Some Stuff I found in the News

Guantanamo Bay is pretty much an ugly phrase these days, apart from its presence in the latest Harold and Kumar movie, but the place got an upside a while back when due process was granted to its detainees.

In the past, GB has been a sort of dumping ground for war criminals and civilians alike. Until recently, habeas corpus (evidence that a crime has been committed) was optional and torture was the norm. The recent granting of due process wherein detainees will have rights to lawyers and trials will hopefully put an end to torture and the bad rap the US is getting worldwide.

I really don't know what to make of this video release NPR reported on. Omar Khadr, now a 21-year-old detainee at GB was arrested at the age of 15 for supposedly throwing a grenade at an American soldier. He also happens to be the son of a Pakistani member of Al-Queda and has met Osama bin Laden.

Here is a great summation of the facts and implications as reported on by NPR

I reccommend listening/reading this article first, then head over to youtube.com to watch a video released by Khadr's lawyers. While watching the video, however, keep in mind that this is an edited piece that was compiled from about 7.4 hours of video GB officials released to Khadr's lawyers. The video has obviously been spliced together from the hours of tape, but nonetheless the scenes are still compelling. Watch it here.

From POV, I'd like to see some other footage, apart from this, and also would like to know what has happened to Khadr outside the questioning room, you know, in his cell(s) and such. I have long been opposed to the unlawful containment of these detainees and the torture that obviously takes place within the walls of GB. Torture itself is wrong, inhumane, and generally not worth its effort in evidence (just google Irish prisoners of war to see the historical inadequacies of torture). On a more personal note, with a brother in the service and international karma, I'd hate to think that my little buddy would become a POW and be subjected to endless torture by a vengeful and malicious al-Queda guard.

Let me know what you think.