I agree completely. I think the process is being manipulated and that needs to stop. I think they are holding people who they have suspicions about without real evidence hoping that time will provide the evidence or they will confess. That is where the transparency needs to come in. I understand that in many cases while they are trying to gather information there may be an issue of national security, but 6 years? That is absolutely ridiculous and an abuse. If they were classified as pows then they could be held until the war is declared over and hostilities cease, but since this is a war on terror, not a war with any state, it will never be over so that whole issue needs to be revisited and the entire international community needs to visit that and the Geneva conventions as this type of conflict was never envisioned when it was signed off on. Now the hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan might fall into that category, but not those picked up elsewhere. Granted, it happens in our civilian courts as well - heck look at the number of convicted getting released due to dna evidence nowadays...


>My take on his case is that he probably was one of the real innocents. Certainly some of the freed were let go after having cooperated and are not in a situation to discuss the reasons of their release<g>. Others might have been picked up in arguable situations - but in the country were humongous sums are given for much lesser injuries refusing due process even afterwards leaves a bad taste. There are other news stories floating around about former Gitmo inmates picked up in Pakistan in clearly non-violent situations or in Africa, where the reasons for picking them up seem to have not been connected to real terrorist they have been involved in. I did not cite these as I have no idea how much other newsparers check their stories (I do remember the Hitler diaries...), but to me some more of the bad smell comes from the US side. I also think at decision time US officials did what they thought best, but the high handed "ok, we let you go - that's it" after realizing a mistake has been made
> is bad. Offer them a small sum as a pension LATER if they keep mum about it as the blame was on the US side and standard operations won't be harmed.
>
>>They don't mention where the information comes from which led to his arrest by the CIA. I'm wondering if it came from someone caught during military ops or part of black ops? Lets assume yes for now. Even so, that creates quite a debacle. You have one detained by military who was caught during military exercises (playing what if because this scenario doesnt' provide clear options) who gives you information about their 'network' or 'cell's which leads you to someone operating in another country (Not an unlikey scenario for terrorists). You arrest that person, but then, who has jurisidiction? If he was arrested for suspected terrorist activity in Macedonia, shouldn't it be Macedonia? On the 0ther hand, it crosses into that military operations line because of how the information was obtained. A conundrum. I'm not clear, but I know that I'm not comfortable with how it happened. In my opinion, his rights were abused. He was not picked up in Iraq or Afghanistan, but he may have
>>been arrested because of suspected relationship with those who were or based on information from other detainees.
>>
>>Still, it should have been Macedonia which could have fought with Germany trying him (just as is done now with murders etc) unless both Macedonia and Germany elected to turn him over to the U.S.
>>
>>Each situation has to be looked at and considered for the human rights picture as well as every other consideration.
>>
>>
>>
>>>Come on, get real. There is a complete difference between immigrants or visitors caught here committing a crime or being here illegally - they are already processed in the civilian court system. This is about enemy combatants caught during military or terrorist operations in a country our military is under combat operations in. Two different worlds.
>>>
>>>I have *not* checked if currently in Gitmo there is someone picked up "elsewhere" like this guy who was flown to Afghanistan. Let's just say that not all US actions can be clearly put into one of the baskets mentioned above.
>>>
>>>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/world/europe/01germany.html
>>>
>>>Not that I am saying that due procedure has to be followed in every situation, but there are cases that seem lopsided.
>>>
>>>regards
>>>
>>>thomas