A recent story has popped up on CNN covering Amnesty International’s claim that two Yemeni men were held in secret US detention centers.
Two Yemeni men say they were held in solitary confinement in secret, underground U.S. detention facilities in an unknown country and interrogated by masked men for more than 18 months without being charged or allowed any contact with the outside world, Amnesty International said Wednesday.
Many of the war apologists say that such tactics are justified because the “War on Terror” is a special circumstance and that they, they being the terrorists, don’t fight fair. Since when do two wrongs make a right?
This is the biggest problem I have with the “War on Terror” and those who support it. They feel that the PATRIOT Act, illegal invasion of Iraq, secret detentions, indefinite detentions without access to any legal proceedings, etc. are tools for winning this war of ideologies. But, when you lower yourself to your cheating opponents level are you any better than they are? The President preaches about “advancing freedom” and, at the same time, keeps prisoners detained indefinitely without access to legal counsel in secret. We hear it all the time about how Saddam had secret prisons where people were tortured and how Saddam used vast intelligence networks to turn people against each other and keep them in line. How is the PATRIOT Act, which allows the FBI to monitor your reading habits, different?
“Land of the Free” my ass. Look in the mirror and say it with me, “I’m a hypocrite.”
I am not sure that two men from Yemen is the smoking gun to use this rant on. While I honestly wouldn’t be surprised at this happening somewhere, I also would say I wouldn’t be surprised this has happened in the past, and will happen in the future regardless of the President in office.
“The President preaches about “advancing freedom” and, at the same time, keeps prisoners detained indefinitely without access to legal counsel in secret.”
You also may be giving too MUCH credit to GWB and his knowledge of every single prisoner in every single detainment facility across the world. While it would be ideal for him to be omniscient, I highly doubt he hears about 90% of the day-to-day work being done. He has other work to be doing, even though he of course has a huge focus on this problem of terrorism.
I would like to see the stories of these men to have some sort of confirmable basis regarding our elite-ninja, rock&roll music playing, secret task-force. If it’s true, I would like to know how I sign up to be one. Would beat the hell out of my desired FBI job.
Yah, that’s the ticket! GWB has no clue that this is going on and, as a result, should not be held responsible for what his subordinates are doing.
Also, don’t you feel at all hypocritical in thinking that secret detention centers where torture is used contradictory to the way of life America stands for? It’s almost like “Land of the Free” should have a little footnote that says “Unless you are from the Middle East or don’t think like we do.”
I didn’t say GWB isn’t responsible, I said GWB probably doesn’t know — unless these gentlemen were some sort of huge lead. Unless you want to show me some sort of proof that he does know, we will stay under the innocent until proven guilty idea since we all love our American rights. While your gathering that proof, could you also find me proof these two random people from Yemen aren’t lying?
“Also, don’t you feel at all hypocritical in thinking that secret detention centers where torture is used contradictory to the way of life America stands for?”
I wouldn’t know about any secret detention centers existing for a fact, but like I said, I wouldn’t be surprised that they have occured at multiple periods in history, in many many parts of the world. Does that make them appropriate? Not in my honest opinion. Could I see a point where they may be necessary to people that have real responsibilities in this world like taking down terrorist fugatives? Sure. I don’t pretend to know how to run a terrorist task-force… but apparently I need plenty of ninjas.