International Law

Wrong answer Mr Obama

By John Hirst

What happened to America on 9/11 was undoubtedly a tragedy. Unfortunately, America's response is a travesty of justice, the opening and operating Guantanamo Bay. The prisoners detained there, given the large scale breaches of human and civil rights, must be set free and paid compensation for the state abuse.

"If liberals believe they ought to go, maybe we ought to open Alcatraz," Congressman John Boehner, Republican leader in the House of Representatives, told NBC. "It's very secure".

Moving the problem around does not solve anything. At best it would only buy time. In my view, America is fast running out of time. Therefore, the problem calls for a more practical solution. If I wasn't against torture I might have suggested that Congressman John Boehner was subjected to waterboarding for his seemingly stupid solution.

The 9/11 attacks were wrong. America responses were wrong. Two wrongs do not make a right. Only doing the right thing will make matters right. The detainees must be freed at whatever cost to America.

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David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, has done his bit, as has Jack Straw, and I do not mean by taking released detainees. I mean their involvement in allowing the CIA flights of extra-ordinary rendition. So, when there is talk about hypocrisy let us not forget who are the real hypocrites in this affair. David Miliband and Jack Straw have been named and they should feel totally ashamed for their actions.

And this is to be expected...

Freed Guantánamo prisoners taunt US as closure plan falls apart

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on January 27, 2009 (boomark / email).