I watched a lot of the Gonzales nomination hearing, but divided my time watching it and the senate debate over election reform on Thursday, so I may have missed this: did any senator question Alberto Gonzales about Bush's proposal, floated last week and discussed in this
diary, for life sentences for
suspected terrorists?
Here's why I'm asking: while we had an excellent discussion about the legalities of such an outrageous proposal, that discussion mainly focused on the US constitution, a mention of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and even included references to the Magna Carta. Even the senators who raised
opposition to such a proposal relied on the constitutional argument.
However, in another diary discussion about Gonzales and torture, when Meter Blades posted the Geneva Conventions sections relevant to torture, I had one of those Oprah "light bulb moments".
Take a look at this section:
Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.
To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:
d) The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples. ...
It suddenly struck me that, from what I know of the hearings - and please correct me if I'm wrong - the connection between Gonzales and this newest Bush proposal for life sentences was not made.
Why is that important? Af far as I'm concerned, as apologetic and evasive as Gonzales tried to be about his role in the torture memo, he is still Bush's legal counsel. If he floated some legal brief about these life sentences, he has once again shown his disdain for the Geneva Conventions.
This truly concerns me and I believe it should definitely be pushed to the forefront as yet another example of Gonzales's attempt to skirt international law.
What do you think?