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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DMaA who wrote (205567)	11/29/2001 12:12:22 PM
From: jlallen	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

Tribunals..... www.mediaresearch.org ABC followed up its concern about the Northern Alliance’s human rights record with a look at how people in other nations and some U.S. Senators are upset by how the Bush administration is abusing civil rights by proposing military trials for captured terrorists, though anchor Peter Jennings characterized those to be put on trial as "civilians." Jennings insisted: "Human rights organizations also object. They point out that when the U.S. criticizes the human rights records of other countries, those countries get a black mark if they try civilians in military courts." Jennings was setting up a story by Pierre Thomas which devoted more time to opponents than supporters of the Bush policy as he noted that "at a Senate hearing...the Bush administration’s anti-terror campaign came under fire from Senators frustrated about the policy to try suspects in secret military tribunals." Jennings introduced the November 28 World News Tonight piece: "At the White House today, President Bush thanked the visiting Spanish president for what Spain has done in the campaign against terrorism. Eight men suspected of belonging to al-Qaeda have been arrested there. There could be a problem. Spanish law forbids their extradition if they will face military tribunals here. Other nations have similar objections. Human rights organizations also object. They point out that when the U.S. criticizes the human rights records of other countries, those countries get a black mark if they try civilians in military courts. On Capitol Hill today, this was an issue at a hearing with Justice Department officials." Pierre Thomas began, as transcribed by MRC analyst Brad Wilmouth: "Peter, that’s right. It’s an issue for some members of Congress who are deeply concerned about the Bush administration’s anti-terrorism policies. At a Senate hearing today, the Bush administration’s anti-terror campaign came under fire from senators frustrated about the policy to try suspects in secret military tribunals." Patrick Leahy, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman: "At no time during those discussions–and there were a lot of them with you, with the President, with the Attorney General. At not time was the question of military commissions brought up." Thomas: "And there was intense debate about whether military tribunals are appropriate for prosecuting terrorists." William Barr, former Attorney General: "If he is bearing arms against the United States and waging war against the United States, he gets no rights under the Constitution." Professor Neal Katyal, Georgetown University Law Center: "Our constitutional design can’t leave these choices to one man however well-intentioned and wise he may be. We don’t live in a monarchy." Thomas: "Administration officials say in times of war, extraordinary measures are needed." Michael Chertoff, Assistant Attorney General: "Are we being aggressive and hard-nosed? You bet. But let me emphasize that every step that we have taken satisfies the Constitution and federal law." Thomas: "Still, the administration was criticized for plans to monitor conversations between suspects and their attorneys and for the detention of hundreds of foreign nationals without naming them." Senator Russell Feingold (D-WS): "I continue to be deeply troubled by your refusal to provide a full accounting of everyone who has been detained and why." Thomas concluded: "The Senators want more answers, and next week the Attorney General himself will be on the same congressional hot seat." Immediately after the Thomas piece aired, however, Jennings had to concede that the concern of ABC News and the Senators does not match that of the public: "An ABC News/Washington Post poll today finds that most Americans support the various law enforcement measures the government is taking in the campaign against terrorism: 59 percent are in favor of military tribunals and, 86 percent say the government’s detention of hundreds of people is justified."