4 American Military Guards: Gitmo Deaths NOT Suicides

[kpete]

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/01/hbc-90006423

Guantánamo Deaths not Suicide

by Mary

When reading Scott Horton's http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/01/hbc-90006368 amazing account that the deaths of three prisoners at Guantánamo were not suicides, but deaths caused while they were being brutalized, I couldn't help but remember that Rear Admiral Harry Harris described their so-called suicides as "asymmetrical warfare" and blamed them for their intransigence.

Admiral: Gitmo suicides a 'planned event'
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/06/10/guantanamo.suicides/index.html

....... these prisoners were powerless and were greatly wronged by Harris.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/01/hbc-90006423

On the day of these deaths in 2006, the American commander in Guantánamo violated the Homeric rules of decorum by taunting the dead and afflicting their families. The deceased prisoners “have no regard for human life,” he said. But in the end we must ask to whom those words more appropriately attach–the prisoners or those who have orchestrated the tragedy at Guantánamo?

...............

What I think is these prisoners had been embarrassing the US in their prison camp by their hunger strikes and Harris took it personally. They had to be taught a lesson, but the lesson went too far. And when they died, they caused Harris an even bigger problem. So he hurt them in the only way that remained by besmirching their honor and hurting their families.

But for the courage of the American guards who spoke out, this injustice would never have been known. And we should acknowledge their courage.

But above and beyond the implausible narrative constructed by NCIS and the bizarre throat autopsies on the deceased, four military guards at Guantanamo felt compelled to come forward and report their concerns about prisoner abuse, and nobody seems to think it warrants any discussion. Members of the military deserve our honor and respect. And one of the ways we can show that is by paying attention when soldiers raise questions about the honor of the military. Even if we've learned to sleep at night despite the fact we have tortured, we should spare one toss or turn for those soldiers who cannot.

more:
http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/014722.php

[Demeter]

1. Change We Can Believe In?

How about: Change We Desperately Need to Restore Our Status As A Nation of Laws and Justice?

[lunatica]

2. You're blaming Obama for this?

Why not blame him for the crucifixion of Jesus too.

[Demeter]

4. I Ask You

Who's in charge around here, and what exactly has he done about this?

Answers: Obama, and absolutely nothing.

[lunatica]

9. I find it incredible that anyone thinks Guantanamo is Obama's fault now

Guantanamo is Bush's crime. He actually sanctioned torture there, but now that Obama is President and some leftover torturers have killed prisoners it's now directly Obama's fault for not personally moving his white house office and staff to oversee every single detail?

How about if blame is put on the perpetrators of the crimes? As far as I recall the criminals who do the murders are the guilty ones. Are you suggesting that Obama gave them orders to do it? If not then how is it his fault?

[hootinholler]

I don't think it's his fault...

I do think there could be obstruction of justice charges leveled in all seriousness. THe problem is who's going to prosecute it?

-Hoot

[EFerrari]

5. Well, his Justice Department didn't investigate it.

Yes, that was on his watch.

The whistleblower waited for the new admin to go to them. Too bad.

[lunatica]

11. I agree it's his watch. But unless you can prove he personally ordered

that prisoners be killed, then he's not personally a murderer. Bush, on the other hand actually gave specific orders and he and Cheney and Rice and others, actually chose the mode of torture.

I simply think that blanket accusations are crappy. If Obama is guilty of personally signing off on crimes then yes, he's a criminal. If he's guilty of turning a blind eye then he's guilty of that. But to constantly heap the crimes of the previous administration on him is simply unrealistic and borders on hyperbole. Bush is still a criminal. Cheney is still a criminal. Both men will always be guilty of the their crimes. Obama's crime is cover for the. But he's not a war criminal. At least not yet. If you always want perfection you will always be disappointed.

[EFerrari]

13. Oh, no. I'm not claiming that at all. Thank goodness, the torture president is gone.

But it doesn't require perfection to listen to a credible whistleblower when he comes to you. And, they didn't.

[Texasgal]

3. Really?

How about you put the blame where it belongs?

[EFerrari]

6. What part of Eric Holder's DoJ wouldn't investigate is unclear to folks?

[glitch]

12. Apparently every part.

Don't you know facts fly away if you repeatedly chant snarky lalalas at them?
:crazy:

[EFerrari]

14. I wish I could score some of that!

lol

Sorry, guys. Long weekend.

[glitch]

15. Nah, like cheap wine you'd get an instant hangover. You'd have to get hooked on pharmaceuticals

to handle it. Not worth it. Hang in there. :hi:

[undeterred]

7. "asymmetrical warfare"

Makes my head spin.

[lib2DaBone]

8. Quick.. hide the torture photos...

.or even better.. make a law that says the torture photos can never be published.

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to see it or hear it....

[G_j]

10. +1

[gratuitous]

16. The trickle becomes a freshet

Will we have to get to torrent before our nation of laws decides to do something about this? As some other folks found out in the last century, some crimes don't have a statute of limitations. I think torture and murder belong in that category.

[Blue Owl]

17. Cover it up and protect Bu$hCo

at all costs.

[slampoet]

18. Well DUH!

PS - Bless them for coming forward.