Utterly Disturbing

The AP has just today broken the story of the government's, with a sort of gentlemen's agreement between the judicial and executive branches of government, have completely prosecuted, tried, and sentenced people in the courts in absolute secrecy--an act which totally disregards and dismisses the provisions of the 6th amendment to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees all people the right to a fair,speedy, and public trial. According to the AP story,each year since 2003, the number of cases held in secret have grown--with 11,508 cases being tried in secret in 2005, 12.6 percent of all cases tried last year. These cases range the gamut from "war on drugs, anti-terrorism efforts, and other criminal matters," according to AP. This phenomenon is absolutely disturbing, indeed chilling as this means that anyone, including U.s. citizens may be picked up--on drug related charges or a variety of others--and be charged, tried,convicted, and sentenced with no public knowledge whatsoever.

This is undemocratic, this is immoral,illegal, and an absolute abuse of power and authority on the part of the powers that be.It is fascism with its truest face showing. Kafka wrote about this in "The Trial." Alas, these are the very kinds of activities for which world condemned Saddam Hussein and other tyrannical leaders. There must be an outcry. There must be protest. This cannot be allowed to continue.