Friday, August 17, 2007



An important question

Remember Jose Padilla? Arrested in Chicago in 2002, he was then detained as an "enemy combatant" in a military brig, denied access to a lawyer, and subjected to sustained psychological torture - despite the fact that he is a US citizen. Finally, after three and a half years detention without trial, Padilla was transferred to civillian jurisdiction and charged with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism. Today, he was convicted, and now faces a possible sentence of life imprisonment. This was done in open court, under ordinary law, and by a jury of his peers. So why did the Bush Administration need to violate his human rights, detain him without trial, and torture him again...?