Julian Borger (Guardian Utd): Guantánamo trials 'violate justice'

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Thursday June 16

Guantánamo trials 'violate justice'
By Julian Borger in Washington

The military tribunals of suspected terrorists held at Guantánamo Bay were a "tremendous failure", a US military lawyer told Congress yesterday.
Navy Lieutenant Commander Charles Swift was testifying before the first full Senate hearing on the Bush administration's treatment of detainees since the "war on terror" began.

His comments come amid calls from Democrats and some Republicans that the Guantánamo Bay prison camp be closed down.

Lt Cdr Swift was assigned to represent Salim Ahmed Hamdan, Osama bin Laden's driver, whom he said had been left mentally disturbed after being held in solitary confinement for seven months. Lt Cdr Swift said that Mr Hamdan was offered the opportunity to see a defence lawyer only if he pleaded guilty to the charges made against him.

My view is that is less important that Guantánamo be closed than it is that all facilities in the neocon gulag adhere to the Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.