Supreme Court Says Bush Overstepping His Powers

We know Bush isn't a serious man. He says a lot of things about democracy, humility and freedom and then does the opposite. The conservative US Supreme Court is now restricting some of Bush's self-appointed war powers such as his complete legal authority at Guantanamo Bay. Lesley Clark of the McClatchy Washington Bureau (formerly the Knight Ridder Washington Bureau) has the story on the Supreme Court ruling:

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court this morning found President Bush exceeded his powers by creating military tribunals for prisoners at the much-maligned Guantánamo Bay detention center, reining in a portion of the administration's prosecution of the war on terrorism.

The 5-3 ruling, a setback for the administration's aggressive anti-terrorism stance, was written by Justice John Paul Stevens, who said the proposed trials violate U.S. law and the Geneva Conventions, signed by the United States in the aftermath of World War II.

''Trial by military commission raises separation-of-powers concerns of the highest order,'' Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote in a concurring opinion. The decision does not address whether the controversial camps should be closed, dealing only with whether the administration can pursue plans to try the detainees under the type of military trials not seen since World War II.

President Bush said he will work with Congress to find a way to try the detainees before military tribunals -- and two leading Republicans suggested they're ready to help.

''To the extent that there is latitude to work with the Congress to determine whether or not the military tribunals will be an avenue in which to give people their day in court, we will do so,'' Bush said at a press availability with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. ``The American people need to know that the ruling, as I understand it, won't cause killers to be put out on the street.''

The last sentence shows Bush in full campaign mode. It's insulting to America and insulting to our history. Terrorism is a serious issue and should be dealt with seriously in such a way that it doesn't damage our reputation in the world and foster sympathy for those who are against the United States. We need fewer enemies, not more. If Bush has a case against a prisoner, he needs to make it. If he doesn't have a case, then, when the time comes, he needs to send the prisoners of war back to where they came from. Already, a number of detainees have been released because they should never have been sent to Guantanamo Bay in the first place.

It's a good day for the law of the land: Scalia and Thomas are as foolish as ever but the majority of the Supreme Court has ruled that Americans don't do kangaroo courts.