(no subject)

[kalibex]

"...George W. Bush is now able to designate as an "enemy combatant" anyone who has "purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States."

Consider that language a moment. "Purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States" is in the eye of the beholder, and this administration has proven itself to be astonishingly impatient with criticism of any kind. The broad powers given to Bush by this legislation allow him to capture, indefinitely detain, and refuse a hearing to any American citizen who speaks out against Iraq or any other part of the so-called "War on Terror."

If you write a letter to the editor attacking Bush, you could be deemed as purposefully and materially supporting hostilities against the United States. If you organize or join a public demonstration against Iraq, or against the administration, the same designation could befall you. One dark-comedy aspect of the legislation is that senators or House members who publicly disagree with Bush, criticize him, or organize investigations into his dealings could be placed under the same designation. In effect, Congress just gave Bush the power to lock them up.

By writing this essay, I could be deemed an "enemy combatant." It's that simple, and very soon, it will be the law. I always laughed when people told me to be careful. I'm not laughing anymore."

--William R. Pitt

Comments

I've always felt that...

[taewakan.livejournal.com]

the whole contempt of court idea was exactly the same thing.

Murderers get out in an average of eight years, but a journalist who refuses to reveal a source can be held indefinitely.

And... I have a bad feeling about this.

[kiri-l.livejournal.com]

Hi.. borriwing this fro reposting..
and I'm also sniking your icon.

[ianmcin.livejournal.com]

The really worrying thing is that "enemy combatant" is actually defined as anyone who's "purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States or its co-belligerents, which makes it all the broader and far-reaching.