Tuesday, November 09, 2004



"Innocent until proven guilty" - even for terrorists

While the American people have voted for torture and madness, their courts at least seem to have retained some regard for American values. A federal court has halted the military commission "trial" of a suspected terrorist at Guantanamo until the accused has had a chance to have his status determined by an independent and impartial tribunal; it seems that trying someone before a kangaroo court without having actually proved that they are an "enemy combatant" (rather than a prisoner of war or ordinary criminal) violates the presumption of innocence. Who'd have thunk it?

Needless to say, the Department of Justice is appealing. I guess "innocent until proven guilty" is something else Americans voted against last week.

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