Stefan's Stuff

We truly live in scary times.
From the Financial Times:

The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that José Padilla, a suspected al-Qaeda operative who US officials say was planning to carry out a terrorist attack inside the US, could be detained as an “enemy combatant” without any review by US civilian courts.

Don’t get me wrong, For all I know, José Padilla may be the Son Of Satan, but I deeply beleive that Everyone should get their day in court.

See Here: Amendment 5 – Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings

Pay attention to “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury” and “nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;“.

What blows my mind is: These are the same people who used to decry “Big” Gov’t. What ever else José Padilla may be, he’s a US citizen that has been locked up and deprived of Constitutional rights by the Gov’t without so much as a trial.

If he’s guilty, hold a trial, present evidence, convince 12 people he’s guilty and penalized him according to the Law.

We go after some foreign Governments when they do the same thing (Except Saudi Arabia and Pakistan) but we do the same thing? We live in a State where the Government can unilaterally lock up it’s citizens indefinitely?

Like I said, We truly live in scary times.

Photo originally from Reuters