Friday, April 17, 2009

Will Obama Prosecute the Captured Somali 'Pirate' in a US Court?

It has been covered closely by the media and is is something that I am sure everone of us have heard about by now, and that is the capture and rescue of Captain Richard Phillips. http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/136420, First Phillips was captured by Somali Pirates and was later rescued by the US Navy. Phillips was held on a small lifeboat in the Indian Ocean after an unsuccesful attempt to take control of the US-flagged vessel, the Maersk Alabamja, a ship owned by a Pentagon Contractor. Questions are emerging about the decision to use military force. It has been told that Obama gave the green light on Friday to use lethal force regardless of threats that were made by Somalians. After the death of three Somali men, the questions arise as to what will be the consequences of the killings and what will be done with the fourth Somalian who is in custody. On the issue of jursidiction to prosecute the fourth Somali 'pirate', according to Scott Horton, a military and constitutional law expert, "Pirates" can be tried anywhere that offers jurisdiction, but what will Obama do? That is the big question. Many things ahve been thrown in the air, including sending him to Guantanamo, which he is closing down, but if he doesn't it will be interesting to see if Obama elects to bring him to the U.S. or, as has been suggested by some, prosecute him in Kenya.
I personally think that President Obama will do what is morally right when it comes to the issue of the Somalian 'Pirate', but it could be a legal test of Obama's legal interpritation of the rights of prisoners taken by the U.S. in unusual circumstances. I personally don't think the 'Pirate' should have any rights once he hits U.S. soil. They weren't worried about Mr. Phillip's rights, so why should his be taken into consideration? I feel that being the kind of man that President Obama "seems" to be, that he will do what is right regardless of the circumstances.

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