Terrorism TrialsTerrorism TrialsStephen McManus

Topic SelectionTopic Selection

I chose this topic because after September 11, 2001, I became interested in the United States’ foreign policy toward terrorist

suspects.

Reason Reason

• Debate over where terrorist suspects should be tried

• 27 Terrorist attacks against the United States since 2000

• Other countries are after our world power

https://www.mipt.org/websites/overlay/img/9-11.jpg

"IMRA - Sunday, April 18, 2004 A Chronology of Terrorist Attacks Carried out by Hamas Since September 2000." IMRA - Middle East News & Analysis. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=20475>.

MentorMentor

• Name: Patrick Hanley

• Relationship to Mentor: Teacher

• Education of Mentor: Business Teacher

• Teaches Law Classes at Lincoln High School

http://www.tampalawfoundation.org/Gavel.jpg

Core QuestionCore Question

How should foreigners who commit attacks on United States’ soil be

tried in the court of law?

TerrorismTerrorism

The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes

• 3 Elements: Fear, Violence, Intimidation

• Example: September 11, 2001

http://womensvoicesforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ny-times-september-12.jpg

Terrorism Research - What Is Terrorism? Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.terrorism-research.com/>.

Unlawful Enemy Unlawful Enemy CombatantsCombatants

• A person who has engaged in hostilities or who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States or its co-belligerents who is not a lawful enemy combatant

• Ex. Taliban; Al Qaeda

Democratic Underground Forums - Request Error." Democratic Underground. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all>.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01750/taliban_1750024a.jpg

Lawful Enemy Lawful Enemy CombatantsCombatants

• A member of the regular forces of a State party engaged in hostilities against the United States

• Ex. Member of the Armed Forces

• Ex. Another Specified Country (Germany)

Democratic Underground Forums - Request Error." Democratic Underground. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all>.

http://www.businesspundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/zzarmedforces.jpg

Civilian CourtCivilian Court

A legal system compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle

that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different occasions

• Terrorists should be treated as criminals

"Terrorists Are Criminals and Should Be Tried in Civilian Court - US News and World Report." US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and More. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/02/16/terrorists-are-criminals-and-should-be-tried-in-civilian-court>.

Military TribunalMilitary Tribunal

Military court designed to try members of enemy forces during wartime, operating

outside the scope of conventional criminal and civil proceedings.

• Violators of the Rules of War

• Rules and Proceedings of Court Martial

• Classified as Enemy Combatants of an Enemy Force

Napolitano, Andrew P. "Military Tribunals | The Case against Military Tribunals - Los Angeles Times." Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 29 Nov. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/29/opinion/la-oe-napolitano29-2009nov29>.

Guantanamo BayGuantanamo Bay

• Detention Center 1903

• President Bush re- implemented this system

• Post 9/11 legislation

• Holds terrorism suspects until trial date

Guantanamo Bay Naval Base - Gitmo - News - The New York Times." Times Topics - The New York Times. 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/guantanamobaynavalbasecuba/index.html>. http://www.alan.com/wp-content/

uploads/2011/04/guantanamo.jpg

Geneva ConventionsGeneva Conventions

Four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the

victims of war.

• Under de facto of the United States

• Freedom to exercise independent power and run Guantanamo Bay

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Original_Geneva_Conventions.jpg

"The Geneva Conventions." United States Military Information. Web. 10 Jan. 2012. <http://usmilitary.about.com/ocontrol of United States Legal because it is not a sovereign territory d/deploymentsconflicts/l/blgenevaconv.htm>.

Military Commissions Military Commissions Act of 2006Act of 2006

• Signed by President George W. Bush

• “To authorize trial by military commission for violations of the law of war, and for other purposes.”

• “Any alien unlawful enemy combatant is subject to trial by military commission under chapter 47A”

Democratic Underground Forums - Request Error." Democratic Underground. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all>.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/presidentialseal/color.GIF

StatisticsStatistics

• Rasmussen Poll

• 63 % of People prefer Military hearings

• 23% of People prefer Civil Hearings

• 14% of People are Undecided

"Poll: 63% Favor Military Tribunals over Civilian Trials - Josh Gerstein - POLITICO.com." Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/1210/Poll_63_favor_military_tribunals_over_civilian_trials.html>.

Rene MenardRene Menard

• Rhode Island Representative

• Phone conversation over jurisdiction

• Explained court system

• Re-directed to David Cicilline’s office

David CicillineDavid Cicilline

• United States Congressman

• In favor of trials in Civilian Court

• World War II background information

http://cicilline.house.gov/sites/cicilline.house.gov/files/styles/section_front_boilerplate/public/Cicilline_headshot_color_0.jpg

Cases and LegislationCases and Legislation

• Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld: Bush Administration could not try foreigners in military tribunals because of Congress rule

• National Defense Authorization Act: 2011 Amendment

• Cicilline Voted against but passed House of Representatives 246-173

Core QuestionCore Question

How should foreigners who commit attacks on United States’ soil be

tried in the court of law?

Answer to Core Answer to Core Question Question

• Military Tribunals

• Enemy Combatant

• Poses threat to nation and humanity

• Higher conviction rate

http://reddogreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Gavel-and-Flag-600x398.jpg

Application of LearningApplication of Learning

• Letter to Senator Jack Reed, Representative Jim Langevin, Representative David Cicilline, and Representative Rene Menard

• Recommendations to United States Government

• Decision on Debate: Civilian Court- Military Tribunals

Works Cited Works Cited • Guantanamo Bay Naval Base - Gitmo - News - The New York Times." Guantanamo Bay Naval Base - Gitmo - News - The New York Times." Times Topics Times Topics

- The New York Times. 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. - The New York Times. 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/guantanamobaynavalbasecuba/index.html>.guantanamobaynavalbasecuba/index.html>.

• "IMRA - Sunday, April 18, 2004 A Chronology of Terrorist Attacks Carried out by "IMRA - Sunday, April 18, 2004 A Chronology of Terrorist Attacks Carried out by Hamas Since September 2000." Hamas Since September 2000." IMRA - Middle East News & AnalysisIMRA - Middle East News & Analysis. Web. 09 . Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=20475>.Jan. 2012. <http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=20475>.

• Napolitano, Andrew P. "Military Tribunals | The Case against Military Tribunals - Napolitano, Andrew P. "Military Tribunals | The Case against Military Tribunals - Los Angeles Times." Los Angeles Times." Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 29 Nov. Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 29 Nov. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/29/opinion/la-2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/29/opinion/la-oe-napolitano29-2009nov29>.oe-napolitano29-2009nov29>.

• "Poll: 63% Favor Military Tribunals over Civilian Trials - Josh Gerstein - "Poll: 63% Favor Military Tribunals over Civilian Trials - Josh Gerstein - POLITICO.com." POLITICO.com." Politics, Political News - POLITICO.comPolitics, Political News - POLITICO.com. Web. 09 Jan. 2012. . Web. 09 Jan. 2012. <http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/1210/Poll_63_favor_military_tri<http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/1210/Poll_63_favor_military_tribunals_over_civilian_trials.html>.bunals_over_civilian_trials.html>.

• "The Geneva Conventions." United States Military Information. Web. 10 Jan. "The Geneva Conventions." United States Military Information. Web. 10 Jan. 2012. 2012. <http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/l/blgenevaconv.htm>.<http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/l/blgenevaconv.htm>.

• Terrorism Research - What Is Terrorism? Web. 15 Nov. 2011. Terrorism Research - What Is Terrorism? Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.terrorism-research.com/>.<http://www.terrorism-research.com/>.

• "Terrorists Are Criminals and Should Be Tried in Civilian Court - US News and "Terrorists Are Criminals and Should Be Tried in Civilian Court - US News and World Report." World Report." US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best US News & World Report | News & Rankings | Best Colleges, Best Hospitals, and More. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. Hospitals, and More. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/02/16/terrorists-are-criminals-<http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/02/16/terrorists-are-criminals-and-should-be-tried-in-civilian-court>.and-should-be-tried-in-civilian-court>.