don't think I'm not represented by my representative

[madokie]

I didn't think so, neither do I. this is the shit we're up against. :mad:
Democratic Congressman Dan Boren

Dear Mr. madokie:



Thank you for contacting me regarding the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-366) . It is always helpful for me to know the issues that are important to my fellow Oklahomans.



I understand your concern about the treatment of prisoners from the war on terror who are in the United States military's custody. Regardless of their innocence or guilt, I share your conviction that they each deserve fair and humane treatment. The United States is an example to the entire world and I believe that our military and custodial tactics should follow the highest standards.



On Tuesday, October 17, 2006, President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 into law. The law sets up a system that we can use to begin to try unlawful combatants from military detention facilities like Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . Under the new law, d etainees are entitled to a copy of the charges against them in a language they understand. All detainees are considered innocent until proven guilty, and their guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The new law also provides that each detainee will be provided with a defense lawyer, that no detainee can be forced to testify against himself, and that "a statement obtained by use of torture shall not be admissible.." While reasonable people may disagree about specific parts of the law, I hope we can agree that it represents a step in the right direction. With the Military Commissions Act of 2006, the United States can begin to show the world that a fair, open, and deliberative legal process can bring suspected terrorists to justice.



Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding this important and timely issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding this or any other issue in the future.

[Eric J in MN]

1. I'd like to read the passage of the bill which says that

"no detainee can be forced to testify against himself."

I'm extremely skeptical there is such a passage.

[LA lady]

2. Easy to find

Public Law 109-366

S.3930
Military Commissions Act of 2006 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

`(a) In General- No person shall be required to testify against himself at a proceeding of a military commission under this chapter.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:3:./temp/~c109PfHM4e:e21769:

[Eric J in MN]

3. OK, they don't have to testify against themselves at trial,

...but they can be waterboarded into confessing in private, and then have that confession used against them in the trial.

Anyway, thanks for finding what the Congressman was referring to.

[5X]

4. I got the exact same letter from him in reply to my email...

and when I replied to his reply, I got it again.