tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post116862107180789358..comments2024-01-24T04:59:45.518-05:00Comments on Jewish Atheist: If I die, please remember that there was a human being named Jumah at GuantanamoJewish Atheisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616617537150446818noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1169047340623378232007-01-17T10:22:00.000-05:002007-01-17T10:22:00.000-05:00I was not speaking of the Geneva Conventions, thos...I was not speaking of the Geneva Conventions, those govern only the treatment of soliders and civilians in times of war.<BR/><BR/>However, the <A HREF="http://www.udhr.org/UDHR/default.htm" REL="nofollow">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</A>, to which the US is a signatory, applies to all human beings, regardless of whether we call them "enemy combatants" or not.<BR/><BR/>I'm not saying that he maybe didn't engage in behavior that warranted attention and maybe even detention. But the entire premise of Gitmo - detaining people without formal charges, legal representation, subject to inhuman treatment - for an indefinite amount of time is not only against International law, but is entirely UN-American.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129109937230440481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168962540022214882007-01-16T10:49:00.000-05:002007-01-16T10:49:00.000-05:00I would just be curious to know what Mr. AL-DOSSAR...I would just be curious to know what Mr. AL-DOSSARI's opinion is about <A HREF="http://www.danielpipes.org/article/1294" REL="nofollow">Jews</A>.jewish philosopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17987540457195983665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168884988682915422007-01-15T13:16:00.000-05:002007-01-15T13:16:00.000-05:00bd said: the US set up an international system of ...bd said: the US set up an international system of law that has been the framework through which its power has been exercised for the past 60 years<BR/><BR/>ERm... Wasn't that the International Community in the guise of the United Nations? Also, didn't the Geneva Conventions come about because of WW One? Sure America was involved but I'm not sure if they actually wrote them.. I don't think that the US alone set up the framework of International Law...CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168869277047046662007-01-15T08:54:00.000-05:002007-01-15T08:54:00.000-05:00JM,Sorry if I sound snarky, but given that you app...JM,<BR/><BR/>Sorry if I sound snarky, but given that you appear to think that that rebuts my comment can you please point to the bit where the Red cross claim to have witnessed acts of torture? That they may (the article is paraphrasing a leaked copy of a memorandum drafted by someone who read the original report - third generation testimony at best in other words) have described conditions there as being tantamount to torture is hardly the same thing.<BR/><BR/>Many thanks...Randomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12510273350131579837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168853283521906632007-01-15T04:28:00.000-05:002007-01-15T04:28:00.000-05:00Random said "Do you seriously believe that even th...Random said <I>"Do you seriously believe that even the stupidest US guard would have tortured a prisoner in front of the *Red Cross*? Where's the report from the Red Cross that they've witnessed acts of torture?"</I><BR/><BR/>um, <A HREF="http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/1130-01.htm" REL="nofollow">here</A><BR/><BR/>The report recieved wide publicity at the time.<BR/><BR/>How quickly we forget.....Juggling Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02711012401065605739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168837722345576792007-01-15T00:08:00.000-05:002007-01-15T00:08:00.000-05:00schmuck, we were at war against fascism, and, than...schmuck, we were at war against fascism, and, thank god, the good guys won. the us set up an international system of law that has been the framework through which its power has been exercised for the past 60 years, and these morons who thought we could export democracy at gunpoint want to shred the mere "words" that are the very source of our authority.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168798529575421232007-01-14T13:15:00.000-05:002007-01-14T13:15:00.000-05:00Yes,We should all see "The Bridge on the River Kwa...Yes,<BR/>We should all see "The Bridge on the River Kwai" again. The british solider insists that his japanese captor abide by the geneva convention. The Japanense commander throws the book at his face and says: "You speak to me of words! We are at WAR!"asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09237854868544073084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168792954084669852007-01-14T11:42:00.000-05:002007-01-14T11:42:00.000-05:00Laura,"Fake but accurate" eh? He was actually pick...Laura,<BR/><BR/>"Fake but accurate" eh? He was actually picked up on the Afghan/Pakistani border trying to sneak into Pakistan in late 2001 by the way. One could legitimately ask what he was doing there at the time. I doubt he was merely there to see the sights (the Taliban blew them all up, remember?).<BR/><BR/>And Asher has a point BTW - if he was picked up as an AlQaeda operative then he has no rights at all in international law - the arresting authorities could have put a bullet in the back of his head and it would have been perfectly legal. The Geneva conventions protect uniformed soldiers of a signatory state, not terrorists.Randomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12510273350131579837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168783335688677512007-01-14T09:02:00.000-05:002007-01-14T09:02:00.000-05:00Laura,I'm sorry...could you enlighten us as to the...Laura,<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry...could you enlighten us as to the rights given to enemy combatants that are captured under the law of engagement of the Geneva Convention or any other document you'd like to cite to.asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09237854868544073084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168732285081946592007-01-13T18:51:00.000-05:002007-01-13T18:51:00.000-05:00Asher... Actually, no. The same rights accorded ...Asher... Actually, no. The same rights accorded to anyone under International Law...Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129109937230440481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168727714103847202007-01-13T17:35:00.000-05:002007-01-13T17:35:00.000-05:00Laura is right...who cares if it's all made up. Th...Laura is right...who cares if it's all made up. The important thing is that people are suffering and we have to give them all the same rights as given to anyone under the Constitution.<BR/><BR/>This guy was obviously picked up for doing nothing, was able to write a long letter and get it on the internet.<BR/>How many American detainees can say the same thing?asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09237854868544073084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168721157090873592007-01-13T15:45:00.000-05:002007-01-13T15:45:00.000-05:00We have proof that these sorts of things have and ...We have proof that these sorts of things have and do happen. Not only from Gitmo but also from Abu Graib. Instead of trying to poke holes in this particular letter, why aren't you all asking the more obvious question: <BR/><BR/>What can we, as citizens of a free and democratic society founded on the principles of due process, do to ensure that these things do not happen under our watch?<BR/><BR/><BR/>And by the way... "he writes well for a regular guy from Pakistan."<BR/><BR/>What a terribly racist comment that is. Not to mention that you obviously didn't READ the letter. He is from Bahrain. He was picked up in Pakistan. Bahrain has a very high level of education. There are also, contrary to Western perception, many well-educated people in Pakistan. Not to mention many people in 'Merica who can't read and write properly. Seriously, wtf does your comment have to do with anything??Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129109937230440481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168694862435250862007-01-13T08:27:00.000-05:002007-01-13T08:27:00.000-05:00By the way..did you know giving U.S. marines huge ...By the way..did you know giving U.S. marines huge Israeli flags is standard issue in a prison situation? I wonder how big it was to wrap a human being in one? And how many do they have?asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09237854868544073084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168690279047804942007-01-13T07:11:00.000-05:002007-01-13T07:11:00.000-05:00Beepbeep said: And I am surprised that it doesn't ...Beepbeep said: And I am surprised that it doesn't set off alarm bells for most people as well.<BR/><BR/>I'm not surprised. I'm appalled.CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168650401570088282007-01-12T20:06:00.000-05:002007-01-12T20:06:00.000-05:00There is an australian who has been in guantanomo ...There is an australian who has been in guantanomo bay for 5 years.<BR/><BR/>The problem as I see it, is that these people are not getting an opportunity to a trial. The whole idea of being detained is that a person will get their moment in court. They will have the due process of law.<BR/><BR/>Now I know that there are many people who think that no matter who their governenment arrests, that that person must be guilty. The idea of the law doesn't work that way. In the world I was brought up in, people were innocent until proven guilty. (This didn't mean that you let them go, but that all prisoners had civil rights. One of these rights was the right to the due process of law.<BR/><BR/>In this new world, people are guilty until proven innocent. This kind of thinking, I fear, will backfire on all of us.<BR/><BR/>It is difficult to claim the "high moral ground" when one's actions are not ethical or moral. It would be best if we took this into consideration.<BR/><BR/>Five years is too long to wait to have an opportunity to make your case. Under thses circumstances, anyone can be held indefinitely without recourse to due legal process. That doesn't sit well with my moral compass. And I am surprised that it doesn't set off alarm bells for most people as well.beepbeepitsmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12931640447011071849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168645654086712242007-01-12T18:47:00.000-05:002007-01-12T18:47:00.000-05:00Talk about a crock....he writes well for a regular...Talk about a crock....he writes well for a regular guy from Pakistan.asherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09237854868544073084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13054771.post-1168644493078710382007-01-12T18:28:00.000-05:002007-01-12T18:28:00.000-05:00"This is being done in our names."No, it is claime..."This is being done in our names."<BR/><BR/>No, it is claimed it is being done in our names. Surely it is not irrelevant to recall in cases like this that it is <A HREF="http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050531-121655-7932r.htm" REL="nofollow">standard Al Qaeda training and procedure</A> for operatives to claim torture if they get captured alive? I think we should look for rather more solid evidence than this guys unsupported testimony before beating ourselves up, frankly. To take one example:<BR/><BR/>"What I write here is not what my imagination fancies or my insanity dictates. These are verifiable facts witnessed by other detainees, representatives of the Red Cross, interrogators and translators."<BR/><BR/>Do you seriously believe that even the stupidest US guard would have tortured a prisoner in front of the *Red Cross*? Where's the report from the Red Cross that they've witnessed acts of torture? If that doesn't flag up alarm bells, then I don't know what would.Randomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12510273350131579837noreply@blogger.com