Below is a link to an article that ran today in newspapers all over the US about our government's decisions about Guantanamo Bay detainees. Feel free to read the article and respond with a short comment about the content and how it applies to our discussion of Constitutional principles.If you choose to respond be sure you put your name after your comments so I can recognize those who have chosen to respond. NO ANONYMOUS POSTS!
Guantanamo detainees
Mr. Thompson
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ReplyDeleteThe issue in Guantanamo Bay expresses a stuggle within both checks and balances and the seperation of powers, as there was opposing views about what should be done...Congress(legislative) opposing trying the detainees in court and so Obama(executive)had to oblige, but then there was also conflict with the Justice department (judical) about where Mohammed's trial would be held, and Obama got the decision in this case. edit:This shows how there is division of power among branches and also how they would control each other or keep the other two branches in check.
ReplyDelete-Vera Novitskaia
Hour 3 US Government
The U.S. government is currently housing several suspected terrorists in Guantanamo Bay for the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. Currently, there are long standing debates about whether or not it would be a good idea to move them into the U.S. for trials in the American Federal Court System, and others think that it would be a better idea to have their trials in the prison. I still cannot believe that they have not even been put on trial! after 9 years? The constitution clearly states that you cannot be held against your will without just cause (Habeas Corpus), and yet they are still being held in prison without having had a fair trial. That is how it relates to our class discussion, about the limits on Congress that the constitution states. That makes everything about them being held against their will without a fair trial UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Oh wait, they are prisoners of war. Now it all makes sense, and it is all justified. Isn't it?
ReplyDelete-Conner Garrett
Hour 7 US Government
I really wish this could be fictional. I think this is like a chess game that is being prolonged by the government because they don't know what to do. Whether or not they do anything or nothing at all, they're going to be critized, so it's about time to make a decision. I believe that there is good in everyone and it is possible to lift people up and turn them in the right direction if we spent our time and $$ into it rather than locking ppl up w/ bad influences. By being unfair to those in this particular prison base we are showing the world that fairness is only for those who don't get caught doing something very bad!
ReplyDelete~Krystina Yang
Hour 1
I'd like to rephrase my last sentence to: By being unfair to those in this particular prison base we are showing the world that fairness is only for those who aren't accused of doing something very bad!
ReplyDelete~Krystina Yang
Hour 1
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ReplyDeleteThe Guantanamo Bay prison holds suspected terrorists from al-Qaida-linked crimes. The main source of turmoil behind holding these criminals is that not all of them have charges that can definitely be proven. This is a large reason why the trials have continued. A report released on Monday had said that a key issue is what to do about the criminals that are either too dangerous to release, or can't try because of a lack of evidence or risk releasing national security secrets. This, unfortunately for the criminals held at Guantanamo, isn't "speedy" or "fair" as defined in the 6th Amendment. Some prisoners have actually been in the prison system since 2006. That suspect still hasn't been tried. Judicial review also hasn't been used yet because we are technically still at "war", where trials can be postponed in wartime. Lastly, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy went on to say that the process of these trials "falls short of the core constitutional values...or guaranteeing meaningful assistance of councel to the suspects," which I believe means that the government has failed to provide lawyers for the criminals held in Guantanamo, which goes against the 6th Amendment again. Overall, the events revolving around Guantanamo are still under fire from the government, who wants the trials to begin.
ReplyDeleteDylan Hardyman