What should the new Democratic majority in Congress do about Gitmo, legalized torture, and the Military Commissions Act (which suspended habeas corpus)?
So far I haven't heard anything from the new Democratic majority in Congress about their plan for Gitmo, legalized torture, and the Military Commissions Act. The Guantanamo Bay prison camp and our torture of prisoners have been killing us in world opinion. The Military Commissions Act, which suspends habeas corpus for alien "enemy combatants" is a national disgrace and unconstitutional. The question is, what should we do about it?
The Democrats need to close the prison camp at Gitmo immediately. They also need to change the interrogation rules to get rid of all coercive techniques amounting to torture (waterboarding is the first that comes to mind). Finally, they must repeal the Military Commissions Act, which was admitted on the floor of the Senate to be unconstitutional.
However, I am afraid the Democrats will do nothing because they fear being seen as "soft on terrorism." And, Bush would likely veto any bills they pass addressing the above issues. My question to you all: how can the Democrats close Gitmo, stop the torture of prisoners, and repeal the Military Commissions Act without paying an unacceptable political price? I may be too impatient . . . but I want to know what they are going to do!
P.S. Add warrantless wiretapping to the list above --- we need our Fourth Amendment back!