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The Irony of Guantanamo
Five former US Secretaries of State are urging that Guantanamo be closed: Powell, Kissinger, Albright, Baker and Christopher. They also urge a dialogue with Iran. They are Democrats and Republicans and want to bolster America's image abroad. They spoke at a Roundtable in Athens, Georgia.
Powell, who served as Secretary of State when Guantanamo was first opened, was first to call for its closure. He said: "Our image abroad has dropped significantly. Perhaps this administration has spoken a little too harshly in a unilateral way," and added, "There are some things the new president can do right away. I hope the new president, and it seems it will be the case, will close Guantanamo immediately. And say to the world that we are now going to go back to our traditional, respected way of dealing with people who have potentially committed crimes."
Kissinger called Guantanamo a "blot on us" and agreed it should be closed. Baker said: "It gives us a very, very bad name, not just internationally. I have a great deal of difficulty understanding how we can hold someone, pick someone up, particularly someone who might be an American citizen - even if they were caught somewhere abroad, acting against American interests - and hold them without ever giving them an opportunity to appear before a magistrate."
Meanwhile, the Navy lawyer for bin Laden's driver claims Pentagon officials are timing war crimes prosecutions for the 2008 campaign. He contends that in 2006, a White House appointee asked lawyers to consider Sept. 11, 2001, prosecutions in light of the 2008 campaign. Another high profile case (Hamdan) is on track to be the first full-blown U.S. war-crimes tribunal since World War II and it would also occur in the timeframe leading up to the election. The only Canadian at Guantanamo, held there since age 15, has a case currently being argued.
Somewhat comfortingly, all three major-party candidates still running for president —Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and Republican John McCain — have called for Guantanamo to be closed.
Secretary of State
the official responsible for foreign policy
head of the Department of State
highest-ranking member of the Cabinet
negotiates with foreign representatives
instructs U.S. embassies and consulates abroad
principal adviser to the President on foreign policy
coordination of U.S. Government overseas,
excepting certain military activities.
All About Guantanamo
Road to Guantanamo documentary trailer RoadtoGuantanamo.com
Tear It Down.org (from Amnesty International)
(During the time I wrote this, the Google site had a temporarily black background, for an environmental event - but creating a sobering reminder of the shameful atrocity of Guantanamo as I used the search engine.)
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DiAnne,
I just came back home from a full day on the Hill. It is Arts Advocacy Day again and my students met with Maryland legislators and heard from several others. I have to say that, despite my own sense of frustration with these leaders, they are speaking up more boldly and clearly about the abuses of the Bush administration.
When the students spoke about the cutting of funds from the Dept. of State's cultural exchange programs (currently funded at $11 million a YEAR--not a week! AND the Bush admin. proposes cutting 2 million from that!), the staffers were quick to point out that very little of what the Bush admin. proposes is useful to the American people or our global reputation.
We heard little mincing of words about the current situations. Even inside the Beltway, inside the fog, they get that people are frustrated and fed up. And you know what? So are they!