(AP) U.S.: Padilla's Time in Brig Irrelevant

[Eugene]

U.S.: Padilla's Time in Brig Irrelevant


Thursday December 7, 2006 10:46 PM

By CURT ANDERSON

Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) - Federal prosecutors asked a judge Thursday to prevent Jose Padilla's
defense lawyers from questioning Defense Department officials or obtaining documents
about his treatment during 3 years in military custody as an "enemy combatant."

Defense lawyers have issued subpoenas for at least four military officials, including
a security officer and technical official at the Navy brig in Charleston, S.C., where
Padilla was held. They have also subpoenaed Maj. Gen. D.D. Thiessen, commander
of U.S. Marines forces in Japan, about treatment of other enemy combatants, according
to court documents.

The subpoenas also seek records of "special procedures and communications" related
to Padilla, as well as medical records and visitation logs.

Prosecutors said in a motion filed Thursday that the subpoenas are an improper "fishing
expedition" because Padilla's allegations of mistreatment during his time in military
custody have no bearing on the terrorism support case against him in Miami.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6265687,00.html

[aquart]

1. And the outrage continues.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. Why shouldn't the government make all these claims?

They trashed the Constitution when they took him into custody and nobody seemed too concerned.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. "but Pentagon officials and prosecutors assert that Padilla was treated humanely." Prove it.

Why not allow the subpoenas to go forth, if Padilla was treated well?

:mad: MKJ

[TexasLawyer]

4. Padilla's jailers have turned him into a "piece of furniture"

How he has been treated over the years is highly relevant.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. The greatest assault on the Constitution ever made

This is (or was) a human being. No excuses suffice for the abuse he's suffered and the deliberate blind eyes turned upon his victimization are a stain that still isn't addressed.

Darkness descents upon us all as such an outrage goes virtually unnoticed. It's like it never happened. He's a native-born U.S. citizen. There is no excuse for this.

What have we become? Where is the media? What slightest or flimsiest claim do we have to be anything other than monarchic thugs and liars?

This is an outrage against the very soul of the country, yet nobody gives a tinker's cuss.

We should hang our heads in shame.

Are the Democrats going to explore this now that they hold the reins of power?

He may suck and he may be a cur bent on the destruction of our society, but we have sunk to being as bad or worse for not having these issues aired in an open forum. This is so deeply, deeply wrong that words beggar the horror of it all.

What claim do we have as a people to "fairness" or "decency" in light of this episode?

[NYC]

6. Recommended.

[Voltaire99]

7. Torture Nation sez: Don't rush us

Look, this kind of torture takes time, people. Enough pressure already.

[donheld]

8. I feel sorrier for Mr Padilla than any American alive

And I'm totally ashamed that my country has done so wrong by him.

[boobooday]

9. In other words . . .

The constitution is irrelevant?

I guess we already knew they felt that way.