Replies

"Because I was kept in very similar conditions, I am appalled at the way we - countries that call ourselves civilised - are treating these captives. Is this justice or revenge? "
"The US seems to be making up the rules as it goes along. First, it said that the appalling acts of terrorism in New York and Washington were acts of war; now it is saying that these captives are not in fact prisoners of war, that they are unlawful combatants. "
"If the US is making up the rules, it will have no moral authority should other countries try, convict and perhaps execute American and European suspects. There will be no moral grounds on which we can stand if we allow this to continue."

"I was appalled when I heard a prominent American suggest that in certain circumstances the limited use of torture might be justified. That is a dreadful statement to come from a civilised nation. Torture can never be justified, and must be clearly condemned. When it comes to trial, these men are entitled to basic defence rights and ought to be tried under the auspices of the UN. It is vital that we uphold standards of international law for the protection of the innocent, and for the protection of American or European subjects who may find themselves in difficult circumstances in the future. For once, morality and pragmatism go hand in hand. "

He was not kept in similar conditions.

But, the prisoners are indeed P.O.W.'s, prisoners of war.

However, their status as prisoners of war does not excuse them from criminal charges --- piracy, terrorism --- which can and may be brought against them.

The restraint the P.O.W.'s are under, respects their known behavior.

For further information, see / study the events of the failures of the U.N. forces' management of North Korean and Red Chinese P.O.W.'s during the Korean War --- the failure to properly restrain, and indeed, "humane treatement" dreamed up by people comfortably NOT ON THE SCENE, resulted in the communist P.O.W.'s considerably well-organized destruction of U.N. lives and thence some of said prisoners.

Mr. Waite's experience --- the restraint of him --- was not because he posed an offensive threat; rather, he was held and tortured for the purpose of being held and tortured in and of itself.

The P.O.W.'s in Cuba, are being restrained, actually with considerable care, for benefit of both the captors' and the prisoners' lives.

This guy doesn't have a clue. He spouts nothing, but socialist dribble supporting and promoting "independent" UN authority over the whole matter.

"Terrorism is not ultimately defeated by the force of arms; you have to deal with the root causes and ask what makes people act in such extreme ways."

BS! They can only be defeated by force. The root cause of their murderous acts is the desire to dominate others. It's the same root cause, or motivation, behind this piece by T. Waite, the UN and all the other socialist orgs. All these folks refuse to let up with their plans until submission and tribute are given them, or they are defeated and rendered harmless.

" I can recognise the conditions that prisoners are being kept in at the US camp at Guantanamo Bay because I have been there. Not to Cuba's Camp X-Ray, but to the darkened cell in Beirut that I occupied for five years. I was chained to a wall by my hands and feet; beaten on the soles of my feet with cable; denied all my human rights, and contact with my family for five years, and given no access to the outside world."

Mr. Waite, what the hell are you talking about?! These men are being held in safe, sanitary conditions with food and medical care even though they are suspected of planning terrorist attacks. Your statement shows a total disconnect from the reality of the situation. Are you are pushing an agenda? are you selling a book? is your brain low on protein? or are you truly an idiot?