Justice for detainees

There are more than 300 detainees still being held at Guantanamo Bay, and after six years, they still don’t have access to legal representation and a fair trial. Wouldn’t we want someone to speak out against injustice on our behalf?

The collective voice of the American people is much more powerful and potentially beneficial than relying solely on our government (especially our current government) to act in a fair and just manner.

We have a great opportunity here, to convey to the world that we —unequivocally — uphold and vigorously defend those values that we hold dear. We have an opportunity to clearly establish our sense of valor, to show how we, the people, are much more powerful than any self-absorbed government, and that we will most certainly do what is within our power to defend those too vulnerable to defend themselves.

Call your representatives. Write letters to editor. Sign petitions. Force the hand of this administration. Remind them that they that represent us, not the other way around.

As long as any one segment of society is disenfranchised, wherever and whoever they may be, we all remain at risk.

Diana Skill
Kansas City

Comments

[stillwaters]

We will never know whether they are guilty or innocent unless they have a fair trial. A trial that all people living in a civilized society are entitled to, as a basic human right. If they are truly guilty of some crime, then charge them, try them, convict them, and sentence them. Or is the real reason that none of this is done is because there is no reasonable case against them? Jose Padilla, aka The Dirty Bomber, anyone?

[BuddyT]

"Ramblin Wreck" ( you are a hell of an engineer!) I congratulate on a beautiful piece of logic in your last post.

I suspect the Anne's and the Dianne's will "be stuck for an answer". They will however, shrug it off, and continue to march for Code Pink, or whoever.

I shudder to think of what would happen if these folks ever had to face an armed conflict on their soil. I see them wail over not being able to pay back their student loans, and I recall others who cried over so much more.....when fortunes, and lives were at stake.

Veterans of foreign conflicts, based upon my experiences, tend to have a more critical reflection upon the "seriousness" of current events than do the Diannes, and the Annes...

Perhaps that is a good thing...I hope so.

[Engineer]

One wonders at the mind sets of those who feel as do Anne and Diana Skill. Why in the world do they think the Government would want to keep foreign nationals at Gitmo except for what they consider valid military reasons? What would be the point? After all operating Gitmo is expensive and consumes personnel and other resources that could be used for other purposes. Where do they think almost all of these people were captured?

[BuddyT]

Anne you are very naive and very foolish. I sincerely hope that for the security of the nation folks like you never have any command or influence over our military and defense forces.

Tell me Anne, would you have "realeased" German and Japanese POWS before the end of WWII as well?

BTW, the 200 you speak of being released were returned in most cases to their country or origin to face justice there.

One more BTW, how many totally innocent have been release from Gitmo to date? Do you know and what is the source of your info? Please have the decency not to cite anything from Amnesty International. I would like some source with modicum of credibility.

[renfro]

Diana Skill
Were the guys that brought down the World Trade Center part of that disenfranchised segment of society you speak of Ms. Skill? The Guantanamo detainees may agree with your conclusions but when you turn them loose at the gate they’ll be thanking Allah, not you or your like minded friends for another shot at killing Americans. If their god is willing and they send flowers, you won’t smell ‘em!
On their release all a few of these people will need is some Vests, C-4, a Keg of Nails and a Venezuelan or Cuban passport with your address --- To reward you for your compassion!

[Anne]

Buddy,

You have no idea if any of the detainees did any of the things you mention in your first paragraph.

The government has already let over 200 people go - they apparently didn't do anything. So how can you assume that the remainder are guilty of any crimes.

Perhaps you belong to the Nancy Grace justice system: If a person is arrested he MUST have done somthing wrong.

[BuddyT]

Lets see now Diana, these are people in many cases captured on a battlefield doing their level best to kill our soldiers. These are the folks who behead journalists, and civilians. These are the ones who cheefully dispatch sucicide/homicide bombers to places of worship. They are the ones that torture, and butcher our soldiers when they are captured.

Now you want to me to get excited about giving them treatment in a "fair and just manner"?

I am afraid they are currently receiving far better treatment having "lemon chicken" and soccer games at Club Gitmo, than they are entitled to under any sense of justice.

I think you need to spend a little time in the real world Diana; it would do you good.