Republican Representative Thomas M. Davis III joined a Washington Post online discussion today. And while he spit out the usual GOP talking points, one question and answer posting really caught my eye...
Chantilly Va.: Thanks for taking this question. Guantanamo: I keep reading that almost no one there has been charged of a crime, and that those handed over to foreign governments almost invariably are released very quickly (I tried to find an AP story with the stats -- but it's several hundred). Besides the morality issue, isn't this going to haunt U.S. foreign policy for a long time? I read a fair amount of the foreign press (and not just London, etc., but press in the Arab world) and we look very bad on this.
Rep. Thomas M. Davis III: I've been to Guantanamo, and there has been no consistent policy on how to deal with enemy combatants. Bear in mind that many of these prisoners are dangerous -- and if released, would dedicate themselves to killing Americans and destroying our way of life. On the other hand, I'm sure a few innocent people slipped in to our grasp. The one thing we can do is move up their adjudication dates, so they don't languish in prison.
Let's see if we've got this straight:
many of these prisoners are dangerous -- and if released, would dedicate themselves to killing Americans and destroying our way of life.
In other words, if we think someone may commit a crime in the future, it's OK to hold them today? No trial. No evidence. Just because Pres. Bush says so.
What a scary thought. Imagine teams of GOP police going through your personal info to ascertain whether or not you may do something in the future that warrants holding you in jail today. Sound crazy? Why? There's a precedent for it now.
I'm sure a few innocent people slipped in to our grasp. The one thing we can do is move up their adjudication dates, so they don't languish in prison.
What's the big deal if innocent people have been bound, gagged and tortured without the right to a hearing? They've all been there for 5+ years anyway, what's another few years?
GOP: the party of war, torture and scandal.