Good column, Trevor!  I'm a believer in "take no prisoners" and I find Mr. Chander's remarks surprisingly unsophisticated for a man of his education.  I'll never understand why anyone listens to (or publishes) these people's childish opinions.  However, he <i>is</i> a lawyer just trying to make some rain so what do we expect?  Also, I notice that he obviously of Middle Eastern descent so, again, what do we expect?

Our Constitution is the law under which American citizens live, not POWs or military detainees or even anyone over here on a visa.  Those people ARE NOT US citizens and not subject to the rights specified in our Constitution.  What next?  Should we let them vote in our elections?  Oh, I forgot...Clinton already did that.

Just a minor correction here.  People living in the States who are not citizens do enjoy the rights and protection afforded under the Constitution.  That is, except for duties for which citizenship is required (voting, etc).  The protections of the Bill of Rights apply to non-citizens as well as citizens.  Conversely, they must abide by the same laws as citizens.

POW's, diplomats, and the like are another matter.

You are absolutely right.  A friend of mine just got her citizenship last week, and of course, all legal residents of the US are afforded the same rights as citizens.  I thought it came across that I was speaking solely about criminals, etc; if not, I apologize for the confusion.

Thanks for reading ...

TB

Vrailblonde, your views are really sickening and im beginnning to question your educational background, if any.  Why don't you just say your a white supremist who denounces england and their religion and their beliefs?  KKK did that.  They don't like foreigners either.
 If it weren't for foreigners immigrating to the united states, it would not be the great power it is today.  You must not like pizza, sushi, or peanuts.  I bet you don't even like baseball.  You sure are unamerican for an american.  To me, thats the real double standard.  

Hawk:  you're from France, aren't you?

And you're right - I don't like sushi.