him to try, though.
I think that the right wing Republicans would say that the GITMO detainees are non- combatants. (My old brain lost that word.) The "War on Terror" isn't over so we can continue to hold them.
Yes, they need to get over it and accept that military power cannot solve all problems.
I find Angie Pedley's My Lai comment significant. Afghanistan now reminds me of Vietnam. This is not good.
Bill - You said "he was an unlawful enemy combatant who did not follow the Geneve Conventions on War." This is true, but the United Stated is committed to follow those Conventions.
IANAL, but it seems to me that the constitutional requirement that an accused be confronted with witnesses prohibits trial in absentia.
Other than being elected to office, I don't recall that the constitution gives citizens any special rights over non-citizens. These rights that Awlaqi has are the same rights that every person has.
It is problematic that Awlaqi is in a country that either has not the power or has not the will to enforce its authority. It would be nice if the US could ask Yemen to arrest Awlaqi and deliver him for trial.
@Colin: Silly me. I was thinking of morality and people being responsible for their own destiny rather than global power politics and corporate profits.
That sounds cynical and sarcastic, but I am willing to give up some future income for a world based on self-determination and respect for others.
I worry. I worry that Iraq and Afghanistan will come apart when the US leaves. If the US does not leave, there is a continuation of the aggravation caused by US presence. I would not want the US to leave until there is high likelihood that there will be a peaceful transition.
BUT, it is not up to us to make the Iraqis or the Afghans behave as we would like, it is up to them to live their lives their way. We cannot turn them into little mini-Americas. I guess we have to just let go and let them work it out themselves, warts and all.