I think some perspective is in order
More full disclosure. In my short time on this planet (31 years) I have belonged to the Democratic, Republican, and Liberatarian parties. I am currently an independent. I didn't become an independent to feel superior or show how much more cognizant I am compared to those that do claim a party affiliation. I have friends on either side of the political spectrum and I tend to be the only one in the group that tends to be a bit of an objectionist. I don't really care about political agendas. Any problem I have with a politician will have nothing to do with their party. In other words I'm not going to stand against something just because the Republicans or Democrats are for it.
Over at Blackfive he is discussing the situation at Guantanamo Bay. There are a lot of people out there now upset with what we're doing at Guantanamo, and I really have to wonder why. Essentially, these are prisoners of war. People we have pulled off of battlefields and regions of conflict. The difference is, unlike previous military actions, very few of these people belong to an actual military unit. Ironically, despite the somewhat odd circumstances they are being held in, they are treated quite well. Let me tell you as a former jailer, these guys have it better than criminals locked up for far lesser charges. Yet it is being called a "Gulag"?
It is difficult for me to surmise if the motivation for this accusation is borne of -
1. Political opposition and opportunism
2. Lack of understand and historical perspective of what a Gulag is
3. Ignorance and/or incompetence
4. A combination of any or all of the above
I'll be blunt, the accusations are ridiculous. The prisoners have it pretty good and I take exception to their definition of what "torture" is. As Blackfive pointed out, we might humiliate someone, while the enemy has no qualms about cutting off someone's head while they're still alive. We're exposing stories about the Koran accidentally getting some urine on it while the enemy is blowing up civilians. I just don't see how we're the least bit comparable.
Don't get me wrong either. I am against what happened at Abu Ghraib. Not because I feel sorry for the prisoners, but because we don't do things like that. At the same time, it does not make us "on their level". Not even close.
Over at Blackfive he is discussing the situation at Guantanamo Bay. There are a lot of people out there now upset with what we're doing at Guantanamo, and I really have to wonder why. Essentially, these are prisoners of war. People we have pulled off of battlefields and regions of conflict. The difference is, unlike previous military actions, very few of these people belong to an actual military unit. Ironically, despite the somewhat odd circumstances they are being held in, they are treated quite well. Let me tell you as a former jailer, these guys have it better than criminals locked up for far lesser charges. Yet it is being called a "Gulag"?
It is difficult for me to surmise if the motivation for this accusation is borne of -
1. Political opposition and opportunism
2. Lack of understand and historical perspective of what a Gulag is
3. Ignorance and/or incompetence
4. A combination of any or all of the above
I'll be blunt, the accusations are ridiculous. The prisoners have it pretty good and I take exception to their definition of what "torture" is. As Blackfive pointed out, we might humiliate someone, while the enemy has no qualms about cutting off someone's head while they're still alive. We're exposing stories about the Koran accidentally getting some urine on it while the enemy is blowing up civilians. I just don't see how we're the least bit comparable.
Don't get me wrong either. I am against what happened at Abu Ghraib. Not because I feel sorry for the prisoners, but because we don't do things like that. At the same time, it does not make us "on their level". Not even close.
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David Bauer wrote:
06/13/05 16:50:18
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I find the great danger to be in the media watermark system. The classification system where someone has to create a comparison to overshadow the nature of events taking place.
I can't see anyone in a stable frame of mind calling this "torture". I wonder, how many of the people kidnapped and held for political blackmail were allowed to pray, given a torah/bible or allowed to pray freely before having their heads removed in a violent fashion?
Really though, we have a marvelous system that dictates if you accuse, it must be addressed. The greater or more absurd the charge, the greater the measure taken to counter it. Its almost programmed and we need to stop humoring it. If we call them " unjust prisons" then the concessions would be far smaller than screaming "gulag".
The greater the charge, the greater the frezny, the greater the price you feel you can extort for your cause, ideological blackmail and the payoff is gratification for your views.
I wonder if the prisoners aren't simply incidental, convenient and easy to lift up as downtrodden and abused to a public that doesn't quite understand or wish to face the fact that those in these cells are suspects in mass terrorism.
They are far away, easy pickings for anyone with a public human sympathy complex or an anti-american taint.
The greater the charge, the more larger the reward.