Completely Unnecessary

Contrary to the widely-reported statements by John McCain and others last week, the new terror bill does not correct many of the ills of President Bush’s supposed anti-terror programs. Although the bill refuses to redefine the Geneva Conventions, it’s vague language gives the administration virtual carte blanche to choose how it defines torture. It suspends the writ of habeas corpus for detainees, allowing the administration to hold prisoners indefinitely. It also allows the administration to define “enemy combatant,” meaning that if a US citizen donates to a charity that turns out to support terror, that citizen can be labeled an enemy combatant. Putting two and two together, this means that the Bush administration could, in theory, hold US citizens indefinitely without trial.

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