America's Fragile Republic

Civil libertarians are hailing a two-to-one federal appeals court ruling that rejects George W. Bush's right to snatch civilians off the streets of America and hold them indefinitely as "enemy combatants." But the ruling by a three-judge panel may have been a fluke since the two justices in the majority were Clinton appointees and the full appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, is dominated by Republicans. This uncertain balance between judges who favor "unalienable rights" and those who want to give Bush all the power he wants underscores the fragility of the American Republic. June 13, 2007