President Bush has authorized the use of military tribunals, rather than trials, for terrorists. "Only noncitizens would be tried before the military commission," said a senior Justice Department official -- but he refused to let his identity be revealed, which basically reduced the statement to "we will only try US citizens when we feel like it."

In the meantime, the term "terrorist" is being greatly broadened to include people who don't like the Federal Government or the United Nations, or basically anyone who thinks things should be different and isn't afraid to say it.

posted by John Hoffman at 9:37 AM