Thursday, January 20, 2011

Dear Mr. President,

I’m not sure if it was intentional or not, but the front page of the New York Times this morning sure captured the hypocrisy of America. Right there, side by side, above the fold, two articles: “U.S. Prepares to Lift Ban on Guantanamo Cases” and right next to it, “Obama Raises Human Rights, Pressing China.” I really got a laugh out of that one. You, preaching Human Rights to the Chinese president, while Guantanamo is open for business and preparing to try a prisoner, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who was held in a secret CIA prison in Poland and tortured – among other tortures, water-boarded. After an investigation, the Poles granted Mr. Nashiri “victim status.” Not only was he a victim of human rights abuses then, but you’re continuing the abuse by trying him in Cuba by a military tribunal because the evidence against him is hearsay and not admissible in federal court but will be used by the tribunal. Whoo-boy! I distinctly remember you promising to do away with military tribunals and adhere to the Constitution and the rule of law. Remember that whopper, Mr. President? Military Tribunals. Shades of the Roman Empire! I’m sure glad I’m not in Mr. Nashiri’s shoes. Or any one of the other 80 prisoners still being held at Guantanamo, 30 of whom you’ve given the go-ahead to try for “war crimes” by military tribunal. (How about Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Yoo, et. al?) The other 50 Guantanamo detainees you’re going to continue to hold indefinitely without even one of those make-up-the-rules-as-you-go military tribunals. So much for a fair and speedy trial. And there you are, in the other article lecturing the Chinese president to “...live up to human rights values…” Don’t you think that’s just a tad on the hypocrisy side of things, Mr. President? And while we’re talking about human rights, let’s revisit the plight of Pfc. Bradley Manning. Seven months in a Marine brig, in solitary confinement, under conditions defined as torture by many, including Psychologists for Social Responsibility and some lawyer groups. Oh, and how’s that UN investigation on his plight coming along, Mr. President? Managed to squelch that inquiry yet? What blatant hypocrisy! The old saying about power corrupts sure is true in your case.

Free Bradley Manning!