Know Your Rights

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Sunday it would seek a law allowing investigators to interrogate terrorism suspects without informing them of their rights, as Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. flatly asserted that the defendant in the Times Square bombing attempt was trained by the Taliban in Pakistan.
--Holder Backs a Miranda Limit for Terror Suspects

You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided to you. The Miranda warning arose in response to the 1966 Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona, when a conviction was overturned because the police did not inform the suspect of his constitutional rights. Controversial, sure, but fair enough. No one should be compelled to provide self-incriminatory statements, and this proscription necessitates that people be aware of their rights.

Nowadays, though, one hardly needs to be officially Mirandized to know one's rights: If you've ever watched an episode of "Law and Order," you know 'em.

In spite--indeed, because--of this, we don't understand the Obama administration's logic in not informing suspected terrorists of their constitutional rights. If they've spent any time in the US, they're already aware of the rights. And, even if the suspects are not explicitly informed of their rights--well, let's put it this way: Does the administration think terrorism suspects are so deferential to the authorities that they will feel a need to cooperate with the nice policeman unless they are told they don't have to?

Upon taking office, President Obama wanted to signal a break from the more egregious unconstitutionality of the Bush regime. What purpose is served by withholding Miranda warnings from terrorism suspects? The warning should be recited, shouted--posted on the walls of police stations in English and Arabic and Urdu. It's a small reminder of the sometimes questionable civility of the nation upon which these people have allegedly declared war.