British Expatriate Network

http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4721068.stm

A UN Report has called for Guantanamo Bay to be closed. I was wondering if any of you agree/disagree.

Of all the Bush Administrations policies I find that this is the most cynical and disgusting and reckless.

The US Bill of Rights states that

Amendment V

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

I also regard principals like the above that are embedded in the Bill of Rights to be the foundation stone of a free and fair society. The US must put these prisoners on trial or release them. The fact that they have probably been tortured means that a conviction in a US court is highly unlikely. So what purpose does Gitmo serve other that to inflame muslim/arab opinion?

I hope that pressure continues on the US. This administration will not close Gitmo but perhaps it will become an issue for the next election. Anyone think the prisoners should be kept there? Why and for how long?

Well, having just seen some of the pictures of Abu Ghraib I'd say let's just stop it, let some countries with balls enough to start issuing sanctions against the US.

But it won't happen.

I wonder if there has ever been a more dreadful President and administration in the history of this country?

Errmmm, nope! :roll:
This country is moving backwards in evolution, it's fun to whatch when you can just leave, but I feel for the millions who work hard and are stuck here!

Gitmo is a disgusting institution that truly personifies everything that is wrong with how this admin is conducting the war on terror. I am absolutely revolted by it. Of course it should be closed. The very fact is that once this admin is out of office it will be abolished, and it will be clearly stated just how attrocious an affair this has been. The UN is absolutely right to condemn it, and to condemn the US for deliberately detaining people indefinitely in such a manner. Any one of us who are not citizens are subject to being sent there if the admin desired.

No I don't believe Gitmo will be closed.
The prison may be closed to prisoners of war but the base is too important in many other ways.
The prison is also used to hold Cuban and Dominican refugees when being returned.
It is a port for other US forces, including the US Coast Guard.

Guantanomo Bay reminds me of Gibralter - a chunk of land that the owning nation really has no right to but will probably keep forever.

I don't think the issue is USA giving up the entire base - just the illegal captivity that they carry out there, simply because it is conveniently not on US soil.

I mentioned before in another thread that I saw a Spanish documentary about Cuban refugees, caught at sea and then held at Guantanamo - they appeared to be very well looked after, were treated with dignity and respect and ultimately were granted entry visas into the United States. It's use for that and as a US naval base is not in question.

They are not going to give up the base, whatever. They have it on an open ended lease i.e. both sides must agree to any changes. Since castro wants them out, they will not go while he is still around. They have sent the check for $2000 each year, but Castro doesn't cash it. The base is quite useless from a military standpoint. It does seem useful for storing would-be emmigrants. I agree that the prison should be shut down.

Or the US must abandon it. Castro tried turning off the water to encourage just such an action.

He did cash the first one though and that's a big part of the legal basis for continued US occupation.

I think bishop Desmond Tutu hit the nail on the head here -

"I never imagined I would live to see the day when the United States and its satellites would use precisely the same arguments that the apartheid government used for detention without trial. It is disgraceful ... One cannot find strong enough words to condemn what Britain and the United States and some of their allies have accepted.."

http//www.nytimes.com/2006/02/18/international/europe/18gitmo.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

After 4 years in Afghanistan it looks as though it is sliding back into the anarchist country that it's always been.
And they are back to being pre-invasion providers of an estimated 90% of the world heroin production.
Also the US is pulling out just as things get worse ( Suicide attacks)


Click Afghanistan