U.S. civilians can face military trials

[beltman713]

http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UPI...tarytrials.xml

U.S. civilians can face military trials

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A last-minute addition to a federal spending bill at the end of the last U.S. Congress now makes civilians eligible for military courts-martial.

With the addition of just five words, the provision sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was signed into law by President Bush, and makes civilian government employees and journalists eligible for prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the Washington Post reported Monday.

"Right now, you have two different standards for people doing the same job," Graham said. "This will bring uniformity to the commander's ability to control the behavior of people representing our country."

Legal experts say the change will likely raise constitutional challenges, as civilians prosecuted in military court don't receive a grand jury hearing and are tried by members of the military, rather than by a jury of their peers.

Until now, civilians could be tried under the military code only during a declared war, but neither operations in Afghanistan nor Iraq involve such a declaration.

[Gold9472]

This will bring uniformity to the commander's ability to control the behavior of people representing our country.

WTF?

[beltman713]

Unless they're talking about all these military contractors they're using.

[Gold9472]

Unless they're talking about all these military contractors they're using.

Legal experts say the change will likely raise constitutional challenges, as civilians prosecuted in military court don't receive a grand jury hearing and are tried by members of the military, rather than by a jury of their peers.

I doubt it.

[beltman713]

I think that is their excuse. But if that is their excuse, why did they sneak this thing through, or why not say it only applies to civilians working for the military?