US pours scorn on Guantanamo report
THE Bush Administration has dismissed as a "discredit to the United Nations" a Human Rights Commission report that calls for the immediate closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba.
A White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, hit back, saying: "These are dangerous terrorists that we're talking about." He made it clear that President George Bush was determined to keep the prison camp open. Sydney Morning Herald
To paraphrase one time scandal pin-up girl, Mandy rice-Davies, “they would say that, wouldn’t they.” The Bush administration have dug themselves a nice deep hole with their whole terrorism distraction routine.
It’s interesting to note former staunch supporter, Britain’s Blair, is conceding to public pressure and walking away from his buddy Bush’s problems. Blair: Guantánamo is an anomaly. Although Britain has never supported of the Guantanamo approach.
It seems Australia’s Prime Minister and slimy toad supreme, John Howard, is all Bush has left in the world opinion stakes.*
Inside the US there are some straight news reports mixed in with the more predictable disclaimers: Annan Distances UN From Report On Guantanamo Bay New York Sun.
Then there are the genuine surprises, like: Former chaplain says closing Guantanamo wouldn’t fix problems.
Closing the naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would be a “great symbolic gesture” but wouldn’t necessarily improve the harsh conditions for detainees, said former Army Capt. James Yee, who once counseled there.
*Unlike Britain’s Blair, who refused to let his nationals be held at Gitmo, Howard has expressed his satisfaction with the incarceration of Australia's David Hicks. Hick’s, reportedly not the most sympathetic character, has simply been left to rot by his own government.
In fact, the only real champion Hick’s has had through this episode is his US military lawyer. I guess that is another reminder that there are real people, with real souls behind all the myths and generalities.
Introducing the Mystic Simone Weil.
1 week ago
2 comments:
What really terrifies me about Guantanamo is that the courts here in the US have supported the early contentions that they have no jurisdiction over the activities there.
As bad as Gunatanamo is, if there was the possibility of court cases against the government or individuals involved at least that might moderate some of it.
As it stands right now, there is effectively no crime that can be committed there if it is not charged by the military in a military court. And that would not apply to non-DoD personnel. So there is no law for CIA or contractors.
Scary when you consider the similarities with the lawless terrorism this behaviour is supposed to be battling.
We see screamer headlines about hostages in the Middle East, but nowhere near the same reaction to the kidnappings and torure conducted by the coalition of the willing.
It is difficult to see how this approach ensures security when it actually emulates the behaviour of the so-called enemy.
Post a Comment