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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Elroy who wrote (190722)	7/3/2006 10:13:17 AM
From: bentway	Respond to of 281500

"What are you alleging, that if someone gets flown from Gitmo to Yemen that the Yemeni authorities would get them at the airport and take them to Yemeni Tortureland?" This is the lie the administration tries to sell. The reality is, the Gitmo detainee would be a minor celeb on returning to their home country, and would likely tell their Gitmo story to the press and anyone else interested. Which is what the Bushies want to avoid at all costs. They have to preserve the lie that these guys are dangerous killers all, like our President said!

To: Elroy who wrote (190722)	7/3/2006 12:45:07 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

If the Gitmo detainees have no charges against them that can be made public, and if they were returned to their home country I imagine they would walk off the plane and be normal citizens in their home country. They don't have to be charged. They are illegal combatants who have been detained and suspected of involvement in terrorist organizations that have sworn attacks upon the US. What you might want to consider when you try and apply Geneva conventions to the issue of illegal combatants, it must be remembered that these accords were developed and signed as agreements between governments. They DID NOT include terrorist organizations with no soveriegn authority as legitimate combatant entities. Why do you think they would be mistreated anywhere - they aren't accused of any crime. The "crime" is being perpetrated against the US and its people. In such, when international law does not prevent such attacks, or end support for declared enemies of the US (Al Qai'da declared war on the US years ago), members of the enemy's organization can be detained until the end of hostilities and final peace treaty. There doesn't have to be any immediate trial unless their membership in the organization is questionable. As for Yemen, or any other country, were Yemen an Islamic Republic/Caliphate, you might be correct. But it's not. And thus, these Jihadists pose a risk to their own governments and perception of legitimacy. They don't particularly want them running around unless they can be assured they are not a risk. There are any number of sovereign, but non-democratic (and thus, illegitimate) governments in the region. And given their corruption and tenuous control over their populations, they are seriously concerned about being overthown and replaced another illegitimate tyranny perpetrated by Jihadists fighting for their Caliphate. I personally don't want to see one tyranny replaced by an even more aggressive and fanatical tyranny. Thus, the belief that only democratic reform can create the legitimacy, rule of law, and governmental accountability required to moderate the intolerance in the region, and in the religion. Afterall, that's what democractic reforms did for Christian oriented countries. It moderated the intolerance and provided an opportunity for progressive social changes and empowerment of the people being ruled. Hawk