Monthly Archives: December 2006

Language Note: “Escalation”

The Media are full of articles discussing “the surge” proposal which is frat boy talk for sending more troops to Iraq.

For today, at least, we will pass over the minor fact that the The Decider™ has told us over and over that he doesn’t actually decide troop levels, he leaves that to Generals, and try not to figure out why we are discussing sending more troops over the objection of the Joint Chiefs with no reference to this oft-cited rule.

Rather, I should just like to point out that sending more troops into a war is properly called “escalation.” Yet, somehow, this term seems to have eluded much of the major media.

Posted in The Media | Comments Off on Language Note: “Escalation”

Court Orders Mental Competency Exam for Padilla

Mental Exam Ordered for Terror Suspect.

A psychiatrist and a psychologist hired by Padilla’s attorneys concluded he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental problems stemming largely from his 3 1/2 years in solitary confinement at a Navy brig in Charleston, S.C.

Prosecutors did not contest the request for the evaluation, although they do contest claims of mistreatment (while withholding evidence relevant to the conditions of confinement).

Trial date is still Jan. 22 — so far.

Posted in Padilla | 1 Comment

The Herald Profiles a Local Legal Legend

Great article in the Miami Herald this morning about UM Law alum and old-school criminal defense lawyer Sy Gaer. And absolutely don’t miss the sidebar with quotes about and by Sy Gear.

Posted in Law: Practice | 1 Comment

What I am NOT Getting My Wife for Xmas

Fortunately, my wife would not enjoy having a diamond-encrusted USB drive, which is just as well as she is not getting one from me. (Or, I should hope, from anyone else.)

Suggestions as to more sensible presents always welcomed.

Posted in Shopping | 1 Comment

Defund GITMO – Justice in the USA

Here’s my modest proposal for the Democratic Congress: defund Gitmo. Bring all the prisoners into the US, where they will be guaranteed due process or POW status depending on whether they are civilians or foreign fighters.

Too simple? Why?

I wish I could make a similar proposal for the legal cesspools in Iraq, but there are two reasons why I can’t. First, the Geneva conventions impose limits on the occupying power’s ability to remove civilians from the jurisdiction. Second, the numbers involved are simply too large.

But we could at least require that any US citizen arrested in Iraq be released within 48 hours or repatriated for trial.

Posted in Guantanamo, Iraq | 2 Comments

The GAO Has an RSS Feed

The GAO enters web 2.0 with the GAO Reports RSS feed.

This is good.

Posted in Internet | Comments Off on The GAO Has an RSS Feed