Ever More Ridiculous

A European Union investigation into the Guantanamo kidnap victims revealed that only 30–40 of the 460 prisoners are considered “real valuable cases” in the fight against organized non-state violence (terrorism).

Last Thursday, I felt a tinge of pride when I read that the US supreme court actually bothered to over rule the obviously unconstitutional “military tribunals” that Dictator Bush had intended. Unfortunately, the pride quickly evaporated as I realized that nothing would change. The government clearly intends to rename the military tribunals as something else and give it another try. Which means that I will be reading about another supreme court case in two years over the same subject.

I feel that the prison in Guantanamo is the greatest shame upon the US since it held innocent Japanese-Americans hostage during World War II. It is such an obvious violation of the very reasons the US revolted against the British dictatorship of King George.

Let me end with this quote from the US Bill of Rights:

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0701-05.htm

Note: I wrote this in 2006. The Guantanamo Bay Detention Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Notably, it now contains only 40 prisoners…