Guantanamo closure a blow to Al-Qaeda propaganda: analysts

[babylonsister]

Guantanamo closure a blow to Al-Qaeda propaganda: analysts

1 day ago


ISLAMABAD (AFP) — A US closure of Guantanamo Bay could deprive militants of a major propaganda tool and help Pakistan in the fight against extremism, analysts said Sunday.

Opened in January 2002 after the United States invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban regime for sheltering Al-Qaeda, the prison detained hundreds of alleged militants without judicial review.

As the United States sought to fend off accusations that tactics at Guantanamo amounted to torture, the prison became fodder for militants who used its imagery to capture young minds and recruit volunteers to drive extremist attacks.

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Pakistani government security officials and analysts say the brutal tactics allegedly used against inmates at Guantanamo played strongly into the hands of Al-Qaeda militants across the globe who used it to further their cause.

"It bore no fruit for the Americans nor did it provide any leads in the war on terror," said Tasnim Noorani, who oversaw the handing of suspects into US custody when serving as a senior interior ministry official from 2000 to 2004.

"Instead, the experience converted (inmates) into becoming more hardline. It gave a boost to those promoting militancy. Images from there and Iraq were good material for handlers to encourage suicide bombers," said Noorani.

"If this is followed up by major policy initiatives to create a better conduct in the war on terror according to accepted principles of justice and human rights, it should produce better results," said Noorani.

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[tabatha]

1. Brownback needs to read this.