Guantanamo
To it's credit, the NY Times does a story today of the first Guantanamo prisoner to die of nature causes (cancer):
The story makes pretty clear that Abdul Razzaq Hekmati was detained by mistake, and it chronicles how U.S. officials made little effort to confirm the story of a man who was considered a war hero in Afghanistan. The most amazing aspect of the story is that it seems his identity could have been confirmed by at least two high-ranking officials in the Afghan government. Although "both men are well known to the American authorities in Afghanistan," the military tribunal said they couldn't be located. Of course, the main theme that runs through the story is that if he couldn't get a fair hearing, then what chance is there for the other 180 detainees who have challenged their detentions?America. Land of the free, home of the brave.
2 comments:
"To its credit, the NY Times does a story today of the first Guantanamo prisoner to die of nature causes (cancer)"
And to its discredit, it has now apologised! The editor states that the facts are correct but "Mr. Worthington has written a book [..] in which he takes the position that Guantánamo is part of what he describes as a cruel and misguided response by the Bush administration to the Sept. 11 attacks. He has also expressed strong criticism of Guantánamo in articles published elsewhere."
Some people might agree that removing people from their country, torturing them and locking them up with no trial in sight could possibly be described as "a cruel and misguided response", but not the NYT, who cannot recognise that you can have an opinion and still get your facts straight.
Swell.
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