If they attacked America because they hate freedom, they attacked the wrong place

Appeals Court Rules Padilla Can Be Held Without Charges

A federal appeals court today sided with the Bush administration and reversed a judge's order that the government either charge or free "dirty bomb" suspect Jose Padilla.

The three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously that the president has the authority to detain a U.S. citizen closely associated with al-Qaida.

"The exceedingly important question before us is whether the President of the United States possesses the authority to detain militarily a citizen of this country who is closely associated with al Qaeda, an entity with which the United States is at war," Judge Michael Luttig wrote. "We conclude that the President does possess such authority."

“Closely associated” according to whom and what standard of proof? And just when was that declaration of war approved by Congress?

The alarming coda to the story: “Luttig … has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court.”