Conservative Political Courage

By Cernig

A senior British Conservative party MP - shadow home secretary David Davis - has resigned his seat in parliament in protest over the UK government's push to extend detentions without trial for terrorism suspects to 42 days.

Mr Davis, 59, told reporters outside the House of Commons he believed his move was a "noble endeavour" to stop the erosion of British civil liberties.

He is one of the best-known opposition MPs and his resignation came as a complete surprise in Westminster.

He told reporters: "I will argue in this by-election against the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms by this government."

...Mr Davis has led the opposition to Labour's plans to extend the maximum limit terror suspects can be held beyond the current 28 day maximum.

Well done, Mr Davis. You follow in the proud tradition of senior Labour cabinet members who resigned rather than see their party lead the UK into a war of choice.

Does anyone remember when American conservatives last had this kind of courage to stand up for civil liberties and the rule of law, regardless of who the law was applied to? In fact, does anyone recall when an American politician of any stripe last showed this kind of commitment to the principles upon which their nation was founded?

But American conservatives should be particularly singled out in their spinelessness. Instead of standing up for the Founder's principles, they argue that constitutional rights should not apply to non-citizens. The notion that the rule of law doesn't apply equally to all, irrespective of citizenship, is a peculiar and unique fomulation of the American extreme Right. No other nation in the free world gives it any credence whatsoever - indeed the rest of the free world sees such a view as a slap in the face of the principles of just law. It's really just that hoary old American exceptionalist Divine Mandate chestnut dressed up in constitutional drag and should be called out as such.

Or, they argue spinelessly that the constitution "isn't a suicide pact" - because surely other nations have such problems getting terror convictions even though they allow habeas rights and the entire populace of such nations is being decimated by daily terror attacks...

The wife of a would-be London train bomber was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in jail for failing to tell police about her husband's plan to attack an Underground station three years ago, the court and police said.

...Her brother received a 10-year sentence and her sister received a 15-year sentence for their roles.

Osman was convicted and imprisoned for life last year for his part in the attempted bombings.

And yes, those UK convictions are a prima facie case that David Davis is correct about extending terror detention periods in the UK too.