Holier than thou: Gitmo now a safe haven

Oh, please.

The NYT headline reads, "U.S. Says It Fears Detainee Abuse in Repatriation". We can't send home the prisoners we took (those no longer considered dangerous or wrung dry of information),

because of concern among United States officials that the prisoners may not be treated humanely by their own governments, officials said.

Does this government know what "humanely" means? If so, then see WallDon's article today on the movie, "Trial at Nuremburg". In any case, the situation is especially tough for over 100 Saudi releasable detainees because

According to a State Department human rights report released in March, the Saudi authorities have used "beatings, whippings and sleep deprivation" on Saudi and foreign prisoners. The report also noted "allegations of beatings with sticks and suspension from bars by handcuffs."

Oh, those nasty Saudis. Guess they need to borrow a few German shepherds and some heavy metal CDs, so they can treat their prisoners right.

The last two paragraphs of the article describe the situation of several Russian detainees sent home. Let me break it down:

The one clear case in which repatriated detainees have suffered serious abuse involves seven Russians sent home from Guantánamo in May 2004. At the time, American officials were primarily concerned with ensuring that the men would continue to be detained. Instead, they were jailed briefly and released without charge.

So they were not really supposed to be released-- there's a flaw for you! Were they even charged with anything? Oh, wait, they don't have to be! I keep forgetting. Good thing Mr Putin, that former KGB apparatchik, can observe a democratic judicial system up close, huh?

But at least four of the men were later rearrested by various security forces.

That's good, right?

Three reported being beaten or tortured into confessing to an involvement in terrorism. . . ,

Ah, Mr. Putin's lessons are coming along well. . . .

and although one was later acquitted after a jury trial, he has since been arrested again.

What? A jury trial? Acquittal? Who do those bleeding heart Russians think they are? No, wait-- they arrested him again. Ooh, subtle-- hope AG Gonzalez is watching!

This is how it all looks in the real, Middle Eastern world:

"It is kind of ironic that the U.S. government is placing conditions on other countries that it would not follow itself in Guantánamo or Abu Ghraib," said a Middle Eastern diplomat from one of the countries involved in the talks. He asked not to be named to avoid criticizing the United States in the name of his government.

Glad to share our secrets of genu-ine democracy with you, young man. Now how about lowering those oil prices a tad for ol' Uncle Sam, eh?