Damn this thread went off topic…
I’m caught in the middle. One part of me thinks since they didn’t sign the treaty and they certainly don’t follow it why should we?
On the other hand isn’t there a small possibilty, however small, that some of the inmates are not terrorists and were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time?
semper_fi,
[quote]semper_fi wrote:
Damn this thread went off topic…[/quote]
You think? 
That’s an understandable impulse - especially given the atrocities that are being committed against innocents under the banner of radical islamism.
But clearly one injustice morally doesn’t justify another: Moral behaviour shouldn’t be switched on or off within context (or at convenience), it should be the impression of belief into a certain set of values.
If your values include the humane treatment of prisoners and due process, it has to be applied to all of them regardless of the severity or hideousness of their crime.
If you look up the numbers of people released from Gitmo (see my above posts in this thread), and research the criteria for which some of them have been taken into custody, then this is more than a small possibility.
But let’s say for a moment that all of them are guilty of some form of terrorist activity - it still has to be proven in a proper court with proper procedures (see my above argument).
Unbalanced courts (with an impaired defense) and secret evidence simply do not suit a free and democratic country. The Economist calls them even unamerican and I agree. And in order to “win” this “war on terror”, the US has to win hearts and minds of their (muslim and non-muslim) sceptics - out of pure necessity - by showing that it represents and lives the values it proclaims.
Makkun
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
1-packlondoner wrote:
… In fact, The Queen formally apologised on an official visit there a few years ago.
…
That makes it all better doesn’t it?[/quote]
It’s a start. You don’t think it’s good that someone should recognise the error of their actions and apologise for it? How great it must be to be you. Never wrong, or at least never having to admit it.
I have a feeling the people of Japan would appreciate a similar gesture from the US but the difference is, you’re not sorry. You (and by you I mean the US Government and not you personally) don’t accept it was wrong. Which is fair enough, you’re are entitled to your opinion.
But don’t sit there making snide comments when someone IS big enough to step up and apologise. Frankly it’s rather infantile and more than a little embarrassing.
And Makkun, as is so often the case, I agree with everything you just said and am envious of your ability to make your points so succinctly - in stark contrast to my vague ramblings.
God, I hadn’t posted anything on this site in months and suddenly I am straight back into an argument… Good to be back! lol
Glad to have you back 1-pack. The “Sad state of affairs” thread made it quite clear how much we need a few sane people around here.
Makkun
Another update:
Republicans reject Bush’s anti-terror law
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Friday September 15, 2006
The Guardian
George Bush suffered a serious rebuff yesterday to his demand to grant the CIA and the military a freer hand in the war on terror after Senate Republicans moved to block legislation that would allow coercive interrogations of detainees.
[…]Mr Powell added his voice to those of military judges who said the US would imperil its own soldiers if it watered down compliance with the Geneva convention.
I always liked Colin Powell, and here again he strikes me as one of the true and upright republicans.
Makkun
[quote]makkun wrote:
Another update:
Republicans reject Bush’s anti-terror law
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Friday September 15, 2006
The Guardian
George Bush suffered a serious rebuff yesterday to his demand to grant the CIA and the military a freer hand in the war on terror after Senate Republicans moved to block legislation that would allow coercive interrogations of detainees.
[…]Mr Powell added his voice to those of military judges who said the US would imperil its own soldiers if it watered down compliance with the Geneva convention.
I always liked Colin Powell, and here again he strikes me as one of the true and upright republicans.
Makkun[/quote]
If there ever was gonna be a black US Premier… Well him or Ronnie Coleman.
This whole attitude of you bomb me therefore I bomb you has got to stupid. Both sides are acting like kids. If the US really intends to set a peaceful example they should act accordingly instead of just carpet bombing the area.
And Zap, they are hiding behind children and women… therefore you should shoot the women and children to get to them? Is that better?
I’m not ignoring either what is happening to the US soldiers, but they are there as combatants, they die because they are in war, that should be expected. As should the terrorists, being the cold-hearted muderers they are. However letting innocents get killed in the way is retarded.
It’s no different from what the terrorists are doing, killing civilians to get to the US government.
Either way its the most disgusting thing on the planet, both sides have their mind set on just eradicating everything to get what they want and then just put their actions in either then name of Islam or patriotism of the US to justify it.
This one face attitude to everything has to stop.
Its no different from whats happening in Israel and Palestine either. Israel kills some kids, so dumbass Palestinian political groups see it fit to kill children as well. What kind of sick mentality is that?? So Israel kills a ton more kids and justifies it because they were throwing stones at soldiers during a riot… Then they suicide bomb back and kill more civilians. What ends up happening is that a ton of people die who have no political affiliation. They just want to live free of fear, oppression and in freedom.
But it’s not going to stop. Nature of man to kill anything to get what he wants. I hope all the terrorist who propagate violence and instigate more youth to do so, and kill innocent civilians and justify it with a Quran go to hell. I also hope those who support a war that is quickly killing thousands of innocent families and children also go to hell, because surely both groups deserve it.
For God’s sakes, if you want a war on terror, go kill the fucking terrorists if you so want to, they probably deserve it. But don’t slaughter innocent families, destroy their homes and their livelihood, then justify it because ‘it happens in war’. Fallujah was very real… don’t ignore it.
Sorry OP.