Military tribunals. (Letters).

I thank the Bar Journal for printing Martin A. Pedata's article concerning the military tribunals established by President Bush to deal with terrorists ("President Bush's Military Order Establishing Military Tribunals to Try Noncitizens: Is It Beyond His Constitutional and Statutory Authority?" November 2002). Might I suggest that the terrorists Mr. Pedata would like to release may stay at Mr. Pedata's residence at his expense? Any time he would like a guided tour of the criminal justice systems of countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, or any other middle eastern country that is governed by Islamic law, please have him contact me. I will be happy to supply him with airfare to the Islamic state of his choice.

C. DONALD DETKY
Jacksonville

The November military tribunals article contends that if the Bush Administration's military order instituting military tribunals to deal with noncitizen combatants is not checked by Congress, "our nation may become no better than those we seek to defeat." What the author is arguing is that our establishing military tribunals to deal with the world's most evil people may make us no better than the Iraqi government which gasses its Kurds and totally represses its citizenry. He is arguing that our establishing military tribunals to deal with ruthless terrorists may make us no better than the Taliban and bin Laden whose hands are soaked with the blood of countless innocent civilians.

The administration's position regarding the establishment of military tribunals is very arguably consistent with the laws of our land and it is also consistent with our national security interests. Mr. Pedata and others must be allowed to express opinions to the contrary but such individuals lose all credibility when they speciously and outrageously argue that our establishment of military tribunals makes us no better than Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden. Military tribunals or not, the United States is still a great country where freedom and democracy prevail--it is a shining city on a hill. Good must prevail over evil and therefore it is imperative that the United States take all reasonable and necessary steps to prevail in the war against terrorism.

EDWARD J. KONE
Boca Raton