The US Administration has responded to the June 2004 Supreme Court ruling that the Guantanamo detainees have the right to challenge their detentions in federal court, by bringing those who do not decline before anonymous military hearings (free registration required), without benefit of legal assistance to support their cases.
Such, in the early 21st century, is the way the United States of America, consdidered by some [still] to be a democracy committed to the principle of 'innocent until proved guilty' in judicial proceedings, chooses to conduct itself.
UPDATE: (Monday 8NOV04 21.50 GMT) After Lt Cmdr Charlie Swift, a military-appointed lawyer acting for Yemeni Salim Ahmed Hamdan, filed a federal lawsuit arguing the military commissions are not legal and should not have jurisdiction in his client's case, a US federal court has halted proceedings at Guantanamo Bay against the former driver for the al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. It seems that when the light is shone into the sordid goings-on at Camp Delta, the US civilian courts are forced to act.
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