Ruling nears on detainee's abuse charges (Padilla)

[Roland99]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/16260704.htm

WASHINGTON - A federal judge in Miami will soon make one of the most important rulings in the Bush administration's war on terrorism and decide whether to publicly explore evidence that an accused terrorist was brutally mistreated for years inside a one-man isolation cell.

The allegations involve Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen once portrayed as one of the most dangerous al-Qaida operatives arrested. Padilla's lawyers have asked U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke to set him free because of the abuse they say he suffered.

...

Padilla's lawyers also hope to shut down his case by proving that his incarceration as an "enemy combatant" at a Navy brig for more than three years without charges has left him incompetent to stand trial.

...

The judge, appointed to the bench by President Bush, has scheduled a meeting Monday with both sides, and could rule then on the torture and competency questions.

[Roland99]

1. Can't wait to see what "justice" is meted out today.

[Eugene]

2. Reuters: U.S. judge to order mental exam for Padilla

U.S. judge to order mental exam for Padilla

By Jane Sutton
55 minutes ago

MIAMI (Reuters) - A U.S. judge indicated on Monday that she would order prison
psychiatrists to evaluate whether former "enemy combatant" Jose Padilla is mentally
fit to stand trial in one of the highest-profile terrorism cases against a U.S.
citizen.

Defense attorneys have argued that 3-1/2 years of torture and solitary confinement
in a military brig had left Padilla mentally ill and unable to understand the charges
against him or assist in his defense.

Prosecutors have emphatically denied that Padilla was mistreated in any way but did
not object to his undergoing a mental exam.

"Our position is, we don't have a problem with that," said Assistant U.S. Attorney
Brian Frazier.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061218/us_nm/padilla_dc

[Roland99]

3. Well, he's obviously insane to deny being a terrorist all these years

:sarcasm:

[Solly Mack]

4. and will govt. then use his incompetence as an excuse to hold

him until he is competent? indefinitely?

The govt. drove you crazy but since you're crazy, we can't allow you back on the streets because you could be a danger now that you are crazy?

This could happen...under Bush justice.

[stubtoe]

5. Exellent article on NPR re: Padilla's detention and abuse

Charges mutated from the original dirty bomb plot, to a plot to blow up apartment buildings, to a plot to "provide material support for terrorism against Russian troops in Chechnya"

Sure looks like a railroad job to me.

Link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6682846

What country do I live in anymore?