More on the Military Commissions Act 2006 (USA)
The MCA is now law in the USA.
the bill that [GW Bush] signed with such evident satisfaction has relieved the federal courts of their rights and duty to…allow prisoners to challenge their confinement under Constitutional principles.
The new law…will allow rough treatment during interrogations, so long as the President designates a practice not to be torture. But he is permitted to “interpret” international law forbidding torture to suit himself.
The government, not the courts, will now be deciding what is cruel and inhumane treatment. Only monstrous abuse, reaching the level of a war crime, such as rape, mutilation, and the like, are expressly forbidden. And prisoners will not be granted legal counsel during interrogations.
The law will allow hearsay evidence and even coerced testimony to be admitted at trial, so long as a judge deems it relevant and reliable.
So, remind me again – who’s the enemy in this “War on Terror”, this “defense of liberty”? Government directly controlling the judicial system, hearsay evidence and torture permitted, no legal counsel? Something is badly wrong in the USA. I just hope it doesn’t get that bad over here.
(From The Register.)
pax et bonum
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