Are these military tribunals fair and in the spirit of the American justice system? The detainee's still get alot of traditional legal rights, but the whole thing is cloaked in secrecy and the rules for evidence admission are looser than normal.

Can these people get a fair trial in secret and in front of the military? That's a good question...Hmmm.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/...0703_2047.html

Uh, I'm relived I thought they were going to try Six!
Already had all the commando stuff prepared to get him out but I guess I can relax again now that I know it's not about SoS.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights"

"only people who are not U.S. citizens can be subject to such trials."


Some are evidently more equal than others. BTW, one of the six is a British citizen.

What can I say? My goverment is anything but the model of consistency these days.

Unfortunately, The goverment, as well as some peopl,e seem to base the value of human life and rights of equality on nationality instead of a broader human spirit.

I am bit shocked that these detainees won't neccessarily be released even if they are acquitted. WTF is that all about? I have doubts concerning the military's capability to be impartial during these trials, so it probably unlikely any of these people will get acquitted in the first place.

I humbly admit this is over my head..who is "Six" and what's the "SoS".

Please forgive my ignorance! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I was referring to the famous SixOfSpades, "defender of the roleplayer", "menace of the powergamer", "inventor of the non-spoiler walkthrough"!

Aha, sounds like a person after my own heart. (metaphoricly speaking ;) )

For a second there I thought it might be sports person, I'm really bad at keeping up with sports people unless I am sitting in front of a game in progress or they are in commercials.

It's not that simple. Right to a fair trial is "inalienable" but the right to certain evidentiary rules are not. While I disagree with a lot of this tribunal system, it COULD be done in such a way as to secure basic rights without being exactly like an Article III court.

BTW, in all agency tribunals -- from the EPA to the Dept. of Labor, the rules are different for evidence, etc. than in a full-blown Article III (i.e. judiciary branch, not executive branch) court. Of course, those tribunals are justified because, in the end, an Article III court is the final review. Which may be the case here. Can they appeal??

I was wondering about that! Because another of the six is the Australian citizen David Hicks - perhaps trying to make sure the important allies don't get upset that their citizens are being held indefinitely?