Comments on: Bringing Guantánamo To New York http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/11/07/bringing-guantanamo-to-new-york/ Investigative journalist, author, filmmaker and Guantanamo expert Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:54:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Andy Worthington http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/11/07/bringing-guantanamo-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-51602 Andy Worthington Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:33:16 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=6098#comment-51602 That's an interesting take on justice, Dr. Miner, but not one to which I subscribe. People are innocent until proven guilty, not presumed guilty until that guilt can be "formally/judicially refuted," and this is the essence of the whole problem with the "War on Terror" detentions. Prisoners who were seized largely on a random basis, at a time when bounty payments were widespread, were regarded as guilty on capture, and then had to endure years of interrogations which, in many, if not most cases, did nothing more than build up supposed evidence to justify their detention, which, on examination, is not evidence at all. As the District Courts have demonstrated time and again while ruling on the prisoners' habeas corpus petitions, the government relies to an unhealthy degree on untrustworthy informers within Guantanamo -- or on statements made by "high-value detainees" held in secret CIA prisons in dubious conditions, to say the least. I don't doubt that there are a handful of committed terrorists in Guantanamo, but nothing I have seen in all my research demonstrates that foot soldiers for the Taliban with anti-American sentiments should be regarded as terrorists who pose a mortal threat to the United States. Had they been held, after screening, as prisoners of war, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, we could be having a different conversation, but that, sadly, never happened. That’s an interesting take on justice, Dr. Miner, but not one to which I subscribe. People are innocent until proven guilty, not presumed guilty until that guilt can be “formally/judicially refuted,” and this is the essence of the whole problem with the “War on Terror” detentions. Prisoners who were seized largely on a random basis, at a time when bounty payments were widespread, were regarded as guilty on capture, and then had to endure years of interrogations which, in many, if not most cases, did nothing more than build up supposed evidence to justify their detention, which, on examination, is not evidence at all. As the District Courts have demonstrated time and again while ruling on the prisoners’ habeas corpus petitions, the government relies to an unhealthy degree on untrustworthy informers within Guantanamo — or on statements made by “high-value detainees” held in secret CIA prisons in dubious conditions, to say the least. I don’t doubt that there are a handful of committed terrorists in Guantanamo, but nothing I have seen in all my research demonstrates that foot soldiers for the Taliban with anti-American sentiments should be regarded as terrorists who pose a mortal threat to the United States. Had they been held, after screening, as prisoners of war, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, we could be having a different conversation, but that, sadly, never happened.

]]> By: Dr. Earnest Miner http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/11/07/bringing-guantanamo-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-51594 Dr. Earnest Miner Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:52:57 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=6098#comment-51594 Sir, Your dedication to this cause is commendable. Concommitantly, your defense of terrorists exemplifies how Al Qaeda has convinced many world citizens who seek peace and justice (like you) to help them fight on their jihaddist behalf without you even realizing it. I hope you are able to see the light one day, my friend. Those who have not spent time at GTMO, read the intelligence files entirely, studied the laws that govern war and civil society, and worked with these terrorists, please reserve all "evidence" of their innocence until such due dilligence is complete and until guilt is formally/judicially refuted. Respectfully, Dr. Miner Sir,

Your dedication to this cause is commendable. Concommitantly, your defense of terrorists exemplifies how Al Qaeda has convinced many world citizens who seek peace and justice (like you) to help them fight on their jihaddist behalf without you even realizing it. I hope you are able to see the light one day, my friend.

Those who have not spent time at GTMO, read the intelligence files entirely, studied the laws that govern war and civil society, and worked with these terrorists, please reserve all “evidence” of their innocence until such due dilligence is complete and until guilt is formally/judicially refuted.

Respectfully,
Dr. Miner

]]> By: An Evening with Andy Worthington: “Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo” « Dandelion Salad http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/11/07/bringing-guantanamo-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-51411 An Evening with Andy Worthington: “Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo” « Dandelion Salad Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:54:57 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=6098#comment-51411 [...] (co-directed with filmmaker Polly Nash), I traveled on Sunday (after events in New York, discussed here) to Fairfax, Virginia, for a screening of the film at an event organized by the Future of Freedom [...] [...] (co-directed with filmmaker Polly Nash), I traveled on Sunday (after events in New York, discussed here) to Fairfax, Virginia, for a screening of the film at an event organized by the Future of Freedom [...]

]]> By: How we treat terror suspects is the sign of a true democracy | Antony Loewenstein http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/11/07/bringing-guantanamo-to-new-york/comment-page-1/#comment-51396 How we treat terror suspects is the sign of a true democracy | Antony Loewenstein Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:56:38 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=6098#comment-51396 [...] Worthington is currently in the US promoting his film, Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo. [...] [...] Worthington is currently in the US promoting his film, Outside the Law: Stories from Guantanamo. [...]

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