Supreme Court rules against Bush and against its own Chief Justice

Earlier today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Bush’s proposed military trials for Gitmo detainees was illegal under both U.S. law and international Geneva conventions.  I don’t think this comes as a surprise to many observers, given Bush’s flagrant and repeated disregard for both U.S. and international law.  What is ironic though, and a bit troubling, is that this decision overturns a lower court case that was decided by John Roberts — the man who is now the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and who (obviously) supported the idea of Bush’s illegal trials.  That is the sort of person Republicans want on America’s highest court, but is it the sort of person who should be?

Also troubling is that the people being held in Gitmo are somehow viewed by the Bush Administration as more dangerous than people already being held in U.S. prisons.  So the detainees want to kill Americans:  yes, well, lots of other people in prison have killed Americans, but we don’t imprison them without fair trials.

Also troubling is that some of the people being held in Gitmo — and whom Bush apparently wants to imprison for life without trial — are teenagers. 

Exactly where in the Bible is the moral justification for all of this?  I can’t find it.

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grumpypilgrim

Grumpypilgrim is a writer and management consultant living in Madison, WI. He has several scientific degrees, including a recent master’s degree from MIT. He has also held several professional career positions, none of which has been in a field in which he ever took a university course. Grumps is an avid cyclist and, for many years now, has traveled more annual miles by bicycle than by car…and he wishes more people (for the health of both themselves and our planet) would do the same. Grumps is an enthusiastic advocate of life-long learning, healthy living and political awareness. He is single, and provides a loving home for abused and abandoned bicycles. Grumpy’s email: grumpypilgrim(AT)@gmail(DOT).com [Erich’s note: Grumpy asked that his email be encrypted this way to deter spam. If you want to write to him, drop out the parentheticals in the above address].

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