Guantanamo-The Perfect Training Facility

I feel that a great many of detainees of Guantanamo could probably be allowed to leave. Some, for example, that were merely innocent bystanders in Afghanistan, citizens of that place, or even those that may have been low level soldiers or mid-level officers of the Taliban. Sure, it would be taking a chance, however, it would at least be an effort on the part of the U.S. to show some kind of conciliatory move, even if some of these folks had indeed taken up arms against us. After all, how would we feel if suddenly we found ourselves surrounded by an invading army from another nation?

On the other hand, there are those that should be brought to trial. Not in our court system, however, but through the use of military tribunals, if there is evidence to warrant this. An example would be fighters who were taken on the fields of Afghanistan, who were from other nations, such as Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Whether they are Al-Queda members or sympathizers, or higher level Taliban members, they should be brought to trial, with of course some judicial oversight and review.

As for those who might have pertinent information, we have every right to extract that information by any means available, in my opinion. They are combatants who target civilians, who are not legitimate members of a recognized military or nation. Therefore, their rights under our constitution, and as far as I'm concerned under international law, ends where begins my rights to live my life in safety and security, for myself and my family. Guantanamo should therefore be closed to any scrutiny by any outside entity, such as Amnesty International, The International Red Cross, or any other group, foreign or domestic, who deigns it fitting to interfere, on whatever pretext, in our national security affairs.

However, I do not condone excessive brutality, unreasonable torture. By the same token, there might be a better way, a way to totally break their spirits. Simply make Guantanamo the training area of choice for the future Iraqi Army. Once the incarcerated terrorists see the resolve, the dedication, that the average Iraqi civilian goes about the process of training in order to protect the security of their state, the love and patriotism they exhibit for the prospect of finally living in an open, democratic society based on the rule of law, and equal protection under the law, of justice for all, a good many might come to see reason, if for no other reason than simple shame. If not, part of the Iraqi training can be in the area of enemy interrogation. The thought of suddenly finding themselves alone in a room of Iraqi military, American trained interrogators, might make some open up out of terror at the consequences, and others more out of the simple religious bonds that supposedly exist on at least a latent level amongst all Muslims.

If that fails, we can always go back to Christina Aquillierra.

American Soldier Victim At Guantanamo

You haven't heard too much about it over the media, if anything, but this could be the story that ends up blowing the lid off the Bush administrations insistence that all is well at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Try telling that to Sean Baker, a former soldier from Georgetown, Ky. During the course of a training exercise with military reservists from a Michigan Unit at Camp Delta, Baker was given the assignment of pretending to be a detainee. He was beaten severely, in fact his head was slammed to the floor multiple times, and he was stangled. When the code word "Red" didn't bring the proper response, he somehow managed to blurt out "I'm an American soldier. I'm an American soldier."

After a brief leave, he returned to light duty, but had to be heavily medicated. He began to suffer from severe seizures, and was eventually hospitalized at Walter Reed. Baker was eventually given a medical discharge, but it was denied that the incident had anything to do with it. Still, Baker is currently involved in the course of trying to file a lawsuit. The problem is, evidently it is in the military contract that the government cannot be sued for injuries resulting from the course of one's duties. Still, it looks as though Baker might get the green light to go ahead with his suit.

I wish him luck. Regardless of the legitimacy of the suit, this needs to be brought out into the open, into the light of day. After all, if we are to insist on transparency and humane treatments for suspected terrorists, whose rights to them are questionable, to say the least, then how much more so should we be on behalf of our young men and women who serve for the far greater part with honor, distinction, and a kind of bravery I can only wonder at.