Keith Olbermann's take on the impact of the recently-passed Military Commissions Act is below. As he correctly points out, habeas corpus - which is eliminated in many cases by this bill - is the lynchpin of the U.S. Constitution, and without it, the Bill of Rights is left an empty shell.
As the case of Jose Padilla has amply illustrated, no one should feel secure that the government can be trusted to do the right thing, or that it has the rights of the individual at heart. There is a reason that its power was curtailed by the founding fathers, and vigilance over our elected officials is as vital to maintaining our freedom as a strong military and an active diplomatic corps are to defending it.
As the case of Jose Padilla has amply illustrated, no one should feel secure that the government can be trusted to do the right thing, or that it has the rights of the individual at heart. There is a reason that its power was curtailed by the founding fathers, and vigilance over our elected officials is as vital to maintaining our freedom as a strong military and an active diplomatic corps are to defending it.
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