Excuse Me But…
Does anyone else remember this charming bit of government logic in a December 2, 2004 CNN report:
In a surprise move, [U.S. District Judge Joyce Hens] Greene greeted the government attorneys with a series of penetrating hypothetical questions to test the limits of the administration policy on designating enemy combatants.
“If a little old lady in Switzerland gave money to a charity for an Afghan orphanage, and the money was passed to al Qaeda, could she be held as an enemy combatant?” the judge asked.
Boyle indicated that might fit within the definition of enemy combatant and stressed the need to give the executive branch of government wide latitude during a time of war.
“Could a man in London who believes his cousin is a member of al Qaeda be an enemy combatant for failing to report his suspicions to authorities?” she asked.
The government attorney said he doubted officials would hold someone under that circumstance but did not say they could not do so.
The judge also pressed on where the battlefield ends in the global war on terrorism.
Boyle summed up the government’s great challenge to deal with unprecedented and complex issues. “It is like nothing we have seen before,” he concluded.
So if the government has all this power and can scoop up “little old ladies in Switzerland”, what about media personalities to put targets on specific doctors because they don’t like the procedures offered at their clinics?
Maybe the government would like to explain why people who trash SUVs are considered terrorists, but those that murder doctors aren’t.
7 comments
Well, that’s an easy one actually. 🙂
The rightwingnut murderers are no threat and are of some use to the GOP. *Terrorists* that they have no control over are a threat and make them look good. 🙂
Do I get a gold star now? 😆
I’m still waiting for them to explain why Enron was quite literally allowed to get away with murder for destroying CA’s economy and installing a new Governator.
[rq=3399,0,blog][/rq]When in Cambria…
There is too much truth in that, Kryten. The rightwing media types are trying to come up with excuses as to why they are really responsible in any way for what is going on, after all, they are just “entertainers”, as Limbaugh’s lawyers always say in response to libel suits.
Jill, everyone knows that you can’t hold corporations responsible or you’ll have a depression… oh, wait.
This attitude of corporations getting all of the rights of people, but none of the responsibilities is a bunch of crap. They should have been seized and sold off to repay the victims of their crimes. That is the only way of preventing them from continuing to commit crimes.
Time to reform Corporate charters.
[rq=4244,0,blog][/rq]When in Cambria…
Time to eliminate limited liability. Let them take the same risks as small business and see how they like it.
Shoot a few CEO’s. Maybe the others will get the message. If nothing else, it’d be good target practice. 😉 😆
I know… I’m terrible. So, shoot me! 😉 😈
That is too quick and painless. Make them live in a FEMA trailer in rural Mississippi. It’s a solidly Republican state, and they could see where their policies lead.