Apr 3rd, 2003, 03:03 PM
Christ, look, comparing what was done to PfC Lynch, and the detainees at Guantanamo Bay is beyond apples and oranges.
How did we break the Convention with the detainees? Well, firstly by not regarding them as prisoners of war. Which, arguably, they really weren't. They were terrorists, not soldiers.
Detainees were held only by a roof and thus exposed to the elements 24 hours a day. Which, having been to Guantanamo during the summer, I would say is a kindness. The heat is humid, sticky and suffocating when you have too many people sharing an 8x8 cell. Especially if you're not used to it.
Of course, there was also the photographic 'evidence' that we had tortured them, when in actuality, they were being transported with black hoods, earcaps and restraints. . .Hardly torture, not very comfortable, but not inhumane.
Some detainees kept at the base, theoretically, could be tried by military commissions. Asked whether they would face the death penalty, Mr Rumsfeld was attacked for his glib reply of "Oh, sure" but as yet, none have been executed, or to my knowledge, even tried. Though they have been questioned.
Allegations they were not fed and unable to practice their religon were shown to be fraudulent. . .
Did I miss anything?
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