BBC (late Thursday): UK alarm over Guantanamo trials

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Thursday June 24 23:56 GMT (4:56 pm PDT)

UK alarm over Guantanamo trials

The planned military tribunals for terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay are unacceptable, says the British attorney general.
Four British men are still being held at the Cuban camp.
In a speech on Friday, Lord Goldsmith is to say there can be "no compromise" on certain principles and the US tribunals would not offer a fair trial.
The UK government has always voiced reservations over the trial plans. Lord Goldsmith is underlining the point.

Read more.

Tony Blair supported Bush's war on terror and will now watch the tyrant devours those whom he must protect.

[baby_bear]

1. Some of this I don't like...

Thanks for the post, Jack Rabbit. We can always count on you to bring us the Guardian articles of interest.

Here's another clip....
The attorney general says the right balance must be struck between security and individual freedoms.

He will say: "It will often be a hard balance and extraordinary times will justify it being struck in different ways.

Surely, for example, we should be prepared to accept more intrusion into our personal lives through more sharing of information between public agencies if that is needed to help detect and prevent more terrorist attacks or bring to justice those responsible?

"And ... extraordinary events will lead to derogations from the practices we observe in times of peace and tranquillity."

That sent bit of a London chill down my back. I don't know much about this guy, though. Is he Ashcroft-like?

s_m


s_m

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. I don't know much about Goldsmith

but that's mainly because the position of attorney general is not that important in Britain. It's basically being the government's lawyer, though prosecuting lawyers do report to him.

More important is the Home Secretary, who is responsible for the police and prisons, and producing new criminal law bills. The current one, David Blunkett, is particularly reactionary, for a Labour MP. He's currently trying to introduce compulsory ID cards.

At least the British politicians don't have Ashcroft's sanctimonious hypocrisy - the nearest is Blair, but he knows it's better for him if he doesn't bring religion into politics if possible.