Col. Morris Davis once again takes to the pages of the Los Angeles Times, this time to reply to Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann’s response to his criticisms of U.S. military tribunals for Gitmo detainees and his stated reasons for resigning as the chief Gitmo prosecutor.
Hartmann says the military commissions are consistent with an American military justice system that is the envy of the world. Apparently he’s privy to some worldwide polling data I haven’t seen, because it appears to me military commissions have created worldwide enmity, not envy. To overcome that, there must be two assurances from the highest levels: One, that evidence derived from waterboarding will not be introduced before a military commission, and two, that all reasonable efforts to keep the proceedings open to the media and other observers will be exhausted before closing any portion of any trial. That’s the minimum American justice demands.
[Hat tip: Greg McNeal]
In related news, Brig. Gen. Hartmann’s congressional testimony (which was delivered because the military denied the Senate’s request for Col. Davis to appear) has prompted at least one Navy JAG to resign.