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by Mark Hopkins

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The people detained at Guantanamo Bay should have the same rights as anyone else, whether certain U.S. officials and politicians choose to admit the fact or not. By denying them their rights they make a mockery of the ideals and principles for which the Republic has always claimed to stand. They bring shame and opprobrium on their nation and its people. They run the risk of persuading some misguided souls that the U.S. really is the 'Great Satan' and that terror is a valid way to attack it. They strain relations with long term allies to near breaking point.

The detainees find themselves in an Orwellian limbo from which there is seemingly no escape. Offered no trial, they have no opportunity to clear their names, if innocent. The mere fact of having been swept up in the aftermath of 9/11 and sent to Guantanamo is taken as proof of their guilt. Kept in appalling conditions which would be illegal were they inflicted upon animals, the plight of these victims of America's 'might is right' policy of vengeance is an affront to decency and a sad advertisement for the psychology of the nation's leaders.

Civilized nations accept that accused persons have a right to know what are the specific charges against them. They have the right to legal representation to organize a defense and the right to a fair trial before an unbiased jury (or other body). In the British/American tradition there is the presumption that the accused are innocent unless and until proved guilty. When there is not sufficient evidence to charge or to try arrested persons, they must be released; they are innocent in the eyes of the Law. All of these rights should be extended to the Guantanamo Bay detainees. To have officials set themselves up above the Law is intolerable.

If, after 5 or 6 years, there is no evidence to sustain a case against these detainees, one has to question the basis upon which they were detained in the first place. Having a beard or wearing a turban or even carrying a Kalashnikov is not a crime, especially in Afghanistan or the North West Frontier of Pakistan. The mental health of those detained is likely to have suffered in ways that it will be difficult to heal fully. When Bush and his cronies are long gone no doubt it will fall to a President more in tune with true American traditions to explain to his 'fellow Americans' that their taxes will have to go to pay compensation to these victims of neocon 'justice'. One can only shudder to think what Thomas Jefferson or even George Washington would make of it all!

Learn more about this author, Mark Hopkins.

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