The Republicans are scrambling to overturn American laws which threaten the president and others involved in violating the Geneva Conventions with prosecution of war crimes. American law is quite clear as spelled out in the War Crimes Act of 1996. “That law criminalizes violations of the Geneva Conventions governing conduct in war and threatens the death penalty if U.S.-held detainees die in custody from abusive treatment.” The SCOTUS ruled the president could not violate the law despite his assumption he was above even the Constitution, and his orders to violate the law did not negate the obligation for those who chose to do so. That means the subsequent mass violations in Iraq, in America, and in Guantánamo Bay (and, I’m sure, elsewhere) are considered war crimes under both international and American laws. It disgusts me that the answer is not to hold people accountable but instead to attempt to retroactively change the law.
But that’s not all. The draft bill put together by the White House and GOP members of Congress appears to do far more than liquidate obligations with regards to foreigners engaging us in battle (POWs, enemies of the state, enemy combatants, and a myriad of other titles). It is intentionally phrased so that it also can be applied in negation of the rights of American citizens. “U.S. citizens suspected of terror ties might be detained indefinitely and barred from access to civilian courts under legislation proposed by the Bush administration…” More specifically, “[l]egal experts said Friday that such language is dangerously broad and could authorize the military to detain indefinitely U.S. citizens who had only tenuous ties to terror networks like al Qaeda.” For instance, if you’ve ever said “al-Qa’ida” or “terrorism”… Or heard either word. No enemy is worth the dismantling of our most sacred rights and liberties and ideals. Remember, each step in the wrong direction makes the next step that much easier.
“Look, sometimes, a Pup and his Ferret just wanna cuddle.” You can’t go wrong with that photo…
New fossil spiders: Awesome! Be sure to follow the second link after the photos to see other specimen pictures. [via PZ]
This is the state of Christian tolerance, love, and peace: “If you want people to stop calling him ‘Jew boy,’ you tell him to give his heart to Jesus.” That hateful sentiment is openly supported by the school district where this legal battle is taking place, and it’s also the sentiment of most of the town. So, boycott Georgetown, Delaware for religious intolerance and a bunch of spiteful, hate-filled Christians. As for Christianity as a whole, I wish there was an easy way to destroy such an evil institution, but dismantling all religion is an even better option.
On the other side of the same coin… Shocking and encouraging all at once! Some Christians, including some evangelicals, are finally taking a stand against the church’s continuing degradation into a hate organization, its quickening loss of religious foundations, and its worsening image as a gay-bashing, war-mongering, judge-hating, partisanship-supporting, bigotry-preaching, hypocrisy-endorsing, intolerance-loving, cringe-inducing political lobby.
Two quick and excellent tidbits on the Israel/Lebanon issue. Read this one first, and then this one. That about sums up the really bad part of all of this, and why the problem may not be reparable in its current form.
If you have or had cats, this will look terribly familiar, not to mention adorable.
Jon Swift offers his wonderful take on the recent discharge of Bleu Copas, an Arabic language specialist in the Arm. He was let go on the grounds that his commanding officers violated the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy by asking him repeatedly if he was gay, and finally dischared him because they suspected he was gay — an idea they based entirely on anonymous e-mails and his admission that he once participated in community theater. Yes, apparently being involved with community theater is a sure sign that you’re gay — at least in the military. Jon offers, as usual, a humorous yet biting take on the whole incident.