Posted on 01/24/2002 1:26:14 AM PST by kattracks
LONDON (Reuters) - British politicians reacted angrily on Wednesday to an "insulting" putdown from U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that they were bleating from afar about the treatment of al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners.
Images of detainees shackled and on their knees in cages at Guantanamo Bay -- a U.S. base in Cuba -- have sparked outrage around the world not least in Britain, the United States' staunchest ally following the attacks of September 11.
At a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, Rumsfeld said it was easy for critics to carp from a "comfortable distance".
"It's amazing the insight that parliamentarians can gain from 5,000 miles away," he said in singling Britain out.
British lawmakers, notably from Prime Minister Tony Blair's own party, said they deserved better than sarcasm having stood unflinchingly by the United States when it attacked Afghanistan.
"We've supported the United States. It seems rather crass to dismiss legitimate concerns out of hand," Ann Clwyd, Labour MP, said. "We don't want to be insulted by Donald Rumsfeld."
Menzies Campbell, foreign affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said the "war on terror" was not just about military action in Afghanistan but winning hearts and minds in the Middle East and Arab world.
"We here in Britain may be 5,000 miles from Cuba. But we are much closer to the Middle East than (Rumsfeld) is in Washington," he said.
Human rights groups say the United States has no right to refuse to categorise the detainees as prisoners of war, a designation that would give them extensive rights under the Geneva Convention.
"It really isn't up to Rumsfeld to decide whether they are prisoners of war," Clwyd said.
U.S. EMBASSY TIRADE
Clwyd, who heads the cross-party parliamentary Human Rights Group, met the number two at the U.S. embassy in London on Wednesday to raise her concerns along with eight other MPs.
"There was really a lot of outrage about Mr Rumsfeld's comments," she said.
The government, keen to squash talk of a rift, refused to get involved. Blair's spokesman said he did not speak for Rumsfeld but noted that British officials visiting Guantanamo Bay had reported the prisoners were being well treated.
But Donald Anderson, Labour chairman of parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee -- the watchdog of government foreign policy -- said MPs had been right to ask questions.
"Some of those (concerns)...may have been allayed. Others remain," he told Sky Television. "It is not for the captor to decide unilaterally whether they are prisoners of war or not."
He said the images of the detainees in cages could hamstring potential allies and act as perfect recruiting material for militants in the Arab world.
"Countries who may want to cooperate may find it more difficult because their own populations may be made angry."
Chris Patten, European Commissioner and former chairman of the Conservative Party, also warned the Americans they risked alienating allies around the globe.
"Having won the (military) campaign it would be a huge error if the international coalition were to lose the peace," he said.
I suspect they knew, all right, but it didn't matter to them. America's enemies attack at every opportunity.
You people are too hysterical for words.
You all have your knickers in a twist over how dedicated
killers and terrorist thugs are being treated in Cuba.
Is that all you think we have to worry about?
Do you really think the American people give a rats ass about
those filthy, murderous bastards?
Believe me, most Americans have zero feelings of concern
about their well-being, we think they are being treated
too well and whatever treatment they are being subjected to,
they are getting treated no worse than our maximum security prison inmates and in fact better.
They are getting the best medical care, their religion is being honored,
even though it preaches violence, clean sanitary facilities, decent healthy meals)
and all that is a hell of a lot better than life in a cold cave.
The big problem for you is that if we (the US) just say to
other countries, "tough s*&t, we don't care what you think or want",
what are you going to do about it? What can you do about it?
Spank us?
What can other countries do to admonish the US?
Will you cut us off, cancel trade, not take foreign aid,
end diplomatic relations?
Please! It is our economy that runs the world's economy, our standards, our brilliance,
our technology, our military, our land, our sheer power and our people,
those are the reasons all the losers of the world are jealous, nervous and highly annoyed.
Sorry, but we are concerned with survival, niceties don't enter into the picture nor does having
diplomatic discussions for years to clear things up and
make nice to each other.
I simply can not understand what it is about 9/11 you people don't get?
What more do you need to see the reality of terrorist organizations?
Americans have finally had it with PC, feel-good crap.
We have had it with despots, tin horn dictators, phony Arab royalty,
third world losers, Arab terrorists, vicious Africans, snotty French surrender monkeys thinking thay can call the shots,
two faced lying Arab "leaders" & evil mullahs who can't lead a goat never mind a nation,
eco freaks, WTO protestors, affirmative action, lying politicians
and a host of other nonsense that has been going on for way too long.
We have had enough. The terrorists have woken a slumbering Bear.
We are very riled. We are going to follow this through until we have completely
put these people out of business.
Everything changed in this country on 9/11. This war has just begun.
We will persist, we will use every resourse imaginable and will be victorious.
We are going to ruffle a lot of feathers to accomplish our goal
of ridding the WORLD of terrorism.
Better get used to it.
Yes, it is right to ask questions, Mr Anderson. Rumsfeld pointed out that they had come up with their own answers which suited a purpose other than 'truth', and he reported that they were in error. How many of these 'reporters' volunteered to spend time talking to the detainees, without assurance of protection?
Red Cross: US Broke Geneva Conventions
Impossible---These 'pirates/rogues' are not covered by the Geneva Convention. I don't believe 'terrorism'-attack on the Trade Towers-is a covered action. Until such time as these 'trained killers' fall under the Geneva Convention guidelines, it makes no sense to prescribe the 'TREATMENT' they should receive.
Remember Mogadishu(?) Geneva Convention or not, the Rangers were killed.
Ah, Menzies...go easy on the illegal substances.
Okay, now tell us how you REALLY feel!
8')
Absolutely. You couldn't ask for a better guy from central casting.
I sure hope so. No more PCBS and for the enviro-whackos it's not pcbs(phenyl chloro -whatever), it's PC BS
Yes, that is the discussion in the second link I posted. I'm not agreeing with the Red Cross, BTW, just answering a question by posting links to earlier Free Republic threads.
I don't really know what the legal status of these prisoners should be. If the release of photographs is the worst complaint to be made then I would think they are being treated fairly.
First rule of war: The winner determines the rules.
Thanks - We'll take that off your tab for World Wars I and II.
Hmmm, it seems your account is still significantly in the red
SO SIT THE ____ DOWN AND SHUT THE ____ UP!
I agree wholeheartedly. I'll never forget 911 and I'll CERTAINLY never forgive it. I consider islam the greatest enemy of humanity in the world
I'd have said MUCH worse to these Brit pukes if I was Rummy.
They were just WAITING to find something to attack America about. All they are is an anti-American MOB!
Godspeed
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