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The military legal system has never had any doubt about how this should be handled. There is a lot of misinformation being spread to the general public.
Speaking publicly for the first time, senior U.S. law enforcement investigators say they waged a long but futile battle inside the Pentagon to stop coercive and degrading treatment of detainees by intelligence interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In extensive interviews with MSNBC.com, former leaders of the Defense Department’s Criminal Investigation Task Force said they repeatedly warned senior Pentagon officials beginning in early 2002 that the harsh interrogation techniques used by a separate intelligence team would not produce reliable information, could constitute war crimes, and would embarrass the nation when they became public knowledge.
The investigators say their warnings began almost from the moment their agents got involved at the Guantanamo prison camp, in January 2002. When they could not prevent the harsh interrogations and humiliation of detainees at Guantanamo, they say, they tried in 2003 to stop the spread of those tactics to Iraq, where abuses at Abu Ghraib prison triggered worldwide outrage with the publishing of graphic photos in April 2004.
Their account, confirmed by the Navy's former general counsel, outlines a fierce debate within the Defense Department over the competing goals of justice and security in the war on terror. President Bush has said repeatedly that the detentions at Guantanamo were intended not only to secure intelligence information to prevent al-Qaida attacks, but also to "bring to justice" the terrorists.
The thing is this was something of a unique situation as you are dealing with more than one type of prisoner. Terrorists, as in the guys who are Al Qaeda, are just that. Taliban fighters are, well, Taliban Fighters. Neither is an active soldier in the traditional sense so the Geneva Conventions are not much help.
So I symphathized somewhat with the initial confusion. But as the years go by, a solution becomes ever more desireable.
Well the Taliban, whether we liked it or not was at the time the legit government, so in my mind, these Taliban fighters should fall under the Geneva Conventions. Terrorist on the other hand are criminals. Matters not if they are mass murders, pedophiles, a thief, or a forger, they have in the past been treated as just this, criminals. (albeit bad ones) In this case and no matter how egregious the crimes, they are still human beings in our custody and as such, should have their day in court or some form of hearing.
Whether through military means or through the judicial system, they are in our custody and are our responsibility, no matter how much it pains us. Had we killed them on the battlefield this would be a moot point, but here they are. Now I would imagine the hardest thing now would be in determining whether they were Taliban or just your run of the mill terrorist. I have no idea how this would be determined.
Well the Taliban, whether we liked it or not was at the time the legit government, so in my mind, these Taliban fighters should fall under the Geneva Conventions.
Except that they do not wear uniforms which is stated in the Geneva Conventions. See, that is part of the problem- the Geneva Conventions were written for standing armies facing each other, not movements or bands of guerillas facing a standing army.
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Terrorist on the other hand are criminals. Matters not if they are mass murders, pedophiles, a thief, or a forger, they have in the past been treated as just this, criminals. (albeit bad ones) In this case and no matter how egregious the crimes, they are still human beings in our custody and as such, should have their day in court or some form of hearing.
As for the inhabitants of Gitmo, I highly doubt we grabbed them as they were tending their poppy fields.
That being said, it's very disturbing it is taking this long to render a verdict on these people. 6 years??? They are either innocent or guilty. If guilty, fry them. If innocent, well, paying them off will probably not be enough.
As for the inhabitants of Gitmo, I highly doubt we grabbed them as they were tending their poppy fields.
That being said, it's very disturbing it is taking this long to render a verdict on these people. 6 years??? They are either innocent or guilty. If guilty, fry them. If innocent, well, paying them off will probably not be enough.
There's a sufficient reason to keep someone locked up for 6 years without charges and right of counsel -- You doubt we would have grabbed them if they didn't do anything.
There's a sufficient reason to keep someone locked up for 6 years without charges and right of counsel -- You doubt we would have grabbed them if they didn't do anything.
You seem to doubt that these detainees are guilty. Why? The lack of charges doesn't mean they are innocent. You seem to also have a low regard for our military.
You seem to doubt that these detainees are guilty. Why? The lack of charges doesn't mean they are innocent. You seem to also have a low regard for our military.
The fact that we've released hundreds so far. The fact that even with kangaroo courts the idiots of the Bush Administration only think they can bring a handful to trial.
I have a high regard for the military. The military criminal justice people have gagged at the way Gitmo is being run from the very beginning. This is run by political people. Some might be wearing uniforms, but they aren't frigging soldiers.
Except that they do not wear uniforms which is stated in the Geneva Conventions. See, that is part of the problem- the Geneva Conventions were written for standing armies facing each other, not movements or bands of guerillas facing a standing army.
Ok, I'm going to have to think about this for a while and try and get my mind around this. Interesting point.
YES, YES. KILL THEM ALL. BWAHAHAHA! LET THEIR GOD SORT THEM OUT LATER!
You guys are a trip. Thank God our fine military does not share your attitudes.
So now we're extending constitutional rights to suspected terrorist who aren't even American citizens. Wow, there's a recipe for success.
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