Nov 17th, 2009
Posted by Ian Thompson, Washington Legislative Office at 5:28pm	Detention, Safe Communities, Fair Sentences

Tuesday Brings Good (Yes, Good) Guantánamo News in Congress

Earlier this afternoon, the Senate voted to table (a fancy word for defeating) an amendment that was proposed by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) to the military construction appropriations bill. The Inhofe Amendment would have prohibited the Department of Defense from using any funds under the bill to modify or construct any facilities in the U.S. to hold any of the Guantánamo detainees, including those charged, tried, or convicted in regular federal courts.

The ACLU, as well as a number of coalition partners, wrote to the Senate urging the defeat of this fear-mongering amendment. Had it passed, it would have greatly impeded the ability of Attorney General Eric Holder to prosecute Guantánamo detainees in our tried-and-true federal criminal courts. Additionally, it would have put front-line law enforcement and corrections officials at needless risk by eliminating the ability to enhance security or communications at facilities holding detainees during their trials.

The defeat of the Inhofe Amendment, along with the Graham Amendment two weeks ago, represent important congressional victories for the rule of law and our Constitution.

Equally heartening was a statement signed by several prominent conservatives including Bob Barr, David Keene and Grover Norquist in which they support the closing of Guantánamo, as well as the decision to prosecute detainees in regular federal courts. They write:

Civilian federal courts are the proper forum for terrorism cases. Civilian prisons are the safe, cost effective and appropriate venue to hold persons convicted in federal courts. Over the last two decades, federal courts constituted under Article III of the U.S. Constitution have proven capable trying a wide array of terrorism cases, without sacrificing either national security or fair trail standards.

While we’ll still likely see attempts in Congress to hamper efforts to close Guantánamo and restore the rule of law by bringing detainees to trial in federal criminal court , the recent victories, as well as the ever-broadening array of voices in support, offer cause for hope.

Permalink |	Detention, Safe Communities, Fair Sentences

Tags: Close Gitmo

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2. In GOD we trust! Says:
   Nov 18th, 2009 at 8:11am

   POW's should not be tried in American court systems and those who believe they should have the right to leave this country!

3. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 18th, 2009 at 8:57am

   why in the world do they get so much justice did they give any of the 911 victim's a chance they set out that day to do what they did with no regard for the lives they took and we are to give them a trial holder is wrong and if the truth was known this is all about the hate of bush nothing else he and alot of others like dems are hurting this country and theones who put there lives one the line every day the aclu you are not out for justice not for the ones who died on 911 but for the ones who did it you should be ashame of your selfs

4. Anonymous Says:
   Nov 19th, 2009 at 11:13am

   Why does this organization lie on the website and downplay the roots and driving ideology of the organization. It is a true fabrication and whitewash of the truth and indicative of a organization based on a fraudulent , media driven Freedom first agenda. In reality it is a freedom for the chosen, not all. Remember... Roger Baldwin, the co-founder of the ACLU said: "I am for socialism, disarmament, and ultimately, for abolishing the state itself... I seek social ownership of property, the abolition of the properties class, and sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal. I don't regret being part of the communist tactic. I knew what I was doing. I was not an innocent liberal. I wanted what the communists wanted, and I traveled the United Front road to get it. Former chairman of the Communist Party USA, William Z. Foster was also an ACLU co-founder. Foster said, "The establishment of an American Soviet government will involve the confiscation of large landed estates in town and country, and also, the whole body of forests, mineral deposits, lakes, rivers, and so on."

   I wouldn't doubt that this organization is all in a huff about Lynn Stewart today. Good, I hope you fail.

5. perplexed Says:
   Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:17am

   Let's summarize all the advantages for trying the gitmo detainees in NY:

   ok...disadvantages?
   possibly thrown out of court, no miranda, and waterboarding
   over one billion in cost to house and protect
   making further martyrs out of these terrorists
   by law, if they defend themselves, the terrorists are entitled to discovery...secret info, classified info

   only a fool (eric holder) would allow this...if anyone can give me a solid reason why we should risk this foolish venture and spend this money we don't have besides the usual double speak of how we "want to show the world," etc. then please speak!!!!

6. Maggie Says:
   Nov 22nd, 2009 at 5:48pm

   A news article written by Karen Matthews, AP. 11/22/09

   "9/11 defendants want platform for views"

   "Scott Fenstermaker, the lawyer for accused terrorist Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, said the men would not deny their role in the 2001 attacks but "would explain what happened and why they did it."

   This sounds like a long, long, long and costly trial.

7. Charles Sheaff Says:
   Nov 30th, 2009 at 6:14pm

   The Guantanamo issue really addresses the fundamental policy in our country to treat people as innocent until proven guilty and give everyone a day in court. With Gauantanamo, we have chosen to treat all detainees as guilty with no chance to prove innocence, by holding them for 8 years without access to the legal system. When terror drove us to abandon our ideals, terror won a victory. Closing Guatanamo and letting the detainees have a day in court and access to legal representation is a return to our ideals and our constitution.

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