Fair trials, anybody?

Congressional Democrats may be poised to take a tentative step toward doing what they were elected to do: Rein in the Bush administration's excesses. Donkey party members of the House want to shut down Gitmo and bring the detainees to military brigs in the United States -- where they'll be somewhat more under the watchful eye of human rights organization. They'll also have have a better shot at access to the protections of the American legal system.

"It sets us back in the war on terrorism to be maintaining Guantanamo," said Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), who's heading an investigation of the facility for the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

"It will enhance our reputation to close it down and to apply our system of justice to all of these detainees," he added.

The move comes as a welcome one for anybody who cares about the rights of the accused -- and about America's reputation in the world at large. But I wouldn't hold my breath quite yet in anticipation of fair trials for the detainees. The shut-down of Gitmo is slated for the next defense appropriations bill -- and the new fiscal year doesn't begin until October 1.

So the Democrats aren't exactly off to a rousing start in terms of restoring civil liberties and curbing President Bush's military adventures. Maybe they'll have something to offer in time for the 2008 election.

The ACLU sounds off on the legal and moral problems with detention here.