Jessica Azulay

While Thursday night’s joint television appearance featuring two presidential contenders mainly revolved around their familiar quarrel over Iraq policy, the candidates skirmished over a lesser known issue: United States policy toward North Korea. President George W. Bush defended his distanced, "multilateral" approach to the isolated nation, while challenger John Kerry accused the president of allowing … Continue reading “North Korea Almost Sparks Real Debate Between Candidates”

Civil liberties advocates are once again raising concern over legislation moving through Congress meant to enhance the controversial USA PATRIOT Act rushed into law in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Last Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the "Tools to Fight Terrorism Act of 2004," which opponents say contains … Continue reading “PATRIOT Act II: Back From the Dead”

The first of the criminal military hearings for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ended this week amidst complaints from defense lawyers about lack of resources and harsh criticism from human rights groups. Even before the hearings began on Tuesday, they were mired in controversy with organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Human … Continue reading “Attorneys, Rights Groups Slam Gitmo Tribunals”

The first of four scheduled criminal hearings for Guantanamo Bay detainees went forward today, notwithstanding concerns from human and civil rights groups and a legal challenge in U.S. civilian courts. During the hearing, the defense challenged the military judges’ credentials and potential conflicts of interest, as well as the legality of the tribunals themselves. The … Continue reading “Defense Challenges Tribunals’ Legitimacy”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) yesterday released more information about the heavily censored legal challenge it is bringing against the government’s use of a controversial provision of the USA PATRIOT Act that allows the FBI to obtain from businesses sensitive personal information about their clients. Among the documents unsealed today is a declaration by … Continue reading “ISP Fights PATRIOT Act”