New Senate bill would restore habeas corpus and end torture

In a major press conference that will take place on Tuesday, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) will unveil legislation that restores habeas corpus and outlaws torture -- an obvious attempt to take the first step in renewing our global credibility in the post-9/11 era:

Tuesday, February 12, 2007, U.S. Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and RobertMenendez (D-NJ) will hold a press conference to discuss the Effective Terrorists Prosecution Actwhich will restore habeus corpus rights, ban torture and uphold theGeneva Conventions. The senators, both members of the Foreign RelationsCommittee, will discuss the need for these protections in the fightagainst terrorism.

Here are the facts:

• As of 2006, only 8% of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay have been labeled "al Qaeda fighters."
• 12 detainee deaths have led to the punishment of US personnel. 
• As of two months ago, there have been 775 detainees held at Guantanamo Bay.  After five years, no detainee has been convicted of a criminal offense.

The bill being unveiled by Dodd and Menendez says that you either charge the terrorists and keep them locked up, or you don't charge them.  You cannot hold them indefinitely without charges.  It is difficult to be a world leader without at least respecting the overwhelming global consensus on a number of issues -- including the consensus that torture is a crime.

Comments

[Comrade O'Brien]

Attention Comrades,
We're not senators, but we have our own video regarding the loss of Habeas Corpus.
See it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOq5yHDkQgY
Regards,
O'Brien