Comments on: Senate Passes Terror Detainee Bill

Endorses President Bush's Plan To Create Military Commissions, 65-34

[ronniehm]

blvkite, I'm not sure I would call it an effort. I know the laws regarding hearsay, and I'm pretty sure every person who has a beard is not in danger of being called an enemy combatant. So I pointed it out to people who think otherwise. What's that's got to do with defending the bill? It's just reality. Use it as a defense or an attack as you see fit. I don't care as long as it's based on the facts and not some ridiculous paranoia. I guess my only qualm with the bill is that it's become necessary to legislate the rights of terrorists because of the accusations of terrorists. That seems a little weird to me.

[erwilso]

You don't have to worry about the end of habeas corpus if your a W.A.S.P ! God help if your driving
while black. Wecome to the new u.s.a. powered by
FASCISM!!!

[bivkite]

Ronnie, I'm interested to know what, if any, qualms you have with this new bill. I just find it interesting that you're putting so much effort into defending it by trying to knock down other people's arguments against it.

[ronniehm]

I'm not even aware that this bill has anything to do with hearsay, so I'm not really sure your comment applies anyway.

[ronniehm]

There have always been many exceptions to the "rule" about not using hearsay as evidence. I think your perception comes from television court dramas. It's false.

[bivkite]

"Naturally, there will always be a few crackpots who think this is how we locate enemy combatants. The rest of us are aware that our soldiers aren't that stupid."

You know, all bias aside, apparently it is now written law that courts can use "hearsay" (secondhand testimony) as evidence. This obviously sounds like a way to make it hard for people (even US residents) who are making it hard for the anti-terrorism movement. So, it doesn't sound like our government particularly cares where it gets its facts or not - just that it has the ability to come out on top. Also, our soldiers are not stupid at all. I, even though I look down upon today's actions and the war, respect our soldiers and I hope they come out on top. I think, however, that our American soldiers are being used as pawns in a political war of much more importance and of more consequence than this "war on terror."

On a side note, we as Americans have it easy. We got bombed one time a few years ago and yes it was tragic, but there are people especially in the east who face fear and tragedy everyday. And here we are acting as if the "war on terror" has come to the doorstep of the US.... Far from it....

[ronniehm]

Actually, most of them are detained by our soldiers during raids and military battles.

Then they say we tortured them.

[jumkey]

Actually RonnieHM, apparently how we locate "enemy combatants" is we pay for false information from unreliable sources which we then use to incarcerate innocent people.

Then we torture them.

[ronniehm]

"I will make sure that I keep clean shaven, un-tanned, do not donate money to any organization, do not open my home to anyone that does not look like me, never make calls over seas, and always refer to a group of people as Ya'll with the hope I will never be considered an enemy combatant. "

Naturally, there will always be a few crackpots who think this is how we locate enemy combatants. The rest of us are aware that our soldiers aren't that stupid.

[mwe3wm]

I want to thank CBS for this forum.

I wonder how President Bush will interpret this law with his signing statement. I am sure he will say this is a good suggestion, but he reserves the right to hold anyone he deems an enemy combatant as long as necessary.

I will make sure that I keep clean shaven, un-tanned, do not donate money to any organization, do not open my home to anyone that does not look like me, never make calls over seas, and always refer to a group of people as Ya'll with the hope I will never be considered an enemy combatant.

The Republican party has a great opportunity to keep this momentum going and allow President Bush a third term. If they can write this into law and expect to get away with it, then changing The Constitution will be a breeze.

Michael Edwards
Texas