Torture Can Be Used to Detain U.S. Enemies

[Ruffhowse]

By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Evidence gained by torture can be used by the U.S. military in deciding whether to imprison a foreigner indefinitely at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as an enemy combatant, the government concedes.


Statements produced under torture have been inadmissible in U.S. courts for about 70 years. But the U.S. military panels reviewing the detention of 550 foreigners as enemy combatants at the U.S. naval base in Cuba are allowed to use such evidence, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Brian Boyle acknowledged at a U.S. District Court hearing Thursday.


Some of the prisoners have filed lawsuits challenging their detention without charges for up to three years so far. At the hearing, Boyle urged District Judge Richard J. Leon to throw their cases out.

Attorneys for the prisoners argued that some were held solely on evidence gained by torture, which they said violated fundamental fairness and U.S. due process standards. But Boyle argued in a similar hearing Wednesday that the detainees "have no constitutional rights enforceable in this court."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041203/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/guantanamo_detainees

[teryang]

1. Where do we find lawyers like these?

When I was just a youngster interested in modern history, I used to wonder where did the Nazi's find lawyers willing to serve their evil agenda? What kind of man betrays his calling by undermining human rights? Well now we have numerous examples in our own current fascist junta.

As one distinguished trial lawyer in our state recently stated in a public denouncement of lawyers who support "laws" like the so-called "Patriot Act," - "they just don't get it."

[cavanaghjam]

2. The reasons torture is illegal

are first that we do not want our side tortured, second that it yields bad information; as Lenny Bruce said, when you're looking at the molten lead enema, you'll make up anything.

Three years locked up without even a trial. I get the feeling nobody knows who these guys are, the WH feels it has to do SOMETHING to show that it has accomplished more than would be apparent if the media focused on the aborted Afghanistan mission. Karzai is basically mayor of Kabul and our front men in the brief battles are all making opium. Onward Christian soldiers. Keep keeping your heads in the sand.

[knowbody0]

3. under this new patriot act

any one can be considered enemy combatant, disappeared, tried by tribunal court and executed....no way is this my america.

[senegal1]

5. bad bad bad and getting worse

[everclear]

4. i think the word he ment was ILLEGAL combatants

otherwise why would we try to seek special status and treatment for these POW?

soilder = enemy combatant

ILLEGAL COMBATANT = nanking


Japanese aircraft bombed south Shanghai Station Aug.28,1937.
About 200 people in the waiting room were dead or wounded by the bombing. A crying baby was left alone after the bombing. - "Life" Oct.4,1937

[bowens43]

6. Tell me again how this administration is different

then that of Hitler or Saddam.

You people who whine and moan when we compare Bush to Hitler had better wake up and smell the fucking coffee.

[ze_dscherman]

7. This is disgusting and should be fought tooth and nails

Allowing evidence gained by torture can never be allowed in a modern, democratic state. Allowing this would practically legalize torture, which will corrupt the whole legal system.

Will the U.S. still claim moral rights to complain about other countries human rights abuses after torture becomes legal?

[annabanana]

8. We have SOLDIERS in the Field!!!! (framing, framing)

Don't these shits care AT ALL about our kids!?!?!?
Anything we do to them...THEY WILL DO TO US!!

It's bad enough that the justifcations for the war are pathetic but this just tops it all...

It's just the same as if they did it to our kids themselves.

[Disturbed]

9. Nazi mentality is alive and thriving.

btw any word on the soldier that was captured months ago?

[Rush1184]

10. Hmmm... The timing of this is kinda convient....

It seems that Rumsfeld is being sued in germany for the tourture at Abu graib, and then this comes out basically legalizing it. They are just setting new precedents to make their past actions legal.

[Moderator]

11. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1040144