Wyden to visit Guantanamo Bay prison

[struggle4progress]

08:29 PM PDT on Thursday, June 23, 2005
Associated Press

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Democratic U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Ben Nelson of Nebraska said Thursday they will travel to Cuba this weekend for a firsthand look at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Wyden, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Nelson, of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said they will meet with U.S. officials and military personnel to better understand the controversy surrounding the high-security prison.

The U.S. government is holding more than 500 detainees from dozens of countries at the Guantanamo naval base. Critics, including Amnesty International, have condemned conditions there as inhumane and complained that some prisoners have been held for more than three years without criminal charges.

"The questions surrounding the Guantanamo Bay prison, the legal status of its prisoners and intelligence-gathering methods being used there demand firsthand scrutiny," said Wyden. "I intend to find out more about how the reputation of this facility became what it is today: a black mark on America's image and a danger to American troops abroad." <snip>

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_062305_news_wyden_cuba_.3b00e451.html

[lovuian]

1. Yes Senators go and see and remember where you are walking

in a prison where these men have not been tried!!! on the soil of America!!!

[Straight Shooter]

2. Wow. Ron Wyden is my Senator.

He's got a good track record as an advocate of humanitarian causes. I am really looking forward to hearing his report.

[anitar1]

10. Well yes, Wyden voted for Cafta,I don't call that

a great track record. He is also my Senator.

[Robert Oak]

14. out of committee not floor vote

although I was shocked he did that and immediately fired off a e-letter.

But, I'll judge on the floor vote...my last understanding is it doesn't have the votes to pass but those little corporate lobbying scum
plus Bush & Corp. might get it through.

[Robert Oak]

15. oh crap

I just read the latest news on CAFTA and they actually think this
stinker will pass!

Write, write, write your reps now!

[gratuitous]

3. Go Ron!

I'd like to see him go for an unannounced visit, but this is good, too. I hope his plane doesn't crash mysteriously.

[anitar1]

16. Bullshit, his plane will not crash as he is

one of the guys. He is not a hero.

[NYC Liberal]

4. Do you think they will get an accurate picture of what's happening?

I don't think so! They are prepping right now for the visit.

[Betsy Ross]

5. Do you think they will let the Senators in? n/t

[NYC Liberal]

6. Remember what happened with Biden?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1564134

[mom cat]

18. I hope that there are good pictures if they get shut out.

[texanwitch]

12. I remember seeing a WWII movie about American POW 's in Germany and

when the Red Cross came to inspect the camp new blankets came out, and when they left the blankets were taken away.

[Purveyor]

7. For what? A f'n "dog and pony" show?

Spare me the drama...everyone of these bastards, GOP/DEM alike should be thrown out of public service and many of them tried for complicity in "war crimes"!

I'm so sick of "Washington, DC" and is "occupiers"...I could puke!

[FlemingsGhost]

8. Wyden voted "no" in Iraqi War Resolution.

Oooooooops ...

[BlueIris]

13. I was hoping I didn't have to be the one to point that out.

It's his bankruptcy bill "no" vote I had to appreciate, though. Thing of beauty, especially his public remarks about it. I really like Wyden--but I wouldn't mind it if his staff wasn't so damn stand-offish. Fucking Gordon Smith has excellent staffing. That was ultra frustrating during my phone-call marathon to his office back when we thought was had a chance to talk him out of voting for the Nuclear Option. Gordo's little L.A.s were SO effective at replicating their boss's nice guy routine, while telling women looking to keep extremists off the court to fuck off. Wyden would do well to consider acquiring more friendly representatives.

[eleonora]

9. Somebody is washing blood off the walls right now

Wyden will see NOTHING. This shit should be done candid camera style...undercover.

[napi21]

11. I agree. But who could actually do that?

That was my first thoughts, JUst what the heck do you expect to see? Neither of those Sens speak the language, even if they did get a chance to speak to a few prisoners. We all know what happens when the big wigs come to visit, no matter where it is.

I've been trying to think, who could actually get inside, with a camera, and find out the real story? The only thing I can think of is to find a few soldiers who served there and have since left the military. You might get lucky and find a turn coat!

[anitar1]

17. Wyden is lookng for a sort of glory as usual..n/t