November 30, 2011

The Terror of Indefinite Detention

Credit: Shayan Sanyal
People generally pooh-pooh frightening things like indefinite detention by saying, "Oh, that wouldn't ever be misused. They're just trying to protect us against the terrorists." Why should we just 'trust' that the Government won't detain you or me indefinitely without charges or trial? If someone in the Government says that I am a terrorist, how am I supposed to prove that I'm not if I can't get a trial? (Even more importantly, isn't it the Government's responsibility to prove that I am?) I'd expect this from John McCain and Lindsay Graham -- but Carl Levin? At least Rand Paul is being intellectually consistent and opposing this vigorously.