Well, what are the thoughts on this board regarding the conviction of Salim Hamdan for providing support for al-Qaeda which is NOT a war crime and not found guilty of conspiracy to attack civilians?
A) Was this decision good? Was the sentence handed out appropriate to the decision?
B) What do you make of the White House policy of continuing to detain him after his sentence is served on grounds of being an "enemy combatant"?
For a) I am a believer in some kind of trial (criminal or military tribunal). We either have evidence of wrongdoing or we don't. I think we have to accept the decision as it stands. We are a nation of laws.
For b) I don't think this is a good path for the United States to go down. If we are going to put him on trial, we do it. What this does is to undermine our legal system and will severely impair our ability to wage wars in the future with international support. We are showing massive weakness to our own American principles if we do this. We do not have a dictatorship.
What would be the best path for America to go down?
A) Was this decision good? Was the sentence handed out appropriate to the decision?
B) What do you make of the White House policy of continuing to detain him after his sentence is served on grounds of being an "enemy combatant"?
For a) I am a believer in some kind of trial (criminal or military tribunal). We either have evidence of wrongdoing or we don't. I think we have to accept the decision as it stands. We are a nation of laws.
For b) I don't think this is a good path for the United States to go down. If we are going to put him on trial, we do it. What this does is to undermine our legal system and will severely impair our ability to wage wars in the future with international support. We are showing massive weakness to our own American principles if we do this. We do not have a dictatorship.
What would be the best path for America to go down?