>> How does this go together with people in Guantanamo ? >> They are treated worse than animals.
> The illegal combatants detained in Guantanomo ought not to be treated > any worse than any other ordinary criminals. All criminals ought to be > treated equally and according to the risks of their possible escape. > The detainees in Guantanamo do not however deserve to be treated as well > as we would treat POW's because the illegal combatants have a criminal > classification, status, and category. The only way to classify someone 'a criminal' is by a court decission and until trial they are supposed to be 'innocent'. The detainees in Guantanamo are refused a (fair) trail or even legal advice to defend them selves. Kept in prison outside the US and outside US law. If there is that overwhelming evidence that they are guilty why not give them a fair trail? Are the Talibaan fighters among them realy criminals... they were defending their country, invaded by US forces. What was the reason for their arrest? Did they look like Bin Laden? Did they have a beard? Have they been questioned in Afghanistan and did they speak English very well? After all, they are over a year now in Guantanamo and still deprived of decent conditions or a fair trial... if it ever comes to a trial. Bin Laden & comp is still at large; the information gathered by US intelligence from those prisoners does not seem of any help. So why not let them go if there is no sufficient evidence (maybe no evidence at all?) or give them a fair trail very soon. Is this an example of the "American values" that the 'rest of the world' is supposed not to understand? Sadam does understand... I don't! Suggestion to G.W.B... hand them out to the court in The Hague. Regards, Bastiaan
