Photographs of Terrorist Abuse

Appeals court ordered to revisit decision to release detainee photos

The American Civil Liberties Union had filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the photos and the Bush administration declined. The ACLU's perserverance is now prevailing. President Obama first agreed to release them, but he was strongly discouraged from doing so. Therefore, he signed the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which gave the Department of Defense the right to withhold the photos that show terrorists being tortured. The battle is now going to court.

There are two sides to this issue. Both sides have legitmate claims. The government is trying to protect the country and are pulling the "national security" card. The other side is the public's right to know and not remain ignorant of issues. I believe that the dangers the photos would cause are minimal compared to the issues that have risen due to their nature. If they are being withheld to their contraversial content, that is NOT a reason to keep them from the American people. Citizens should be able to know what the government is doing in their name if issues occur, it is our right and privilege to deal with them.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/30/detainees.photos/index.html

Terrorists Moved to New York

Holder defends decision to try accused 9/11 terrorists in New York

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is where alleged terrorists have been held since the twin towers were struck. The prisoners are now leaving the United States Detention facility to one in Chicago as they wait to go on trial in New York. Attorney General Eric Holder is defending the idea of trying them in civilian court. Many disagree and want a military tribunal to take place instead. He believes that Americans will finally be given justice. The attorney general intends to get the maximum penalty on all five suspects: the death penalty.

Now that the suspects are finally being brought to justice, many people will be crying for blood. Americans are still very sore from the attacks on 9/11. There is no doubt in my mind that all of the terrorists will be executed. There is no way Americans would be satisfied with any other result. This is going to cause a very biased trial to take place. We are trying the men from our standards and they will pay, the American way, for their actions. While I do not agree with the death penalty-- that in itself is a different issue-- I believe that that is the only way that people of the United States would feel that some justice has been done.

I strongly disagree with Jordan Weaver and Tim Lukes who believe it to be a bad thing that the detention center in Cuba is closing.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/18/holder.new.york.trial/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Historical Berlin Wall looms over a Prospering Future

Berlin celebrates night that changed the world

The night that the Berlin Wall came down was a marker. It consigned the Cold War to the past and open a new path for Germany's future. Thousands upon thousands flocked to the place where it once stood on this anniversary of its deconstruction. The east German leader, Merkel, said, "German unity is not complete." When the wall came down, it was the end as well as a beginning of new journey for Germany.

I'm very happy that Germany, though it has not demonstrated this throughout history, is learning from the past. This celebration of the day the Berlin Wall came down is a monumental moment. It shows that not only have the physical barriers been broken down, the psychological wall has been removed as well. While Germany isn't perfect, it is definitely on its way to bettering itself. I applaud the steps that have been taken for it to get to this point.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/09/berlin.wall.anniversary/index.html

Gearing Up for Elections...Already?

Poll: Americans divided in battle for Congress
There is still another year to go before midterm congressional elections, and a new national poll already is showing that Americans are divided as to which party they will vote for. Fifty percent of people said they would vote for a Democratic candidate, while forty-four percent said they would vote for a Republican candidate. On top of that, fifty percent of the voters said they could change their minds. Trying to predict the election this far in advance is filled with variables that could cause truly inaccurate results.

This poll is riddled with errors. Trying to form accurate assumptions months and months away from midterm elections isn't creating any real statistics. The fact that people can change their minds and that many more events can take place between now and then really will change the landscape of the elections. CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said it best, "These tea-leaves are very hard to read." Agreed. The masses aren't always focused quite that far into the future. Maybe predictions should be held off until election day is a bit closer.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/03/poll.congress/index.html