An Empty "Victory"

"...Garden-variety criminals are individuals who commit crimes that are not usually what one would consider "war crimes." They receive trials in civilian courts with every procedural protection that our Constitution has to offer.

Enemy combatants fit somewhere in between. And our country has a long history of resolving such cases through the use of military commissions.

George Washington was the first American leader to use them. As commander in chief of the Continental Army, he convened a "Board of General Officers" to try British Maj. John Andre for spying. In 1847, in the context of the Mexican-American War, Gen. Winfield Scott established "councils of war" to try offenses against the laws of war. The use of military commissions continued in the Civil War for the trying of those accused of war crimes.

The most famous case, however, was the use of a military commission to try the eight Nazi saboteurs who traveled in two groups of four to the United States via German submarines. One group landed on Long Island, the other group in Florida. They brought with them explosives, incendiary and timing devices. They were tried and convicted by a military commission that provided them only some of the procedural protections enjoyed by defendants in civilian courts.

Six were executed, and the remaining two had their death sentences commuted."
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Since the liberals cannot declare themselves to have been victorious, they turn to the media to "translate" such events as the recent Supreme Court decision regarding Guantanamo detainees as proof of a triumph that does not exist. All the court did was to tell the President to seek specific authority from Congress to try islamic terrorists for crimes against America, and Congress has so far obliged by responding that such authority will be soon forthcoming.

This is a good thing, as it allows us to see for ourselves precisely which of our elected representatives wish to uphold the long standing American policy of dealing harshly with saboteurs, and those who do not. It puts the leftwing in a precarious and ill-timed position of showing their cards before the dealing is done...this IS after all an election year and standing up FOR terrorism is not something a liberal wishes to do when his or her job is on the line. For some, it is of little consequence, as the Pelosi's and the Kennedy's and the Kerry's are assured of a continuing dip in the public trough for as long as they so desire because their constituents applaud such anti-American activities.

But a love of terrorism and hatred for America is not a nationwide affectation, and the end result will be the maintaining of the liberal party as a minority one.

Just where we want them.

Dissent is obligatory in any Democracy. Abject stupidity is not.