Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

[War on Terror] What about the ghost prisoners? (Boo-hoo!)
The London Guardian ^ | December 4, 2008 | Clive Stafford Smith

Posted on 12/03/2008 8:54:34 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

The men in Guantánamo represent fewer than 1% of the 27,000 prisoners being held by the US beyond the rule of law, says Clive Stafford Smith.

In mid-2007 my mother sent me a George Bush Countdown Calendar. I have been tearing off the leaves, each with its quote from George W. That happy occasion, the final page, comes on January 20 2009.

Happy for most in Guantánamo Bay, that is. The people remaining there find themselves in three groups - some 40 who will be taken to the US for a trial (somewhat fairer, at least, than the current military commissions); 150 will simply go home (at last); and a final 60 refugees, many long since cleared for release, must hope that Obama spends some of his political capital to find them an asylum state.

Yet the justifiable joy at Obama's ascendancy must be tempered with the knowledge that Guantánamo always has been a diversionary tactic in the "war on terror". The 250 men there represent fewer than 1% of the 27,000 prisoners being held by the US beyond the rule of law. There is a reason why most people have never heard of the plight of these unfortunates - they are ghost prisoners in secret prisons.

Obama has yet to speak of the missing 99.1%. It is not clear how much he even knows about them. With America at war in two countries, new captives are being taken every day. They aren't coming to Cuba, so where are they being held?

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Cuba; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; bush; gitmo; guantanamo; guantnamo; iraq; obama; presidentelectobama; terrorism; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last
I almost hope that one of them attacks the author & his family after release.
1 posted on 12/03/2008 8:54:34 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

It is because of idiots like this that the U.K. children are now celebrating Eid in school instead of Christmas. Hard to feel sorry for them when their own leftist ideas have brought all of this on themselves.


2 posted on 12/03/2008 9:00:23 PM PST by Wisconsinlady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

>> They aren’t coming to Cuba, so where are they being held?

Held? (laughter at back while jihadists dance with 72 virgins)


3 posted on 12/03/2008 9:01:12 PM PST by max americana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Yes, these released terrorists will certainly kill someone after they’re released. I pray that they kill their cheerleaders, including this author, rather than our soldiers or innocent civilians.


4 posted on 12/03/2008 9:01:32 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
...taken to the US for a trial (somewhat fairer, at least, than the current military commissions)...

Implying that the military commission is somehow unfair? Just what is this whack-job basing that on? Captured in a war zone out of uniform they are lucky they were not shot on site as spies.

5 posted on 12/03/2008 9:04:32 PM PST by CodeMasterPhilzar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
With America at war in two countries

Which two countries are those, Dhimmi?

Afghanistan and Iraq both have legally elected governments who are allied with the US and with Britain.

Leftist and Dhimmi: a terrible mix.

6 posted on 12/03/2008 9:07:28 PM PST by Old Sarge (For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be an American)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
I think I see something that deserves my sympathy...Oops, nope.


7 posted on 12/03/2008 9:07:59 PM PST by TonyStark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeMasterPhilzar

“Captured in a war zone out of uniform they are lucky they were not shot on site as spies”

I am sure the new terrorists that are unlucky enough to come up against the US Military will be wishing they would get a chance to vacation at Gitmo.


8 posted on 12/03/2008 9:08:08 PM PST by Wisconsinlady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Hey Clive, how about we settle the 40 and the “Top” 25% of the others, representing the baddest dudes, in your neighborhood?


9 posted on 12/03/2008 9:09:09 PM PST by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I can only hope that eventually Clive gets to live in the kind of world he envisions, without the rest of us being subjected to it.


10 posted on 12/03/2008 9:13:23 PM PST by RobinOfKingston (Democrats, the party of evil. Republicans, the party of stupid.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: max americana
Photobucket
11 posted on 12/03/2008 9:15:06 PM PST by USAF70 (I'm a bitter clinger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: USAF70

Where does it say the 72 virgins are going to be female?
Talk about having a bad day ...


12 posted on 12/03/2008 9:19:35 PM PST by Dartman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Patriot Microchip

Patriot Microchip

To be implanted in Collectivists, Socialists, Communists and other enemies of the Republic including various Islamic Jihadist groups.

When properly done will allow the implantee to speak to God instantly.

13 posted on 12/03/2008 9:22:03 PM PST by USAF70 (I'm a bitter clinger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dartman
"Where does it say the 72 virgins are going to be female? Talk about having a bad day ..."

Thanks, I needed a good laugh!

14 posted on 12/03/2008 9:25:51 PM PST by USAF70 (I'm a bitter clinger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I sincerely hope the Author is not a descendant of John Stafford Smith..


16 posted on 12/03/2008 9:30:19 PM PST by Wil H (No Accomplishments, No Experience, No Resume No Records, No References, Nobama..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

What will the idiot journalists have to write about when the anointed one gets sworn in?


17 posted on 12/03/2008 9:31:25 PM PST by smokingfrog (Buy'em cheap. Bury'em deep.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

“and a final 60 refugees, many long since cleared for release, must hope that Obama spends some of his political capital to find them an asylum state.”

Well, Clive, I guess the U.S. is out as an asylum state. Settling these “refugees” in this rogue state would put them outside the shield of international law. And to send them back to their middle east home countries, even if they were to accept these refugees, would be putting them in danger of imprisonment or worse.

Hey, how about the U.K.? There, Clive and his mother, or at least the the UK legal action charity, could care for these “refugees” while they await the arrival of their 27000 “ghost prisoner” brethren to your asylum state where they can take advantage of their free health care while bringing tens of thousands of new patients into the system.


18 posted on 12/03/2008 9:47:16 PM PST by haroldeveryman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet; Jersey Republican Biker Chick; pissant; doug from upland

Clive Stafford Smith is an enemy of the US.

I spent a year at GTMO and he was the most despised individual to ever grace the Island.

Can’t say much more, but shit hits whatever this guy touches.

Got luck with this Guy Obama! Oh maybe he’s kinda like you?


19 posted on 12/03/2008 9:57:45 PM PST by occamrzr06
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wisconsinlady

Idiot is right. The British have a knack for breeding leftists who are also stupid.

Most of the prisoners are being held in prisoner of war camps, jails, etc. in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the prisons are run by the locals.

I visted VC and No. Vietnamese defectors in So. Vietnam and saw No. Vietnamese POWS (in purples jumpsuits) cleaning up the brush outside of the Pleiku War Museum.

Also met and interviewed NVA POWS in Cambodia. Anyone can find them of they look.

This guy is a clown and a fool and our enemy.


20 posted on 12/03/2008 10:56:08 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson