On August 7, 2008, the trail of Salim Ahmed Hamdan ended with a verdict and a sentence. Both sides are claiming vindication, but I would be hard-pressed to find evidence of a government victory here. The jury acquitted Hamdan on the more serious charge, and essentially slapped him on the wrist on the lesser charge with a light sentence. Personally, I would not have been sad to see him get a life sentence. But the circumstances of the detention and trial have complicated the government's efforts, to put it lightly.
The most interesting aspect for me, is a delicious, some would say diabolical, bit of math performed by the military jury. They handed a 5 1/2 year sentence with credit for time served, which implies that there are 5 1/2 months left in the sentence (I am taking the major news networks at at their word). If you assume that, the sentence ends on January 22... 2 days after the presidential inauguration !
So the first order of business for a new president is to decide whether to continue Hamdan's detention as an unlawful combatant or to release him. Either way, it will mark an emphatic beginning to the presidency.
Further, if the networks are off by a few days, it may turn out to be the last decision that President Bush has to make before leaving office. Which way will he sway in his attempt to "cement his legacy" ?
I think this maybe a deliberate attempt by the jury to force the issue. I love it !
1 comment:
I suspect it is a mere coincidence. The chosen date is just as likely as many other dates, I imagine. Strange are the ways of probabilities.
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