America should hang it's head in shame about Guantanamo bay.... Or do you disagree?

Question

Why are prisoners of the U.S. held on territory that is outside of the US jurisiction, where the law of the United States doesn't apply. I think I have given my own answer.
Ahmed Errachidi was held there for 4 years, although records show that at the time of the alleged offence he was working in London. He has been cleared by an American Military Judge, but is still being held captive without charge.
Do the Americans believe in holding people captive without resource to legal representation or without knowing why they are being held?
Yes, I realise that terrorism is a dangerous game. But 4 years without being charged?
What happened to the land of the free?
(And I have no axe to grind against America - I just wanna know what you are up to!)

Joe C. You put a lot of effort into you answer, which I appreciate. But you don't explain why the prisoners are held on foreign soil.

Janice H. Have you read the trial transcripts. Of course not. Because there have BEEN NO TRIALS. That is the point of my question !

I am getting rubbish answers because people are not reading the question. I KNOW terrorists need to be held. But the US is holding people without trial, in foreign territory where US or international law doesn't apply. My question is... why does America hold them prisoners in Guarntamo Bay and not in Amerca?

Answer 1

I disagree. It's only the America-hating liberals who favor the cause of the enemy who feel as you do.

Personally, I would like to reactivate the Sedition Act, then arrest the liberals and send them there to join them.

Sedition Act of 1918, Section 3

Whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the military or naval forces of the United States, or to promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements, or say or do anything except by way of bona fide and not disloyal advice to an investor or investors, with intent to obstruct the sale by the United States of bonds or other securities of the United States or the making of loans by or to the United States, and whoever when the United States is at war, shall willfully cause or attempt to cause, or incite or attempt to incite, insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military or naval forces of the United States, or shall willfully obstruct or attempt to obstruct the recruiting or enlistment services of the United States, and whoever, when the United States is at war, shall willfully utter, print, write or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States, or the flag of the United States, or the uniform of the Army or Navy of the United States into contempt, scorn, contumely, or disrepute, or shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any language intended to incite, provoke, or encourage resistance to the United States, or to PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF ITS ENEMIES or shall willfully display the flag of any foreign enemy, or shall willfully by utterance, writing, printing, publication, or language spoken, urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production in this country of any thing or things, product or products, necessary or essential to the prosecution of the war in which the United States may be engaged, with intent by such curtailment to cripple or hinder the United States in the prosecution of war, and whoever shall willfully advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated, and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or the imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both: Provided, That any employee or official of the United States Government who commits any disloyal act or utters any unpatriotic or disloyal language, or who, in an abusive and violent manner criticizes the Army or Navy or the flag of the United States shall be at once dismissed from the service...

Answer 2

Have you actually seen GITMO? Do you KNOW how the detainees are ACTUALLY treated, there?

I'm guessing you only know what you have been fed...

First of all, the detainees are treated better and with more dignity than the guards are treated. Second, we have done everything possible to ensure that all their needs are met which is not something that prisoners in their respective organizations can say (i.e. beheadings and public executions from Al-Qaida/Taliban). They're religion is treated better than the soldier's.

I'm ashamed that there are Americans who have forgotten why it's there in the first place. Maybe we should release them into YOUR neighborhoods so that you can live amongst them and see if that doesn't change you minds.

EDIT:

Guantanamo Bay belongs to the US and is under US jurisdiction as it is part of the US Military and rented from the Cuban government.

If that guy was cleared, there is obviously a reason he is still there. It could be that England doesn't want him back and he must be released to the country who will take him. That is the case with many of those prisoners. Their country of record doesn't want them.

Answer 3

What do you suggest we do with combatants who shoot at our forces and strategize against the US when they come from every nation around the globe? When our military picks up some of our very own citizens who are plotting against us what should be done? The laws against treason say we have the right to shoot them. Is that what should be done? Many of those held a Guantanamo are not captured in their country of record but are captured in Iraq or in Afghanistan who we view as our allies. Should we send them back to Iraq so that they can again bring us harm? And the laws about POW detention say we have the right to hold them until the conflict is over. Should we just build them a casket and wait for them to stop breathing? Tell me what is so shameful about imprisonment for those who wish to do harm to the US and to innocent civilians. Shouldn't the detainees hold their heads in shame for the atrocities they have committed. And where is the outrage over the American prisoners we have all seen on video who are beheaded? Should we practice what you seem to support through you silence? And if it is inhumane for the US to detain these prisoners in Guantanamo then tell me where does the Taliban and Al Quieda hold our soldiers. Oh yeah they simply kill them. I suppose that is more humane.

Answer 4

We are in a war.

That should be enough said, but it obviously isn't.

Those held there are not US citizens and are there because they made decisions that put them in situations where they sat opposite the efforts of the US to defeat islamic fascist.

Are they all 100% guilty? Heck, I don't know, but I say it doesn't matter.

My grandmother told me a very long time ago...being in the wrong place at the wrong time can make you just as guilty as those that perpetrate the crime.

She was referring to my brother and sister who thought it would be great to have some advance tasting of a pie she had baked.

I didn't participate but DIDN'T DO ANYTHING about it when my brother and sister did.

We all got punished and I learned a very valuable life lesson in the process.

Each of us are responsible for who we are, what we do and where we go. If decisions on those areas put us in situations that make us appear guilty, then that is our fault.

Inaction, when action is called for, can be as serious a crime as someone leading the criminal action.

Let the military tribunals sort this out...which is exactly what the Supreme Court has ruled recently.

All of them are either guilty by act or guilty by association.

And no, America should NOT hang its head in shame. NEVER!

But the islamic fascist and those countries that harbor and support them should...why aren't you asking that THOSE people and countries hang their heads in shame?

You sound like you think their cause is just.

Oh, yeah. I came to that conclusion based upon what you DIDN'T ask, not what you asked.

See, inaction can point up guilt as much as action.

Now this is a little life lesson for you and at no extra charge.

Answer 5

There is nothing to be ashamed about as far as Guantanamo Bay is concerned. If the US acted like most renegade governements, such as Iran and North Korea, there would be NO access by outsiders and NO access by the Red Cross, and NO information about anything allowed to get out. The problem for the US is that it does allow outside views of the facility, to whatever degree, and it is the outsiders who are trying to shame the US by their outlandish comments and demands. Guantanamo Bay is an important facility for the US, and all the whiners who clamor for its closure are stupid PC crybabies and fools.

In this day and age we are not dealing with national armies in uniform, we are dealing with sappers and guerrillas who represent no government and are out to do only one thing: kill and destroy. If they are captured and imprisoned at Guantanamo their have no rights under the Geneva Conventions and have no business complaining about anything. They should have no rights to Red Cross inspections or anything else; they have given that up by being what they are.

Answer 6

it could seem that a number of your responders are difficult your question concerning to the ability itself with a question concerning to the prisoners presently stored there. i've got confidence the detention center serves a purpose and can be stored. regardless of the undeniable fact that, I even have confidence that detainees now there could acquire a "honest" path (as close to to honest as we are able to make it, as no longer common as which is generally). Does that propose they could be introduced to the U.S.? i do no longer see how we are able to (very actually) carry the rigors any opposite direction. of direction the bigger subject is what do you do after the paths? With somebody chanced on responsible, what's a merely sentence and the place do you place them? Guantanamo Bay sounds like the excellent place to me. And greater durable yet, what of those chanced on no longer responsible: How do you're making up for the prolonged unlawful detention, and the place do they bypass?

Answer 7

why the hell should we??

islamic terrorists have been murdering our people since 1979. and the more we let them get away with it, the more it will continue.

this PC touchy feely crap is what fuels them even more. they attack us because they know people like you will defend them and make excuses for them no matter what they do.

didn't you see the beheading videos?? they would do that to you and all of your family the second they had the chance. and you're crying over those poor terrorists being held at gitmo??

Answer 8

Disagree

Answer 9

When in your memory have we as Americans had to be in this kinda situation? It is kinda messy, but it is a growing process. Arn't we doing trials now? I know the Aussie is getting it done, or at least that is what I heard on the radio.

Answer 10

disagree

i have a friend who worked down there. He wasn't involved with the incident, but he was telling me whenever they went to patrol the prisoners would grab anything and everything they could use as a weapon and try to stab and kill the soldiers while they patrolled. They also spit on the soldiers and urinated on them as they walked by.

Answer 11

I disagree!!!!

America should hang its head in shame about all of the murders of innocent Americans that take place here everyday at the hands of druggies bent on getting money to buy meth. And the fact that we are allowing our country to be overrun by ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. That is shameful.