Friday, September 09, 2005

Padilla Can Be Held

From Reuters:

A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that U.S. President George W. Bush has the power to detain Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen who has been held for more than three years as a suspected enemy combatant without any charges being brought against him.

Everything I've read indicates Padilla is a bad guy who should be locked up for a long, long time. But I can't help but get a queasy feeling when a U.S. citizen can be held indefinitely without trial or indeed, without charges being filed. Why must he be held this way, and doesn't it raise serious questions that need to be addressed immediately by Congress?

How is it not most disturbing that a government can hold its citizens without charge? It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the perceived threat in the future may not be so obvious and genuine as a bomb, but instead might be some rhetoric or organizing technologies.

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