Learn from the mistakes of others

the truth is definitely out there. in every sense of the words 'out' and 'there'.

the us doj, in answer to questions from both sides of politics on the house judiciary committee (something like our house of reps standing committee on legal and constitutional affairs) regarding the legality of the nsa's warrantless wiretapping responded "of course they're legal. even if they breach client legal privilege or doctor-patient confidentiality, they're legal and it's all admissible in court. coz we said so. oh, and we don;t have to answer any more of your questions, coz of national security. nyah!"

meanwhile, a us federal magistrate told the bush administration that it cannot stop lawyers from seeing their clients at guantanamo bay. the us executive have been playing the same kind of games our government plays with it's own (immigration) detainees. but hey, they're being detained legitimately, right, so why should they be able to challenge the legitimacy of their detention? *facepalm*

justice scalia, meanwhile, had made his bias against guantanamo detainees pretty clear in a recent speech at a university in switzerland. i wonder if he'll excuse himself from hearing a relevant case this time ...