Bush's proposal to allow withholding evidence from suspects would preclude 'a full and fair hearing,' they say. GOP leaders work on a deal.

By Richard Simon, Times Staff Writer
September 8, 2006

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration's proposal for bringing suspected terrorists to trial drew criticism from top military lawyers Thursday as congressional Republicans worked to bridge differences within their own ranks over the proposal.

A group of influential GOP senators who have been critical of the administration's proposal worked through the day to try to come up with a compromise. Republican leaders — looking to highlight their party's efforts in fighting terrorism in advance of the November midterm elections — are pushing for a vote on new rules for military commissions by the end of the month.

....

The flurry of activity occurred as Pentagon lawyers took issue with a key provision of the administration's proposal: permitting judges to deny suspects the right to see classified evidence used against them.

"I can't imagine any military judge believing that an accused has had a full and fair hearing if all the government's evidence that was introduced was classified and the accused was not able to see any of it," the Navy's judge advocate general, Rear Adm. Bruce E. MacDonald, told the House Armed Services Committee.

http://tinyurl.com/lspqn

I tend to agree with the Rear Admiral here. Sets a precedent down a slippery slope once you start convicting people on "classified" evidence.

A very steep and slippery slope indeed.