Has the "T" word been used lately? It should be

[hyphenate]

I haven't seen the crime of treason being used in some of the most recent criminal cases, including al-Awlaki. Treason is a crime punishable by death--doesn't that mean that he is then considered an "enemy" and can therefore be killed in battle?

For that matter, any of the people who have in some way harmed American citizens in a war zone or in the presence of foreign nationals that are considered an enemies to the US, can be killed.

Their rights as Americans vanish when they have become traitors. And there really isn't any difference what label that is used--traitors or terrorists--the crime is still there, and self-defence on the part of the US is acceptable.

Yes, I'm against the death penalty for the most part. But I also firmly believe that a person--or a nation--must defend itself against all those who want to destroy it.

[Enrique]

1. t is for "trial" n/t

[bemildred]

2. You don't lose your rights until you are convicted of something.

The fact that that is sometimes inconvenient does not relieve us of the necessity to uphold the principle in practice.

[MADem]

5. Well, a lot of dead confederate soldiers would beg to differ! nt

[bemildred]

6. So you think they were "dead to rights"? nt

[MADem]

10. I'm betting Gen. Lee would buy that--as would Grant! nt

[MNBrewer]

3. Here's what the Constitution has to say about it, if that matters anymore.

Article 3, Section 2

"Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed."

Article 3, Section 3

"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted."

Amendment 5

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

The phrase "except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger", refers to service members, not civilians.

[Bigmack]

4. Treason....? When I read your subject line, I thought you meant the banksters. nt

[RC]

7. What gives us, U.S. the right to be dominant over all other nations?

I don't see it, apparently you do.

[Electric Monk]

11. The myth of American Exceptionalism

http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/258

Howard Zinn
March 14, 2005
Running Time: 1:32:02

About the Lecture

Americans have long embraced a notion of superiority, claims Howard Zinn. Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony described establishing “a city on a hill,” to serve the world as a beacon of liberty. So far, so good. But driving this sense of destiny, says Zinn, was an assumption of divine agency—“an association between what the government does and what God approves of.” And too frequently, continues Zinn, Americans have invoked God to expand “into someone else’s territory, occupying and dealing harshly with people who resist occupation.”

Zinn offers numerous examples of how the American government has used “divine ordination” and rationales of spreading civilization and freedom to justify its most dastardly actions: the extermination of Native Americans and takeover of their land; the annexation of Texas and war with Mexico; war against the Philippines; U.S. involvement in coups in Latin America; bloody efforts to expand U.S. influence in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The battle against Communism, often bolstered by arguments of America’s divine mission in the world, was merely a convenient excuse to maintain U.S. economic and military interests in key regions.

Today, says Zinn, we have a president, who more than any before him, claims a special relationship with God. Zinn worries about an administration that deploys Christian zealotry to justify a war against terrorism, a war that in reality seems more about establishing a new beachhead in the oil-rich Middle East. He also sees great danger in Bush’s doctrines of unilateralism and pre-emptive war, which mark a great leap away from international standards of morality.

[MisterP]

8. Star Chambers and at-will disregard for the Constitution are greater threats

than a hundred bin Ladens and a hundred thousand Awlakis
those who can't see that have no business criticizing Bush, Obama, or their permanent "state of exception"

[coalition_unwilling]

9. Translation: I support extra-judicial executions. Welcome to my Ignore list - n/t

[leftstreet]

12. Terrorists want to come here and be unemployed and forced to buy medical insurance!

unRec