Guantanamo... Seven Years Too Late

Ettarose, a long time reader of SCREAMING and an avid supporter of the humanitarian efforts and causes in this world recently left a comment regarding my post "Guantanamo Suspended: Thank You Mr. President."

Etta, like many of us, has questions. I wonder if we stop and think could we come up with the answers?

Ettarose wrote:

Hi, my concern is those who are guilty. Where will these prisoners end up? I do NOT agree with the torture of them, but I would like to see justice done swiftly.

If I may....

"... those who are guilty." I would propose that first we get to the point of finding out ARE they guilty?

Now, we may all answer yes but there is a process--DUE PROCESS--that needs to be followed and that many of us have been SCREAMING for it for 7 years. Bush's government chose to detain these suspects and NOT give them their access to DUE PROCESS. In fact the Bush administration chose to hold them hostage (prisoner--enemy combatant--hostage...all about the same in this case), without trial, to suit and fit their own political needs and then when they didn't fit the administrations needs they didn't know what to do with them...

ummm---leave them for the next guy!

Now it's time to give the detainee's (prisoners) their day in court--Military Court.

Ettarose then asks "... where will these prisoners end up?"

I propose JAIL and I'm not trying to be a smart-ass but honestly, we have some of the very best maximum security prisons in the world. We house Manson, Menendez, Dahmler, and a few thousand of the worlds most violent criminals. I'm certain we could house some lowly enemy combatant for the rest of their natural lives. After all, it's not like we're going to give them weapons or anything - lock-down baby, lock-down!... I personally think our prisons are secure enough for these people.

Finally, my friend closes with "... but I would like to see justice done swiftly."

AMEN!

We all would. I'm afraid that as a Nation we have missed that boat. Seven years of detention without the case ever being tried in a Military court, National or International, is anything but swift.

Peace.




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