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The Daily OrangeSU database tracks terrorism trends
By Stephen Clark
Posted: 4/1/04, 2:27 AM EST Section: News
But the judge is now considering throwing out the convictions and ordering a new trial because of arguments of prosecutorial misconduct and withholding of evidence, according to the U.S. News and World Report.
In the "Virginia Jihad" case, three American Muslims were convicted in March of conspiring to support terrorism. Prosecutors said the men were training for holy war around the world by engaging in paintball battles in 2000 and 2001. The men waived their rights to a trail by jury, and they face up to life in prison when they are sentenced in June.
But other suspects aren't given the opportunity for a trial. The Bush administration opened up a prison camp following Sept. 11 at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to detain individuals suspected of aiding or being terrorists. Without a trial or access to legal representation, they are classified by President Bush as "enemy combatants" and sent to the camp indefinitely. More than 660 suspects have been detained, most of whom were arrested in Afghanistan.
Jose Padilla was the first American suspect to be deemed an "enemy combatant" when he was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare airport on May 8, 2002. The former gang member was accused of plotting an al-Qaeda dirty bomb attack. The Supreme Court will review his case this month and decide if he can be held indefinitely without access to a lawyer.
"From an enforcement policy, the question is whether this strategy is effective," Burnham said. "People are picked up and categorized as terrorists for spitting on the street. Is it lawful? Is it constitutional?"
Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky, professor of international relations and public administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, gives the Bush administration high marks on its war on terrorism.
"A lot of good work has been done," said Levitsky, who also teaches a course on terrorism. "(But) there will not be a quick victory."
Some believe that the results of the TRAC report will not change the focus of the Bush administration's war on terror.
"It doesn't affect the efforts of the Justice Department," Banks said. "It's just data."
Levitsky said he thinks it's wrong to measure success by how many convictions there have been since Sept. 11.
"It's not an accurate measure of how safe we are," Levitsky said. "There's hasn't been a major attack since Sept. 11 in America. Does that mean the terrorists don't exist anymore?"
"It's like an octopus with its head cut off," Levitsky added. "The tentacles are still there and they're dangerous."
In the "Virginia Jihad" case, three American Muslims were convicted in March of conspiring to support terrorism. Prosecutors said the men were training for holy war around the world by engaging in paintball battles in 2000 and 2001. The men waived their rights to a trail by jury, and they face up to life in prison when they are sentenced in June.
But other suspects aren't given the opportunity for a trial. The Bush administration opened up a prison camp following Sept. 11 at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to detain individuals suspected of aiding or being terrorists. Without a trial or access to legal representation, they are classified by President Bush as "enemy combatants" and sent to the camp indefinitely. More than 660 suspects have been detained, most of whom were arrested in Afghanistan.
Jose Padilla was the first American suspect to be deemed an "enemy combatant" when he was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare airport on May 8, 2002. The former gang member was accused of plotting an al-Qaeda dirty bomb attack. The Supreme Court will review his case this month and decide if he can be held indefinitely without access to a lawyer.
"From an enforcement policy, the question is whether this strategy is effective," Burnham said. "People are picked up and categorized as terrorists for spitting on the street. Is it lawful? Is it constitutional?"
Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky, professor of international relations and public administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, gives the Bush administration high marks on its war on terrorism.
"A lot of good work has been done," said Levitsky, who also teaches a course on terrorism. "(But) there will not be a quick victory."
Some believe that the results of the TRAC report will not change the focus of the Bush administration's war on terror.
"It doesn't affect the efforts of the Justice Department," Banks said. "It's just data."
Levitsky said he thinks it's wrong to measure success by how many convictions there have been since Sept. 11.
"It's not an accurate measure of how safe we are," Levitsky said. "There's hasn't been a major attack since Sept. 11 in America. Does that mean the terrorists don't exist anymore?"
"It's like an octopus with its head cut off," Levitsky added. "The tentacles are still there and they're dangerous."
