Originally posted by Danospano:
Are you suggestioning we abolish everything in the Constitution in the name of this war? I guess the American Dream was only going to work in peaceful state, huh? We've come to THIS, after 200 years of freedom?
Beware of JOHN ASHCROFT!!! BEWAAAARRRREEEE of the smarmy beast!!!!!
Back up the train for a second. First, please define the American Dream and for goodness sake, please define what "everything in the Constitution" has to do with the punishment of treason. Then, let's look back in history. Hmm. Is there precedence for punishment of treason in our 200 year history? Off the top of my head, the name Benedict Arnold comes to mind.
It may come as a novel concept, but there does exist this strange notion of the social contract. You know...2 sides to the arrangement between people and the government. The government provides stability, rule of law, and protection from foreign invasion, and in exchange for these things people agree to give up some of their rights (ie. the right to take property that is not theirs, the right to randomly kill someone they don't like, etc.) and "pledge allegiance" to the country in which they live. Now, in a contract situation, when one party breaks the contract, it is now null and void. Ergo, in the case of treason, your citizenship is no longer valid. Therefore, all the rights, responsibilities and protections that are promised to citizens under the law, no longer apply to you because you have opted out of that contract.
Now as to what they will do with this person, I do not know, nor do I care to speculate upon. Should he be given a fair trial? Absolutely. But should he be absolved of his actions? I fail to see how that would be a logical answer.
Finally, I realize you dislike John Ashcroft, but you're starting to sound increasingly shrill and paranoid. Hysterical does not coincide with rational, imho. Nor does it contribute to a serious debate in any way shape or form.