In unhappy news today
Posted By Sika on October 17, 2006
Mohamad Munaf is an American, Romanian, and Iraqi citizen who was translating for and traveling with some Romanian journalists in Iraq. They were all kidnapped and held for 2 months. When they were released, the journalists went home and Munaf was detained by American/Iraqi forces. When brought up on trial in Iraqi court, the judge was going to dismiss the case due to lack of evidence. 2 American soldiers came to the court, one of them claiming to be speaking on behalf of the Romanian government (a claim that has not been verified). They spoke to the judge outside of counsel and outside of the presence of the defendent. When the judge came back, he sentenced Munaf to death, a punishment that is hardly ever used in Iraq.
To death.
Munaf has an american attorney trying to bring his case home, to get Munaf due process. But the U.S. government says that they don’t have any authority because they are working in coalition with the Iraqis. Of COURSE they can’t stop an execution, they can only start one. In addition, they refuse to continue to hold Munaf and not release him to the Iraqi government until his case goes through the courts.
If he were another John Walker Lindh, he wouldn’t be executed without trial. But no, he’s brown, and so he must die. As well, I wonder what he knows that he has to die for.
In other depressing news, Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act, which provides for the president to decide what is torture and also allows for LEGAL resident non-citizens to be detained without access to trial or counsel if they are charged with terrorism. I was all ready to lambaste Cantwell, but even she wasn’t stupid enough to vote for this Act, although many democratic congresspeople and senators did. Look them up here and here and campaign against them if they’re in your area.
That’s all amazingly retarded.
Shocking? No.
I have to think that the American people agree with all this sort of stuff, due to the over-whelming silent consent.
I think the American people are overwhelmed and worn out. But if we’re talking about the lack of a group voice yelling against these atrocities, well then both you and I are part of the silent American people.
I don’t think we’re the silent American people. We talk about it, loudly. We blog about it to the small groups who read us.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve also donated money to causes against the current administration. As well as carried on quite loud and group oriented conversations on the streets about it.
That’s not silent. That’s not consent.
How many people even mention it?
When I talk about it, I find that a lot of other people are talking about it, too. I hear plenty of people talking about it on the personal scale. What I don’t hear are any big organized voices. I don’t think that the American people as individuals are silent. It’s just that the public voice is being shut down and we (as a nation of dissatisfied people) haven’t found/are convinced we can’t find a way to be really loud and communal about it.
Perhaps I need to meet more of the people you know.
I’m not seeing it.
I meet more people than you do
Just as some of my “evidence,” many of my patients have brought up the evilness of the current regime. Even though I NEVER bring up politics with my patients.
Oh yeah, and from people who are dissatisfied and yet do nothing, what I hear the most is that they are overwhelmed and believe there is nothing that can be done.