Lt Cmdr Swift On Detainee Bill: 'It Will NOT Match Constitutional Muster'

[kpete]

‘Hero of Guantanamo’ on Detainee Bill: ‘I Don’t Believe’ It Will ‘Match Constitutional Muster’

Lt. Commander Charles Swift, the lawyer who represented Guantanamo detainee Salim Hamdan in the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled President Bush’s military commissions unconstitutional and in violation of international law, appeared on C-Span yesterday to take questions from viewers. Swift has been dubbed the “hero of Guantanamo,” yet he was recently “passed over for promotion” by the Pentagon.

Swift spoke forcefully against the detainee legislation the House and Senate approved in September. “Unfortuantely,” Swift said, Congress did “exactly what Justice Kennedy told them not to do” and passed “legislation that was done in the heat of the moment.” “I don’t believe that it’s going to match constitutional muster when the courts have an opportunity to take a look at it,” Swift added.

Video and Transcript:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/10/16/swift-detainee-bill/

Read a summary of the problems with the detainee bill HERE.
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/us_law/etn/ca3/hrf-ca3-092206.html

[napi21]

1. I agree! I just hope it gets to the courts quickly to slam this admin

AGAIN!

[babylonsister]

2. I hope he's right. Maybe that's why this hasn't been signed yet? nt

[TahitiNut]

3. Every civilized nation on earth should advise their citizens to stay out

... of the United States. Their civil liberties are now at risk. Canadians and Brits, in particular, no longer have the safeguards of habeas corpus, the common heritage of the Magna Carta, when subject to unchecked and arbitrary detention by the current fascist regime in the U.S. Furthermore, every 'illegal immigrant' is subject to indefinite detention without recourse.

[tk2kewl]

4. And all who supported it should be impeached ...

for contravening their primary responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution on the U.S.

[crikkett]

5. i think it gets signed tomorrow n/t

[kpete]

6. sad, sad day