Court Lets Government Keep Sept. 11 Detainees' Names Secret

[pinto]

Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- The Bush administration can continue withholding the names of more than 750 people arrested following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by civil liberties groups.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations said the ``unprecedented secrecy'' harmed efforts to learn whether the arrests were justified or the detainees were mistreated. A federal appeals court upheld the government's argument that releasing the names would interfere with the terrorism investigation.


http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a2ojYNs_zynQ&refer=home

[DuctapeFatwa]

1. this is the same body that appointed bush

I would not expect them to rule against his decrees.

[aquart]

2. NOT good.

This year, them.

Next year, us.

[Say_What]

3. Part of Patriot Act II was signed into Law by Bush in December

When? On the day of Saddam's capture.

<clips>

Bush signs parts of Patriot Act II into law — stealthily

On December 13, when U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein, President George W. Bush not only celebrated with his national security team, but also pulled out his pen and signed into law a bill that grants the FBI sweeping new powers. A White House spokesperson explained the curious timing of the signing - on a Saturday - as "the President signs bills seven days a week." But the last time Bush signed a bill into law on a Saturday happened more than a year ago - on a spending bill that the President needed to sign, to prevent shuttng down the federal government the following Monday.

By signing the bill on the day of Hussein's capture, Bush effectively consigned a dramatic expansion of the USA Patriot Act to a mere footnote. Consequently, while most Americans watched as Hussein was probed for head lice, few were aware that the FBI had just obtained the power to probe their financial records, even if the feds don't suspect their involvement in crime or terrorism.

By signing the bill on the day of Hussein's capture, Bush effectively consigned a dramatic expansion of the USA Patriot Act to a mere footnote. The Bush Administration and its Congressional allies tucked away these new executive powers in the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, a legislative behemoth that funds all the intelligence activities of the federal government. The Act included a simple, yet insidious, redefinition of "financial institution," which previously referred to banks, but now includes stockbrokers, car dealerships, casinos, credit card companies, insurance agencies, jewelers, airlines, the U.S. Post Office, and any other business "whose cash transactions have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory matters."

Congress passed the legislation around Thanksgiving. Except for U.S. Representative Charlie Gonzalez, all San Antonio's House members voted for the act. The Senate passed it with a voice vote to avoid individual accountability. While broadening the definition of "financial institution," the Bush administration is ramping up provisions within the 2001 USA Patriot Act, which granted the FBI the authority to obtain client records from banks by merely requesting the records in a "National Security Letter." To get the records, the FBI doesn't have to appear before a judge, nor demonstrate "probable cause" - reason to believe that the targeted client is involved in criminal or terrorist activity. Moreover, the National Security Letters are attached with a gag order, preventing any financial institution from informing its clients that their records have been surrendered to the FBI. If a financial institution breaches the gag order, it faces criminal penalties. And finally, the FBI will no longer be required to report to Congress how often they have used the National Security Letters.

http://sierratimes.com/03/12/29/ar_patriotact.htm

[hang a left]

4. They are probably not going to hear this case

because of the other two that they accepted and are supposed to rule on by April. I am withholding my judgement till then.

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. "continue withholding the names of more than 750 people arrested "

.
.
. and how does this match up with the National Anthem ?

"Land of the Free ? "

heck, they ain't free, they ain't even "acknowleged", let alone represented by counsel

I've been watching too much Murikkan TV I guess -

Got this silly phrase "innocent until proven guilty"

and other silly phrases like

rights to representation

rights to a speedy trial

rights to face their accuser, etc.

oh

- ok

- I get it

- the BFEE just took ONE word outta the Constitution

rights

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. kick because your name will be secret when you are disappeared