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President Bush is planning to use military tribunals to deal with suspected terrorist. He envisions a tribunal made up of a military judge and jury that are appointed by Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. These trials will be secret, and conviction or acquittal will be on a two-thirds vote. Punishment, including death, will be swift. There is no appeal process.
The President also delegates to himself the power to determine who gets sent to the military tribunal process. We elected President Bush and by all appearances he seems to be an honest, compassionate, God fearing man. He appointed Secretary Rumsfeld to his current position, and all military personnel report to Secretary Rumsfeld.
Despite his apparent integrity, most people would object if President Bush decided to skip the tribunal, and simply dictate who gets shot at dawn. After all, Rumsfeld and the military take orders from the President, and he is a good guy. What made this country great and unique are property rights, checks and balances, and laws that defend the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. One man deciding who lives and dies sounds like tyranny.
Congressman Barr says the President is wrong. The President’s proposal is not very far removed from a one-man dictator ordering the execution of his enemies.
In a statement released November 29th, the Congressman says the bottom line is very clear. “Catch a terrorist abroad and read him his last rites; catch one here at home, read him his rights, convict him in a court of law, and sentence him to the maximum possible, including death.” I hope the President is listening.
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