Criminals or "enemy combatants?

[hedgehog]

I think labeling these or any other terrorists as "enemy combatants" gives them too much prestige. Others have been down this same road.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_protest

edited to add: The British Government has a lot to answer for regarding its actions in Northern Ireland. Still, Americans shouldn't be so quick to romanticize the Provisional IRA. It's a matter of trying to decide which one was less evil.

[Marrah_G]

1. I think there will be a nasty backlash if the gov tries to make them enemy combatants

He needs to be tried in court for all to see.

[hedgehog]

2. YES! and start by prosecuting him for manslaughter for running over his own brother!

[rdharma]

7. Yes! Like Tim McVeigh.

We're a nation of laws...... aren't we?

[DinahMoeHum]

3. "Enemy combatants" should be used for actual soldiers. . .

Not accused criminals.

Odds are, re the death certificates, the "cause of death" for the 3 bombing victims and the police officer at MIT reads Homicide. Not "act of war"

[elleng]

4. and 'enemy combattants' gives linley and other repugs 'fuel'

for using 'military tribunals,' and then guantanamo.

'Criminals' is fine, and charging him with crime of bombing, making bombs, will do just fine, imo.

[rdharma]

5. He's a US citizen. Read the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. nt

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. Yeah, the war in our rogue American province of Chechnya is a nasty one

[RC]

8. "Enemy Combatant" is a neocon term to get around a lot of well established laws and our Constitution

We attack Iraq and dismantle their military. Therefore any further resistance from Iraqi citizens would be by "enemy combatants".
An abuse of a historically defined term by the bu$h administration.