US military issues new execution regulations

[Dover]

By Alan Elsner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a little-noticed move, the U.S. Army has issued new regulations governing the death penalty, raising speculation that the military might be preparing for its first execution since 1961.

"This publication is a major revision," said the document issued January 17 and signed by Sandra Riley, administrative assistant to the secretary of the Army.

"This regulation establishes responsibilities and updates policy and procedures for carrying out a sentence of death as imposed by general courts-martial or military tribunals," the document said.

There are currently six men on military death row in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. One, Dwight Loving, is believed to be the leading candidate for execution.

"We're worried these new regulations might be a sign they are getting ready for an execution," said David Elliot of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty....>

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-01-23T201034Z_01_N23314814_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARMS-LAW-DEATH.xml&rpc=22

[Journeyman]

1. A little Gibbon for the Empire. . .

To Edward Gibbon I am indebted for pointing out
that the inhabitants of a declining empire
could be lured into military service only by dread
of punishment or hope of profit, however miserable.
Obvious parallels present themselves.

--Evan S. Connell, Points for a Compass Rose (1973)

[Up2Late]

2. Oh ain't that just grand, Is this the "Culture of Life???"

Disgusting.

Here's a link to the BBC News Report, I'm going to bed: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4642006.stm>

[IndianaGreen]

3. BBC: US army changes execution rules

US army changes execution rules

By Sarah Morris
BBC News in Washington

New rules covering the death penalty in military courts suggest the US army may be preparing for its first execution since 1961.

The new rules spell out the procedures for carrying out death sentences imposed at courts martial.

There are six men on death row, all held at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

Anti-death penalty campaigners fear the new move may pave the way for the execution of Pte Dwight Loving, who was convicted of killing two taxi drivers.

The drivers were killed while Loving was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, in 1988.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4642006.stm

[UpInArms]

4. US military issues new execution regulations

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-01-24T144657Z_01_N23314814_RTRUKOC_0_US-ARMS-LAW-DEATH.xml&archived=False

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a little-noticed move, the U.S. Army has issued new regulations governing the death penalty, raising speculation that the military might be preparing for its first execution since 1961.

"This publication is a major revision," said the document issued January 17 and signed by Sandra Riley, administrative assistant to the secretary of the Army.

"This regulation establishes responsibilities and updates policy and procedures for carrying out a sentence of death as imposed by general courts-martial or military tribunals," the document said.

<snip>

The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces rejected his latest appeal last month. It is unclear what, if any, legal resources, he has left at his disposal. The execution would have to be approved by President George W. Bush to go ahead.

In the last military execution to take place, Army Pvt. John Bennett, convicted of the 1955 rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old Austrian girl, was hanged at Fort Leavenworth on April 19, 1961.

...more...

[rodeodance]

5. This will put a chill on any AWOL--or potential awol's

[formercia]

7. Rigor Mortis of a chill.

Desperate acts by desperate men.

[joefree1]

6. Got to get ready for the war with Iran

Cause if there is another war lots of recruits will be running.

[oneighty]

8. Brutality

will spread through the ranks. Why? Because it can.

To bad the civilians writing military rules do not have to live by them.

Is the Commandr in Chief subject to the UCMJ?

180

[Bridget Burke]

9. The regulations also apply to "military tribunals"

Which are the kangaroo courts set up for our prisoners in Gitmo. And elsewhere.

[hang a left]

11. That is what it is all about.

I doubt very seriously they changed the rules for the 6 death row inmates at Leavenworth. It's all about those enemy combatants.

[Voltaire99]

10. Stop the presses: Death Machine embraces death.

One gets tired of pointing it out, but this is where idolatry of empire leads.

[Moderator]

12. kick

[lovuian]

13. US army changes execution rules

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4642006.stm

New rules covering the death penalty in military courts suggest the US army may be preparing for its first execution since 1961.

The new rules spell out the procedures for carrying out death sentences imposed at courts martial.

There are six men on death row, all held at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

more...
Bush has changed lots and lots of rules...

[FloridaPat]

15. Lots of death. Incompetency and death.

[54anickel]

16. US may use Guantanamo for military executions

Guruoo posted this to another thread

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/7000/20060124/1620000002.htm&floc=NW_1-T

WASHINGTON (AFP) - New US military rules mean that executions of condemned "war on terror" detainees could be carried out at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, the US Army said.

The new rules authorize the army to set the location for executions "imposed by military courts-martial or military tribunals and authorized by the president of the United States."

"Enemy combatants could be affected by this regulation," said Sheldon Smith, a spokesman for the US Army.

Only 10 war-on-terror detainees have so far been charged and referred to special military commissions for trial, and the United States is not seeking the death penalty in any of those cases.


But the United States has not ruled out the death penalty for war-on-terror detainees, and the issue has long been a sore point for some US allies with nationals detained at Guantanamo.

more...

[cal04]

17. US army denies rule change could be used for executions

New US Army rules for executions of military prisoners do not apply to "war on terror" detainees at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, an army spokesman says. US army spokesman at the Pentagon, Paul Boyce, corrected an earlier statement by another army spokesman, Sheldon Smith, who said the revision of the army regulations on procedures for military executions could affect enemy combatants at Guantanamo. "It's speculation. Secondly, the manual deals with soldiers," Mr Boyce said. "I'm correcting it ... it's wrong."

He says army lawyers were looking into the issue, but a fuller clarification was not expected until Wednesday.
Only 10 war-on-terror detainees have so far been charged and referred to special military commissions for trial, and the United States is not seeking the death penalty in any of those cases. But the United States has not ruled out the death penalty for war-on-terror detainees, and the issue has long been a sore point for some US allies with nationals detained at Guantanamo. The army says the changes in the regulations allow executions to be conducted at locations other than Fort Leavenworth, previously the only authorised site for military executions.

Currently, seven military inmates are on death row at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. No dates have been set for their execution. The order signed January 17 by General Peter Schoomaker, the army chief of staff, says the changes are a "major revision" of the regulations, which apply to all the services, not just the army. The regulations were last revised in 1999. The last time the military executed a prisoner was April 19, 1961, when it put to death John A Bennet for rape and attempted murder. Death penalty opponents say the measure appears to be a "technical adjustment".

"I don't think there is anything imminent but eventually there might be," Richard Deiter said, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Centre in Washington. "I suspect it is aimed at the military tribunals in Guantanamo. They don't want to bring people from Guantanamo and put them on US soil," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1554775.htm

[54anickel]

19. Heh-heh, pretty strong denial there. Aside from the titles and that

one little denial line the articles are pretty much word for word. The one I posted felt the need to delve into the "details" of being put to death. :puke:

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

14. They probably have already done it at GitMo

I would not be suprised.