Death Penalty for Terrorists Debated: The United States will deal with European objections to the death penalty on a case-by-case basis as it seeks extradition of suspects linked to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Wednesday. ... "Individuals and nations with which we have dealt regarding extraditions have dealt on a case-by-case basis and I think that is the best way to go forward,'' Ashcroft added.
You know what's going to happen, right?
Since he was captured here, Europe will reluctantly concede that the US has the technical right to sentence Moussaoui to death, should he be found guilty of a crime carrying that penalty. (I'm actually surprised that conspiracy charges can carry a death sentence, frankly. That's usually reserved for people who actively participate in whatever the given offense is.) The next few people indicted will face only lower level preliminary charges, none of which will carry the death penalty, and Europe will be lulled into handing some people over. And once the Administration feels it has as many of the high level people as it could reasonably expect to get, Suddenly a miracle will occur! and new charges carrying the death penalty will be brought! and Europe will feel betrayed and will never ever extradite anyone back to the US as long as the Shrubbery is in office.
Copyright © 2001, Iain Jackson, after-words.org
[Archives: 2001 and after]
Archives before February 5, 2001
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12/19/2001: vive la france
12/19/2001: princess, redux
12/19/2001: yemen and rumsfeld
12/18/2001: you're NOT in the army now
12/18/2001: interesting donation
12/18/2001: shame on winn dixie, indeed
12/18/2001: saudi princess
12/17/2001: new resolve
12/17/2001: a victim of the attack ... yeah, right
12/17/2001: polluters ho!