News Blurbs for June 28, 2004

***UPDATE on the Wal-Mart Class Action Suit: If anyone is interested in signing up as a plaintiff for the walmart class action lawsuit, go HERE and fill out your information where it says Contact Us at the bottom. [”Thank You” to reader, Jason, at onlinelawyersource.com for the information.]

The U.S.-led coalition transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government today, speeding up the move by two days in an apparent bid to surprise insurgents who may have tried to sabotage the step toward self rule. [Source: AP]

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that foreign terrorism suspects at a U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba can use the American legal system to challenge their detention, a major defeat for President Bush. By a 6-3 vote, the justices ruled that American courts do have jurisdiction to consider the claims of the prisoners who say in their lawsuits they are being held illegally in violation of their rights. Justice John Paul Stevens in writing for the majority opinion, said that U.S. courts have jurisdiction to consider challenges to the legality of the detention of foreign nationals captured abroad in connection with hostilities and incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay. [Source: Reuters]

Canadians go to the polls today. A variety of polls show Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberals and Mr. Harper’s Conservatives virtually tied, with neither party likely to win more than 35 percent of the vote. Both parties support legislation to legalize possession of marijuana, strengthen environmental protection, and extend gay rights. [Source: NYTimes]

“Fahrenheit 9/11″ brought in $21.8 million over the weekend, the best documentary opening ever. The film will be released into hundreds more theaters during the next two weeks. Editor & Publisher surveyed 63 dailies in red and blue states alike and found that nine out of ten film critics gave it a thumbs up. [Source: Bloomberg]

Note : Although there continue to be news reports elsewhere in the media about hostages being held by terrorists and beheaded, I will not give those reports more attention (on this blog) than the media is already giving them. I don’t think there is any room to negotiate with these extremists who are not following the tenets of Islamic beliefs, nor do I think they should be negotiated with (because they will continue to use this). I’m sorry and I’m sad that these things are happening, it’s just that I don’t intend to add to the media frenzy and give the hostage-takers the publicity they crave. I will say, however, that in the case of the US Marine being held, I don’t understand why he left his post, but I do know (from personal experience in the military) that it is instilled into your head (or at least it was while I was enlisted) that you will NOT leave your post for any reason, even if ordered to do so by a higher ranking officer who is not in your chain of command. Someone tested me on this once at 1AM, and I refused to obey the order, even after being threatened with court martial.