| U.S. justice on trial at Guantanamo |
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| By Time | |
| Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 June 2008 ) | |
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Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged co-conspirators in the Sept.11 terror attacks were to be
arraigned at Guantanamo on Thursday before a military commission, ahead
of a trial later this year. Pentagon officials like to compare the
Guantanamo process to the Nuremberg tribunals that convicted top Nazi
war criminals at the end of World War II. But critics say the Nuremberg
analogy actually highlights the shortcomings of military justice at the
U.S. Naval base.
Nuremberg is generally remembered as having been a fair and careful legal process conducted at a time when many were demanding summary execution for leading Nazis. The legality of the proceedings due to begin at Guantanamo, however — against men held in secret CIA prisons where some were tortured, before being brought to Cuba — has been challenged by critics around the world, not least by the U.S. military lawyers appointed to represent the accused. "Under these circumstances it is impossible to ethically and properly represent our clients," Navy Cpt. Prescott Prince, chief military counsel to Khalid Sheik Mohammed told TIME. "In a capital murder case involving thousands of victims, it is just unbelievable that many members of the defense team have barely been able to meet with their clients, and some not at all." Click here for complete article Accused mastermind wants death penalty | AP Who are the five suspects | PR-inside.com |
World's water needs demand attention: Annual World Water Week conference seeks ways to extend access to clean water, sanitation as world's poor try to join industrial age. | Economist
Discount grocery stores catching on in Europe: Rising food prices send shoppers searching for new ways to save money. | The Economist
South African strike shuts down gold mines, factories: Workers protest high electricity, other prices, calling on government to provide relief to the poor. | International Herald Tribune
In "do or die" moment, world trade talks collapse: The seven-year effort foundered over insistence from China and India that developing nations have flexibility to protect their farmers. American leaders rue the lost opportunity to promote free trade. | Washington Post
Russia's Putin says U.S. had hand in Georgia conflict over breakaway regions: White House officials say prime minister's claims are "not rational." | BBC
Russian, U.S. warships stage in Black Sea: Moscow sends missile cruiser, two smaller craft on "peacekeeping" duties on coast of breakaway Abkhazia region, while Americans take humanitarian aid to southern Georgia-controlled port. | Guardian
Israeli settlements not helping peace process, Rice say: U.S. secretary of state cites limited progress, tells Israelis, Palestinians that both should avoid "anything that undermines confidence between the parties." | AFP
Thai protesters call for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
to step down: Accusing Samak's government of corruption, thousands storm grounds of prime minister's office compound as police stand by. | Bloomberg
Spain's civil aviation authority defends Spanair's safety record, procedures despite criticism after fatal crash: Newspapers link crash to airline's financial problems, cost-cutting. | Forbes
Investigators look for cause of Spanair crash: McDonnell Douglas-built aircraft made second takeoff attempt before breaking apart, killing 153. | Los Angeles Times
At least 146 die in Madrid plane crash: Tourist jet bound for Canary Islands ran off runway in emergency landing; airport shuts down. | AFP
Former East St. Louisan Dawn Harper wins Olympic gold in 100-meter hurdles: 2002 graduate from East St. Louis Senior High School sails to 12.54-second finish after U.S. favorite Lolo Jones stumbles. | Chicago Tribune
The Obama campaign claims that Ed Martin's anti-Obama group violates federal election law. Election law experts say that the group may violate the law, but that federal election authorities won't do anything about it until after the election.
John McCain should resist temptation and not select Joe Lieberman as his running mate. | Robert Novak, townhall.com
Nothing like a convention to sharpen the pencils of editorial cartoonists. From the contrast between Biden and Obama to the steadfastness of Hillary Clinton suports, Mike Thompson, Scott Stantis, John Sherffius, Gary Markstein and Chris Britt have plenty to say.
Are college presidents who are proposing a national discussion of lowering the drinking age slackers or realists? Do fatality numbers so a correlation between a lower drinking age and more deaths or are other factors at play. M.W. Guzy puts the issue in perspective.
Who's the leader of the club that sues for excess use?
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