A float in a parade in Germany during Clinton impeachment hearings
Posted on 06/15/2005 9:00:26 PM PDT by ambrose
Democrats call Guantanamo prison 'international embarrassment'
Last Updated Wed, 15 Jun 2005 22:45:14 EDT
CBC News
The U.S. Senate placed the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay under scrutiny on Wednesday.
In a hearing on Capitol Hill, members of the Judiciary Committee complained about a murky legal framework for prisoners being held at the prison and said that Congress has for too long ceded policy at Guantanamo to the Bush administration.
The hearing was called to define the legal rights of the more than 500 prisoners in the camp.
Democrats brought up damning reports that prisoners have been subject to harsh interrogation techniques. Republicans countered that the charges of abuse at Guantanamo are unpatriotic and wrong.
Senator Patrick Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said Guantanamo is undermining the United States' credibility in human rights. "Guantanamo Bay is an international embarrassment to our nation, to our ideals a nd it remains a festering threat to our security ... America, was once viewed as a leader in human rights, and the rule of law, and justly so. But Guantanamo has undermined our leadership, has damaged our credibility, has drained the world's goodwill for America at alarming rates," said Senator Leahy.
"So now I say, what is the administration's plan for Guantanamo Bay, assuming there is a plan; what does the administration intend to do with more than 500 detainees still imprisoned there; how many are going to be released and when; how many are going to be charged and tried?"
An array of Pentagon and administration lawyers argued that the prisoners are real or potential killers who should held as long as there's a threat of terrorism.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the detainees do have the right to seek legal counsel.
One defence attorney told the inquiry he was ordered by the prosecution to tell his client he would lose his right to counsel unless he pleaded guilty.
In recent days, many members of the U.S. Congress have called for the closure of Guantanamo. But during a press conference on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld said that the prison was a necessity.
"Detainees are sent to Guantanamo only after a proper screening process that identifies these prisoners who pose a threat to the United States or who have intelligence value. The kind of people held at Guantanamo include: terrorist trainers, bombmakers, extremist recruiters and financiers, bodyguards of Osama bin Laden, and would-be suicide bombers. They are not common car thieves. They are believed to be determined killers," said Rumsfeld.
Like cold footies and having to listen to Christina Aguilera. The Horror.
Yet, the Bush Administration is damaging our credibility around the world?
The pot calling the kettle black.
Why are the Black Robes putting their noses into military matters? Didn't they ever hear of separation of powers?
Wretched liars and spiritless cowards, poltroons the lot of them.
There, that is as charitable as I can be.
Jeff Sessions was good. He forcefully and passionately told the committee that they were undermining the troups.
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