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NYT: The Must-Do List
(Link requires registration)The Bush administrations assault on some of the founding principles of American democracy marches onward despite the Democratic victory in the 2006 elections. The new Democratic majorities in Congress can block the sort of noxious measures that the Republican majority rubber-stamped. But preventing new assaults on civil liberties is not nearly enough. Five years of presidential overreaching and Congressional collaboration continue to exact a high toll in human lives, Americas global reputation and the architecture of democracy. Brutality toward prisoners, and the denial of their human rights, have been institutionalized; unlawful spying on Americans continues; and the courts are being closed to legal challenges of these practices. It will require forceful steps by this Congress to undo the damage. A few lawmakers are offering bills intended to do just that, but they are only a start. Taking on this task is a moral imperative that will show the world the United States can be tough on terrorism without sacrificing its humanity and the rule of law. Today were offering a list which, sadly, is hardly exhaustive of things that need to be done to reverse the unwise and lawless policies of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Many will require a rewrite of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, an atrocious measure pushed through Congress with the help of three Republican senators, Arlen Specter, Lindsey Graham and John McCain; Senator McCain lent his moral authority to improving one part of the bill and thus obscured its many other problems. Our list starts with three fundamental tasks: (I've included only the section titles here; RTWT for the whole drivel) Restore Habeas Corpus Stop Illegal Spying Ban Torture, Really Then they continue with the rest of their laundry list of WoT-crippling demands: Close the C.I.A. Prisons Account for Ghost Prisoners Ban Extraordinary Rendition Tighten the Definition of Combatant Screen Prisoners Fairly and Effectively Ban Tainted Evidence Ban Secret Evidence Better Define Classified Evidence Respect the Right to Counsel ...and end with a flourish: Beyond all these huge tasks, Congress should halt the federal governments race to classify documents to avoid public scrutiny 15.6 million in 2005, nearly double the 2001 number. It should also reverse the grievous harm this administration has done to the Freedom of Information Act by encouraging agencies to reject requests for documents whenever possible. Congress should curtail F.B.I. spying on nonviolent antiwar groups and revisit parts of the Patriot Act that allow this practice. The United States should apologize to a Canadian citizen and a German citizen, both innocent, who were kidnapped and tortured by American agents. Oh yes, and it is time to close the Guantánamo camp. It is a despicable symbol of the abuses committed by this administration (with Congresss complicity) in the name of fighting terrorism. In the event of another 9/11-style mass-casualty attack on this country, these idiots must be dealt with-- quickly-- so they don't get us all killed with their foolishness. Posted by: Dave D. 2007-03-04 |
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