Guantanamo Ruling

Don’t you hate those activist judges? The Supreme Court, who’s recent decisions had taken a decidedly conservative bent, has ruled that the Bush Administration to try Guantanamo inmates in secret, kangaroo style courts, was unconsitutional. Well, duh! Here’s the New York Times report on the decision: Ruling Leaves Uncertainty at Guantanamo

The whole concept of Guanatanamo is an abomination. It’s very existence is an affront to everything the US supposedly stands for. So it’s encouraging that even these reactionary, backward looking justices saw through the Bush rhetoric about war, secuirty and so on to do the right thing. Their decision forces the Administration to find another way to try people held in the gulag. Up until yesterday the administration had held that they could put someone on trial in secret, not reveal the evidence that the trial was based upon, prevent the defendant having access to an attorney, and even prevent the defendant from attending their own trial. All of which was done in the name of defending freedom! Stalin would have been proud of Bush’s methods.

What’s worrying is the Bush immediately came out and said he’d try to get around the Supreme Court decision. He just won’t give up being a dictator. The sad part is that many in Congress appear to be ready to pass legislation allowing Bush to continue his evil ways. Even to the extent of withdrawing from the Geneva Conventions.

All of which shows just how far the US has slipped from the summit it once occupied. That’s the world’s loss. But is a greater losss for America: it cannot claim to be the home of the free as lon g as Bush clings to his Stalinist ways.