Online Poker Scenario

With the recent legislation including the UIGEA, the suspension of Habeas Corpus and the legalization of torture via the Military Commissions Act of 2006 America, nay the world, is fraught with peril. That's right, in America we make online poker illegal and torture legal. Hooza!!

So how is this for a scenario?

I happen to know and know of several people that own or work for, are sponsored by online poker sites that continue to do business in the United States. One of the key reasons that the UIGEA was passed was the mythical potential for terrorists to be able to launder money through online gaming. Lets be clear. Terrorists can easily launder money in a bricks and mortar casino, but we don't have anyone cracking down on that.

Said U.S. citizen and employee of online poker site based overseas decides that they would like to come home for Thanksgiving/ Christmas/ Hanukkah/ Kwanza/ Funeral/ Birthday/ Wedding/ Blowjob/ Party/ etc. Said employee is detained by the FBI/ CIA/ NSA/ DHS/ Army/ Navy/ Marines when their international flight lands at New York's JFK airport.

Said employee is accused of being in violation of the UIGEA by being part of an organization that accepts illegal gambling transactions. Now the employee of online poker site says, "BUT WAIT!! The UIGEA doesn't make anything I did illegal! Poker is still legal and having a job is still legal! I want my attorney!"

Ooops. As these transactions may include the laundering of money by terrorists the employee is deemed to be and enemy combatant and then detained as such by the U.S. goverment. This employee will receive no legal counsel and will not have his day in court. I repeat, you, an American Citizen don't get an attorney and you don't get a day in court. Why? Because as an enemy combatant you are not subject to Habeas Corpus.

Instead...

You are subject to legal torture at the hand of your own government. For those of you that think this is a ridiculous scenario need to get a clue.

For those of you that believe the above scenario is impossible because the Military Commissions Act of 2006 specifically exempts American citizens I offer you two alternatives: 1.) How American Enemy Combatants were treated before this law and 2.) Change the lead characters citizenship to Canadian and see if that makes it easier to swallow.

Yes I offer you an extreme example. You can argue that it is highly implausible. I agree, it is highly implausible. That is exactly my point. Thank you for agreeing with me. You didn't see that coming did you?

The scenario outlined above is highly implausible. A few days ago it was impossible.