Finally, Some Sanity

In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the President does not have the power to set up military tribunals to try "enemy combatants" without normal considerations of international law and due process.

Thank god.

I'm all for fighting terrorism, but what exactly do we gain if we defeat terror (something we're unlikely to ever truly "defeat") and in the process completely obliterate the Constitution?

The Bush Administration has, since 9/11, espoused an argument that the executive has nearly limitless powers, and that, when it deems someone or something to be "terrorist", it is not bound even by fundamental rules of due process or international law. This is an unbelievably dangerous and short-sighted policy -- it relies on a subjective determination of who or what is "terrorism", and opens the door to unchecked abuse; it completely belies the long-held belief (in America, at least) that America is the world's leader in protecting human rights and freedom; it opens the door to other countries using the same logic to indefinitely detain and try American citizens; and, as alluded to, it threatens the entire framework of our Constitution's checks and balances and guarantees of individual rights.

We gain nothing if, in the process of fighting terrorism, we destroy the things that this country is supposed to stand for.

The article about the decision can be found here. Not surprisingly, Thomas, Scalia and Alito dissented. Can't wait to read their reasoning.