Guantánamo is symbol of injustice, says Goldsmith

[spindrifter]

Richard Norton-Taylor
Thursday May 11, 2006
The Guardian


<snip>

Going far further than cabinet ministers, notably Tony Blair, have done in their criticism, he described the existence of the camp on Cuba as "unacceptable".

He added: "It is time, in my view, that it should close. Not only would it, in my personal opinion, be right to close Guantánamo as a matter of principle, I believe it would also help to remove what has become a symbol to many - right or wrong - of injustice."

The "historic tradition of the United States as a beacon of freedom, liberty and of justice deserves the removal of this symbol", he said. Speaking at a conference on international terrorism at the Royal United Services Institute in London - at which he defended the government's succession of anti-terror laws - Lord Goldsmith said it was "essential in some cases to be flexible" and accept some limitation of rights. But he said: "There are certain principles on which there can be no compromise. Fair trial is one of those."

That was the reason, he said, why the government was unable to accept the US military tribunals proposed for those detained at Guantánamo Bay. Lord Goldsmith's remarks reflect growing anger among lawyers about Guantánamo Bay. Last week, Lord Justice Latham and Mr Justice Tugendhat said evidence that British residents held in the camp were deprived of their fundamental rights was a "powerful" argument for demanding that the government insist on the release of British residents there. But they added: "Decisions affecting foreign policy are a forbidden area" for the courts.

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,,1772226,00.html

[DarfurDude]

1. It's not what most think

It's a very bad case of officers with vendetta's and issues. It's not the military as a whole, just a few isolated cases. There is no conclusive evidence that Guanatanamo is one of these cases. Goldsmith is merely generalizing off of the over mediaized Abu Garhaib.

[spindrifter]

3. If you read the article, I think it is clear that

the issue is the lack of fair trials. Gitmo itself is a travesty. I cannot imagine any legitimate reason for keeping people in the outdoor cages they have. That has NOTHING to do with officer "vendettas." The other issue is not getting a trial. Not knowing when you will be able to find out what will happen to you is the biggest kind of mindf*ck for the people held there.

[reality based]

2. *'s poodle may have to reorganize his cabinet again n/t