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"Washington Notes" is MPAC's weekly round-up of Washington, DC news and events that impact the American Muslim community. By highlighting Congressional hearings and policy forums, MPAC connects you directly with the Senate, House of Representatives, think-tanks, organizations, and federal agencies. We monitor important conversations on Islam and Muslims in order to enhance the role of American Muslims in the future of our nation. We invite you to do the same...
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July 12, 2006
HOUSE DIVIDED ON GITMO SUPREME COURT RULING
House Armed Services
"Congress must not grant detainee's access to the military's courts-martial system because it would afford them certain rights, such as immediately being informed of charges against them and immediate access to legal counsel." - Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
SEE: "House Committee Chairman Says Military Detainee Policy May Have Been Too Lax" (USA Today, 7/12/06)
"The Court has given Congress a clear charge to craft a system to deal with these central issues. We can and we must get this right. To do so, I believe we must look carefully at tried-and-true existing systems of law like the Uniform Code of Military Justice that may provide a basis for a solution. Then we must consider the modifications that need to be made to make commissions most effective as a tool in the war on terror." Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO).
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July 11, 2006
HEARING: "Hamdan v. Rumsfeld: Establishing a Constitutional Process"
Senate Judiciary Committee
"This decision provides yet another example of this Administration's arrogance and incompetence in the war on terror. When the President announced the creation of these commissions, Alberto Gonzales, then White House Counsel, touted them as a means to 'dispense justice swiftly, close to where our forces may be fighting.' But the results have proved otherwise. In the last five years there have been no trials and no convictions of any of the detainees and no one has been brought to justice through these commissions. Instead, precious time, effort and resources have been wasted." - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
"The tribunals and commissions at Guantanamo are fundamentally unfair and do not give the detainees a genuine opportunity to have the validity of their detention decided." - Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
"It is inappropriate to try terrorists in civilian courts. It threatens our national security and places the safety of jurors in danger. For those reasons and others, we believe terrorists should be tried before military commissions." - Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
SEE: Hearing Notice (Judiciary Committee, 7/11/06)
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July 11, 2006
PENTAGON'S DECISION APPROPRIATE, OVERDUE
American Civil Liberties Union
"After more than four years of lawlessness, the Defense Department took a big first step toward complying with federal law, by stating that it will comply with Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions when holding detainees. However, just hours after the announcement of the new Pentagon policy, a top Justice Department lawyer urged Congress to 'ratify' the military commissions that the Supreme Court invalidated two weeks ago.
"'The Pentagon's decision is wholly appropriate, in light of the Supreme Court's ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, and long overdue,' said ACLU Director Anthony Romero. However, at the same time that the Defense Department is showing signs of heading in the direction of restoring the rule of law, the Justice Department is urging Congress to abandon it."
SEE: "ACLU Applauds Pentagon Memo" (ACLU, 7/11/06)
SEE ALSO: "Defense Official Supports Tribunals For Detainees" (DOD, 7/12/06)
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July 12, 2006
ISRAELI TROOPS INVADE SOUTHERN LEBANON
"The attacks and counterattacks are sure to escalate tensions in an area that often serves as a battlefield between Hezbollah militias and the Israeli army. But the sense of unease and fear was mixed with resignation from people who have known peace only rarely. Many also said they were elated at the capture of the soldiers by Hezbollah, which for years has effectively controlled this region." - Washington Post
SEE: "Hezbollah Demands Prisoner Swap with Israel" (Washington Post, 7/12/06)
"It will be considerably harder for Israel to win the release of its soldiers held in Lebanon and Mr Olmert will be concerned that Hamas and Hizbullah might start working in concert to demand the release of prisoners as a condition for freeing the missing soldiers. The killings of the Salmiah children will also be a severe embarrassment to Israel which has killed about 40 civilians, many of them children, in missile and shell attacks over recent weeks." - The Guardian, UK
SEE: "Israelis Invade Lebanon After Soldiers are Seized" (Guardian Unlimited, 7/12/06)
July 12, 2006
WORLD POWERS SEND IRAN BACK TO U.N.
"If Iran agrees to the group's terms for negotiations, it would mean the first high-level face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran after more than a quarter century of estrangement.
"The group's meeting is likely to produce a strongly worded statement that restarts efforts for possible Security Council punishment for Iran if it does not suspend uranium enrichment and agree to talks."
SEE: "World Powers Sending Iran Dispute Back to U.N. Security Council" (USA Today, 7/12/06)
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