As i was doing my usual morning web rounds, i noticed this on the DemocracyNow website -
"Attorney General Michael Mukasey has called on Congress to reaffirm the right of the President to indefinitely detain so-called enemy combatants by declaring an official war against al-Qaeda. Mukasey’s request came just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled prisoners at Guantanamo can challenge their imprisonment in US courts. The Center For Constitutional Rights accused Mukasey of trying to sidestep the court ruling. The American Civil Liberties Union said Mukasey’s proposal would subvert the right of habeas corpus and represent an enormous executive branch power grab. Caroline Fredrickson of the ACLU said, “Mukasey is asking Congress to expand and extend the war on terror forever. Anyone that this president or the next one declares to be a terrorist could then be held indefinitely without a trial.”
I truly hope that congress would not be so stupid as to allow the administration any more fodder for its illegal wars. However, i understand recently that congress has lost some of it's bite when it comes to the President. On FISA, they relented. On Iraq, they continue to throw billions at a war that has no end. So i don't hold out much hope that congress will be able to stand up to Mukasey on this issue. For me, the implications of Mukasey's request for an official war declaration against Al-Queda are as follows :
- It will give the administration a free pass to prosecute all 'illegal combatants' under the new legislation. Because, if there is even a hint of an Al-Queda link, they can be then prosecuted for war crimes. I'm especially thinking of the case against Omar Khadr. The Canadian boy who is accused of killing an American soldier. He was 15 when taken to Guantanamo. He's now 21 and his entire family has been linked to Al-Queda. If a war declaration is passed by congress, this kid could be prosecuted under the full extent of the law (probably the death penalty) whether he actually committed the original crime or not.
- Look at all the countries which have been linked to Al-Queda. IF a war against Al-Queda is declared, there will be the opportunity for those in power to go into any country which is suspected of being a hideout for Al-Queda remnants. Countries from Indonesia to Malaysia to Somalia could be targeted for further acts of war.
It appears the administration are trying a few new tricks after the slap in the face they received from the Supreme Court. Lets bring these kind Bush intiatives to the public attention, before they have chance go gain any traction. I hope congress is smarter than they were on FISA, when this little piece of paper arrives at their crumbling desk.