I'm so mad that I can't even speak ... this is insane. What is going on - have people lost all their moral sensibilites? What ever happened to justice damnit.
http://nytimes.com/2005/11/11/politics/11detain.html?hp&ex=1131685200&en=eacb589a0ee7f4b3&ei=5094&partner=homepageFor those that choose not to read the whole article - lemme give you some quotes:
What does this mean?
"Under Mr. Graham's measure, prisoners at Guantánamo Bay would be able to challenge
only the narrow question of whether the government
followed the procedures established by the secretary of defense at the time the military determined the prisoners' status as an enemy combatant, which is subject to an annual review. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia would retain the right to rule on that, but not on other aspects of a prisoner's case."
"If it stands, it means detainees at Guantánamo Bay would have no access to any federal court for anything other than very simple procedural complaints dealing with annual status review," said Christopher E. Anders, a legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union. "Otherwise,
the federal courts' door is shut."
This one really gets me -
"It is not fair to our troops fighting in the war on terror to be sued in every court in the land by our enemies
based on every possible complaint," Mr. Graham said in a statement after the vote. "We have done nothing today but return to the basics of the law of armed conflict where we are dealing with enemy combatants, not common criminals."
--- no, not on every possible complaint Mr. Graham - I think they just want to have their day in court to PROVE that there is no REASON to keep them in Gitmo.
Just think about this - the definition of enemy combatant is a
soldier or
guerrilla member who is waging
war. For a second, just clear your mind of any prejudices you may have against these people - and just think about the circumstances in which they were rounded up.
Also think about this - detainees in Gitmo have been detained since whwat 2001-2002 ... no access to a court, held indefinately - no proof of whether they were actually "enemy combatants" [seriously damnit - just call 'em what they are - POW's ... yes, that is what they are!], even if there was proof - who the hell cares right? lets not put a face to these people ... daily interrogation w/electric shock, isolation, sleep deprivation and God knows what else. Stripped of their dignity, disallowed from practicing their faith - in fact, metaphorically flushing it down the toilet [yes I went there], now stripped of their chance for justice. Mr. Graham - your sense of fairness blows my mind.
If you have time - read this too ...
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr511412003You know that if American soldiers were being treated ANYWHERE CLOSE to as badly as we're treating these POW's - there would be mass hysteria. Just because they're not American doesn't mean that they deserve any less.
Believe it or not they're human too. and you know what ... there's the slightest, most miniscule chance that they could be innocent. It's not that hard to imagine. Go ahead ... let your mind go wild.
