June 16, 2005

Daily Kos: Gitmo a Violation of US Constitution

That's right, folks...from the horse's...er, donkey's mouth:

The hell with our Constitution:

[...]

The Wingers are freakin' out about Durbin right now, trying to shut his efforts to speak the truth. But if they really wanted to protect the soldiers (six
more who have been killed today), the way to do it is to stand for basic democratic principles and ideals.

Such as the one that dictators and tyrants use torture, democracies do not.

It's true that the Sixth Amendment to our Constitution guarantees the following:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

But then take a look at the Fourteenth Amendment:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

And let's not forget the Fifth Amendment:

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

The Constitution and its Amendments were written with U.S. citizens in mind...not citizens of other nations who seek to destroy us.

Sorry, Kos.

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