My horror at state-sponsored killing has rendered me unable to write on the topic since the state of Georgia murdered Troy Davis just a little more than a week ago.  Instead, let me recount a story my father used to tell, about "The Land of Perfect Justice," for those who believe justice was served by his execution:

[Reading this staff-written CNN story about the execution of Private Ronald Gray, convicted of rape and murder -- sent via email Bush approves execution of Army private:

Members of the U.S. military have been executed throughout history, but just 10 have been executed with presidential approval since 1951 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military's modern-day legal system.

...

Bush allowed 152 executions as governor of Texas and has signed off on three executions of federal inmates since he became president -- including that of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who was put to death in 2001.]

This has gotten lots of play in NC. My take on this is that Bush is essentially emasculated and the execution of a soldier completes the circle started as a child when he tortured and exploded animals(see Bush On The Couch). He cannot do anything well that is socially acceptable --so he will do that which is most violent and the ultimate exercise of his power--to murder his own soldiers as an expression of the manhood that he has failed at so miserably.

Right! You can't call them prisoners of war, they were enemy combatants or better yet detainees. The news is that the military is seeking the execution of six prisoners at "G'itmo" (that's another cozy sounding word.) There is a slight problem for the military in that the prisoners would have access to the civilian appeals court process.