Last Updated on 10/16/2008

Published on 7/1/2008

Terrorists win

Recently, in the case of Bournediene v. Bush, the fourth branch of the government -- that would be Justice Anthony Kennedy for those of us who are strict constructionists -- determined that United States courts had jurisdiction over the terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, not the military, thereby nullifying the Military Commission Act of 2006 (MCA).

The MCA came about as a response to the Court's decision in another terrorist case, Hamdan v. Rumsfield. In this latter case, the Court rebuked the Bush administration's combatant status review tribunals (SCRT); however, it left the door open for the President to seek the appropriate legislation from Congress to grant him the authority to use military commissions to try illegal combatants.

The individuals being held at Guantanamo Bay are referred to as such because they do not qualify as POWs under the Geneva II Protocols or under the existing laws of international conflict. In other words, they do not have the same protections as those who engage on the battlefield legally. Justice Kennedy ignored the history behind the use of military commissions (at least those portions of history Justice Breyer had to help him with) and went his own way in providing more rights to terrorists than legitimate POWs have enjoyed in the past.

This decision by the Court is simply nothing more than a demonstration of haughtiness on the part of Justice Kennedy. By his ruling, Justice Kennedy has essentially overturned the Authorization to Use MIlitary Force (AUMF) -- signed onto by liberals such as Hillary Rodham and John Kerry. In one fell swoop, Justice Kennedy has ended the war on terrorism, at least in Iraq, because since there now is no war, the subject of illegal combatants is moot. In essence, Justice Kennedy has inserted the judiciary into a wartime effort where it does not belong, thereby begging the question: who would run the war?

Now that Justice Kennedy has claimed jurisdiction over the conduct of wartime activities, someone should inform Randy, Paula and Simon that their ultimate decisions may be overturned by the new christened fourth branch of the government.

William Straesser

Pawleys Island

Medical care

I wish to express thanks to the exceptionally fine staff of Georgetown Memorial Hospital's Step Down Unit.

Although the medical issues my mother faced in the last week of her life were beyond man's ability to resolve, I was overwhelmed by the high level of care she received. Each doctor, nurse and specialist took the time to explain the details of their procedures, as well as what I should and should not expect from them. They did this with obvious, heartfelt love and compassion.

Only days before my mother's final trip to the hospital, while getting a prescription renewed for myself, I took the opportunity to thank Dr. Easterlin for the care I felt had added years to my mother's life. He reminded me then that the time would come when her outcome would not be good. It is obvious to me that the smallest of details were being directed by God to prepare me for what lay ahead. I am doubly blessed -- to serve such a great God and to have such exceptional people involved in my mother's final medical care!

Micheal Lee

Georgetown

No help with pups

On Saturday, June 14, my nephew and I were traveling home via dirt roads from visiting family. We stopped when we saw four puppies on the side of the road. They were dehydrated and tick-infested and hungry. We loaded them into our car and went to the St. Frances Animal Center, where we were told that the only way St. Frances would take these four puppies would be if I called Animal Control.

I went to the City Police Department and called dispatch. A city police officer came to my car. He advised us that Animal Control was not working the weekend and they could only do it if the City P.D. filed a report and that the puppies were vicious. This really outraged us. Nobody wanted to help and there were more excuses than action. People get arrested for neglect to animals, but when good citizens try to help all Georgetown does is come up with excuses. Where do people draw the line in helping?

Margery Underman

Georgetown