End this illegitimate, hateful "war" now.

Today, a federal court ruled that for 5 of these men, there is no credible evidence that they did anything wrong, and if most of our political class -- which supported the Military Commissions Act-- had its way, they wouldn't have even had this hearing at all.

Yes, the nattering class didn't want these prisoners to have a trial, but we can't be content once Guantanamo is closed to think that the problem has been solved. As ondelette and others have pointed out, the US (and "allies" under our direction) have thousands more prisoners being held under the same, or even worse, conditions around the world.

Guantanamo is the tip of the iceberg and our country will not have renounced its evil ways until all detainees at all of these sites have had proper hearings to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for their detention and the conditions for all held have been brought into agreement with international law.

Just a question I’m sure has a long, bloviating answer on the gigantic difference between internal rightwing terrorists and external dark-skinned terrorists.

There is no court in the world that Bush will respond to. Anyone who thinks that just because a judge orders it, Bush will do it has not been paying attention. These people will remain in prison until Obama frees them and us from the criminal grip of the GOP.

But, just to make sure that the freaks have something else to scream about, I'll say it: even if these men HAD been guilty of something, that wouldn't excuse the treatment they've had to deal with.

And...I'm out.

If the government snatched you off the street tomorrow, could you prove that you were NOT a threat? Should you have to? It can't be done!

Shouldn't the government at least have to provide SOME credible evidence that you DO pose a threat? That you WERE "attempting terrorist acts" or (heaven forbid!) "fighting against us in Iraq".

And if the government can't provide ANY credible evidence that you WERE doing these things, then how long should you have to stay in the cage?

People don't get very excited over legal niceties like "habeas corpus". But just imagine yourself caught up in the kind of situation where they apply...

The "bad" guys were in the wrong place at a Bush era time.

Truth be told:`Thee "imprisoned in a cage" for seven years?

Were respectable humans... buying fez candies from a vendor.

Maybe they were bragging to a street doc about varicose veins.

Heath improved, and behaved children at home were so hungry.

Out on a shopping stroll for pineapple pizza, their socks no match.

"The laws of humanity/nature correspon" and heed "public conscience".

"A decent respect or the opinions of mankind" shared Frankly, my dear.

The last post @ 11:16 ondelette makes a excellent notation. I noted it too.

If these men weren't "enemies of the state" back in 2001, they probably are now after 7 years of wrongful incarceration.

Greenwald being too easy in wanting more released?

Uh , ..no. These men did NOTHING.

The overwhelming majority of our prisoners were not not captured by the US military .( Alex Gibney's estimate : only 7% of the prisoners from Afghanistan. Red Cross estimate , re Abu Ghraib : 75-90% completely innocent.) Most were turned over by others , usually for a reward/bounty . No chance for mistakes and abuse there. Reliance on this sort of "intelligence" is what leads us to repeatedly bomb innocent people . ( Such as the wedding slaughters in recent months) Even the first commandant at Camp X-Ray thought that at least a third didn't belong there .

Even those that may actually be enemies of this country should be released , IMO. No one, regardless of who they are , or what they have done , should be tortured, and otherwise abused, as we have done . Even if humane treatment started right now, and their cases are tranferred to civilian criminal court, with complete transparency , it's too late. Any prosecution would have zero credibility, and keeping them is an embarassment, and a "stain" . So let 'em go . If we feel the need to do something , send them to the Hague , and let the ICC sort it out . On the off chance a conviction is obtained , that would have the positive outcome of the ICC essentially declaring that terrorism is a crime against humanity . (Long shot, but worth a try; gets us unstuck from that tarbaby.)

As for the possibilty of released detainees seeking to attack the government that tortured them , the surprise is that fewer have done so . ( & consider the source of that "information")

They should all be invited to testify before Congress and confront their inquisitors. They should explain of their treatment, of their innocence, and if they can't compose themselves to do so, they should be presented alongside family that can speak for them, and to the damage their brutal captivity has inflicted on their lives. If the Republicans and Democrats who've enabled all this had any sense of decency whatsoever, they should be able to make their case in full view of the consequences of what it means to 'keep us safe'.

Sad. :(

do they have for keeping him in the cell with the lights on, etc., after it has become clear he is innocent? Is there some evidence that puts his innocence in doubt so that there are hoping for some last minute confession to justify their torture of him? Are they simply insane? I cannot comprehend this situation at all. One tries not to demonize one's opponents, but in this case it is hard not to simply say the Bush administration is simply evil. How would they defend this? Why on earth do they continue to torture him?

What possible rationale

do they have for keeping him in the cell with the lights on, etc., after it has become clear he is innocent? Is there some evidence that puts his innocence in doubt so that there are hoping for some last minute confession to justify their torture of him? Are they simply insane? I cannot comprehend this situation at all. One tries not to demonize one's opponents, but in this case it is hard not to simply say the Bush administration is simply evil. How would they defend this? Why on earth do they continue to torture him?

That's a question that we'll probably never have answered definitely. My bet would be, "because they can".