President Bush signed an executive order Tuesday that allows the government to try any foreign terrorism suspect in a special military commission instead of going through the usual legal channels.
How hypocritical of our government to support a process that effectively sets aside the way of life and constitutional rights we fight for when we put terrorists on trial.
The White House makes the argument that these special commissions would make it easier to protect the methods and sources of investigators, and it would enable trials to be held overseas. There may be times, White House counsel say, when a trial in America might not be safe.
Bush’s order opens the possibility that some proceedings could be held in secret. Such trials could be held in any country, including Pakistan or Afghanistan, or even on a U.S. military ship.
Supporters say there is precedent for such military panels - World War II saboteurs and Lincoln assassination plotters were tried and convicted by military trials.
But some have more disturbing reasons for supporting this order.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Vice President Dick Cheney said foreign terrorists who commit war crimes do not deserve the protection of the Constitution.
A military tribunal allows a two-thirds majority decision instead of a unanimous one, even when in the case of life sentences. Also, a jury trial would be used only for capital offenses, with the jury selected by U.S. officials.
There are consequences for committing any crime against the United States, and they should be enforced by all means. Anybody who attacks our country, especially in the vicious and calculated manner we experienced on Sept. 11, deserves swift and fierce punishment.
But if we are fighting for the rights in our Constitution we hold dear, then it does nothing but make a poor showing if we choose not to use them. It’s alarming the government will take steps to circumvent the system of checks and balances set in place with our judicial system.
It’s fortunate the measure provides the option to use a military trial, but does not require it - we hope the Bush administration will never take things that far.
