The Rights of Enemy Combatants

The Bush Administration today showed its true colors. For years, they have argued vehemently that the government is not bound by constitutional protections like habeas corpus, the right to a speedy trial, or even the right to know the charges that are being brought against you when it comes to enemy combatants.

Jose Padilla - an American citizen - was denied those rights for three years. He was held without being charged as an "enemy combatant."

Today, the Bush Administration showed its true colors by turning tail and running away rather than argue its position to the US Supreme Court. Today, less than a week before it had to file its answer in the US Supreme Court, the Bush Administration finally charged Padilla.

Clearly, the Bush Administration realizes that it never had a leg to stand on - so they turned tail and ran.

Now, I am the last one to argue that we should be soft on criminals - let alone terrorists, but I believe that when we allow ourselves - through our leaders - to ignore the fundamental constitutional rights that make our democracy different - in fact the fundamental rights that our forefathers fought for - we bring ourselves down to the level of the despots and the terrorists who we claim to be fighting.

Jose Padilla may be evil. He probably deserves to be severely punished for what he allegedly planned to do. But he is an American citizen and he deserves to have the rights and privileges promised him by the US Constitution.