Litigation

Coming Soon: ?Ultimate? Obama-Era Detainee Policy?

By Peter Hardin

Amid the heated debate over military prosecution of terrorists versus civilian prosecution, a trial in New York City or elsewhere for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and the Obama administration’s handling of the Christmas day airliner bombing attempt suspect, sometimes the endpoint gets overlooked.

But a New York Times article offers a valuable reminder about the endpoint, tucked midway in a compelling profile of Attorney General Eric Holder:

“The coming weeks could determine the ultimate shape of Obama-era detainee policy.”

In this context, the Times article gives plenty of insight into the issues facing Holder, and the character he brings to tackling them.

Another valuable look at the big picture comes in a Washington Post article documenting a “virtual debate” between Vice President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Dick Cheney “that highlighted how little progress has been made over the past year — and across consecutive administrations — in resolving the central national security questions raised by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and their aftermath.”

You can learn more about these issues by clicking here for Gavel Grab. You can also visit Justice at Stake’s page on Civil Liberties and National Security.

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 16, 2010 (boomark / email).