Iraqi attorneys urge GOP to change detainee policy

[rodeodance]

Source: the hill



Iraqi attorneys urge GOP to change detainee policy
By Alexander Bolton
November 15, 2007

The president of the Iraqi bar association hand-delivered a letter to House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Senate Judiciary Committee ranking Republican Arlen Specter (Pa.) Wednesday calling for better treatment of detainees in Iraq and criticizing the U.S. government for not doing enough to build Iraq’s legal system.


Aswad al-Minshidi and a group of prominent Iraqi lawyers have sent the same letter to President Bush. On Tuesday, they shared their concerns in a private meeting with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. They also met with Emmet Flood, special counsel to the president.



The lawyers are primarily concerned about the length of time — ranging from three months to two years — Iraqis rounded up in broad security sweeps must wait behind bars before seeing authorities with power to adjudicate their cases, said a State Department source familiar with their views. Most of the suspects rounded up on suspicion of having ties to insurgents are let go, but they often have to wait months to trickle through the legal process. In many cases, their families have little idea of what happened to them.


“We all have an interest in justice and as American lawyers tell us, justice delayed is justice denied,” wrote al-Minshidi, the Shiite president of the bar association. “Moreover, a people’s respect for the rule of law, which is the keystone of a lawful society, is also affected by the mere appearance of injustice.





Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/iraqi-attorneys-urge-gop--to-change-detainee-policy-2007-11-15.html

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umm. so the GOP is in charge??

[lisa58]

1. I guess he knows the veto stamp is out...

...and will be out for anything the democrats get passed in Congress. Maybe he's trying make it "veto-proof".

[DCKit]

2. From their POV, the pResident is still in charge....

You have to admit that not much has changed since last November. Too many Corpricrats in charge.

[Toots]

3. I guess from all appearances the GOP still controls the Congress

:shrug:

[Supersedeas]

4. shock the conscience -- Iraqis are exercising the right to be ignored by the GOP