The American people voted for change and the Guantanamo stain was a big factor. Why? Undeniably, Delta Camp in Guantanamo Bay Cuba became a moral disaster for the reputation of our nation. This is because the prison or detention camp, was deliberately set up by the Bush Administration outside U.S. borders for the specific reason of circumventing U.S. Law. However, the thought of naming the detainees with convoluted terms such as "non-combatants" and thus, believing they would not be covered by either U.S. law or International convention, was sadly, a sloppy and goofy attempt that failed. Instead, the world saw GITMO, the giddy way of calling the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, as an illegal prison camp which violated the norms of U.S. law as well as international law. Moreover, the reports of inhumane treatment in many cases were further illegal acts under international convention. Thus, what has resulted from this GITMO fiasco is a moral issue for our nation's reputation, but additionally, a definite stain on the virtue of our law. Recognizing that the Guantanamo detention camp had become an overwhelming disapproval with the American people, no less with the entire world, (now) President Barack Obama promised he would immediately close GITMO. But when? Just yesterday, January 22, 2009, he signed a presidential order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp within one year. But Mr. President, how can we accept the stain of an illegal premise for a whole year? Surely, there should be caution, but what is prevailing is uproar by the right and neo-cons to the extreme. The main argument is that if they are let out, they will return to harm us. Correct. They will come back, but only to file suit against our government in our courts for unlawful detention. For those not released, we should submit them to the process of our legal system. What do we have to fear? That our legal system is worthless?
Imagine if you will, what if the value of our U.S. dollar only had value within our borders? Conceivably, our dollar would be worthless. Nobody outside the US would accept our currency and thus, no US goods would be bought, and we would not be the power that we are. In like circumstance, the law applies in this same concept. My point is, that our legal system is the greatest concept conceived by mankind and its value will withstand any test, including determining the guilt or innocence of those in detention at Guantanamo Bay.
We know however, that the Bush Administration precisely did not want to have these detainees processed by our laws because most of the detainees were either tortured, victims of rendition, or the charges could not be substantiated even in traffic court. For such reasons, the Bush Administration set up a new military tribunal system that was designed deliberately so detainees could not present witnesses, present evidence in their behalf, or demand to see evidence to support the charges.
In many cases, individuals detained in Guantanamo were merely picked up in various areas of the Middle East simply because they were in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Others were merely accused by enemy warlords, or for as little as receiving a cash reward. But in more sinister situations, middle eastern individuals, whose names were similar to names on a US government presumptive terrorist list, were detained at many parts of the world, even though, the only connection to the war on terror, was that they were Muslim or had a middle eastern name.
So yes! The Guantanamo Bay Delta Detention Camp should be immediately dismantled and closed. And every individual within the camp should immediately be given their habeas corpus, which is a right to secure a speedy relief from an unlawful detention+.+ Which brings me to the second most heard argument against releasing those detainees; that because much of the evidence against many of the prisoners has been compromised or is top secret, such nonsense holds no water. For if evidence has been compromised and the prisoner is still believed to be a bona fide suspect, under our present legal system, the prosecution can present other verifiable evidence against the subject. And if no such evidence exist, release them.
For those who we can prove their alleged guilt, lets bring them to the proper federal jurisdiction. Yes, in the mainland an not in Guantanamo or in CIA field detention camps which dot many areas of the world. What you say? Our laws and legal protections are not for non-citizens? Remember what I said about the value of our money. If our money does not bear value to the outside world, it is worthless. Hence, the same applies to our laws.
In sum, lets take this opportunity to redeem this shameful act of our former government under the Bush Administration, and let's close the dammed camp. It's an embarrassment, it is unlawful and immoral. And by the way, there is no strategic reason for us to maintain the lease of Guantanamo Bay Cuba, as that is also a shameful reminder of the Monroe Doctrine which bullied Latin America. And for those who may not know, Guantanamo Bay is not U.S. property. We forced a lease onto the Cuban people in a shameful act. Thus, we should close GITMO and return Guantanamo Bay to the rightful owner - Cuba.
Joseph Chez
Imagine if you will, what if the value of our U.S. dollar only had value within our borders? Conceivably, our dollar would be worthless. Nobody outside the US would accept our currency and thus, no US goods would be bought, and we would not be the power that we are. In like circumstance, the law applies in this same concept. My point is, that our legal system is the greatest concept conceived by mankind and its value will withstand any test, including determining the guilt or innocence of those in detention at Guantanamo Bay.
We know however, that the Bush Administration precisely did not want to have these detainees processed by our laws because most of the detainees were either tortured, victims of rendition, or the charges could not be substantiated even in traffic court. For such reasons, the Bush Administration set up a new military tribunal system that was designed deliberately so detainees could not present witnesses, present evidence in their behalf, or demand to see evidence to support the charges.
In many cases, individuals detained in Guantanamo were merely picked up in various areas of the Middle East simply because they were in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Others were merely accused by enemy warlords, or for as little as receiving a cash reward. But in more sinister situations, middle eastern individuals, whose names were similar to names on a US government presumptive terrorist list, were detained at many parts of the world, even though, the only connection to the war on terror, was that they were Muslim or had a middle eastern name.
So yes! The Guantanamo Bay Delta Detention Camp should be immediately dismantled and closed. And every individual within the camp should immediately be given their habeas corpus, which is a right to secure a speedy relief from an unlawful detention+.+ Which brings me to the second most heard argument against releasing those detainees; that because much of the evidence against many of the prisoners has been compromised or is top secret, such nonsense holds no water. For if evidence has been compromised and the prisoner is still believed to be a bona fide suspect, under our present legal system, the prosecution can present other verifiable evidence against the subject. And if no such evidence exist, release them.
For those who we can prove their alleged guilt, lets bring them to the proper federal jurisdiction. Yes, in the mainland an not in Guantanamo or in CIA field detention camps which dot many areas of the world. What you say? Our laws and legal protections are not for non-citizens? Remember what I said about the value of our money. If our money does not bear value to the outside world, it is worthless. Hence, the same applies to our laws.
In sum, lets take this opportunity to redeem this shameful act of our former government under the Bush Administration, and let's close the dammed camp. It's an embarrassment, it is unlawful and immoral. And by the way, there is no strategic reason for us to maintain the lease of Guantanamo Bay Cuba, as that is also a shameful reminder of the Monroe Doctrine which bullied Latin America. And for those who may not know, Guantanamo Bay is not U.S. property. We forced a lease onto the Cuban people in a shameful act. Thus, we should close GITMO and return Guantanamo Bay to the rightful owner - Cuba.
Joseph Chez
No comments:
Post a Comment