Not so fast, King George
Supreme Court rejects Guantanamo military tribunals
By James Vicini
06/29/06 “Reuters” – – In a sharp rebuke of President George W. Bush’s tactics in the war on terrorism, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down as unlawful the military tribunal system set up to try Guantanamo prisoners.
By a 5-3 vote, the nation’s highest court declared that the tribunals, which Bush created right after the September 11 attacks, violated the Geneva Conventions and U.S. military rules.
“We conclude that the military commission convened to try (Salim Ahmed) Hamdan lacks power to proceed because its structure and procedures violate” the international agreement that covers treatment of prisoners of war, as well as the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the court majority. </i>
For a more indepth look at the ruling, and what it means to the concept of Executive Priviledge, read Glenn Greenwald’s take here.
We can’t help but be heartened by this statement from Justice Stevens in the majority opinion:
Whether or not the President has independent power, absent congressional authorization, to convene military commissions, he may not disregard limitations that Congress has, in proper exercise of its own war powers, placed on his powers.
Take that, NSA.
