On this ninth anniversary of 9/11, there will be politicians offering their thoughts, as well as more than a few preachers. My thoughts, though, turned to the late Buck O’Neil. Those who flew the planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania left a lasting monument to their hate. How we reacted — and continue to react — to the events of 9/11 speaks volumes about who we are. For myself, when I preach tomorrow morning, I can only hope to be as eloquent and powerful and inspiring as Buck.

Like many questions that arise in these military commission hearings, the answer to this one could not be found anywhere in the rules or the military commission precedent.

That’s partly because the current military commissions, created by the Military Commissions Act of 2009 – have no rules. The military hasn’t issued them yet.