The Clipboard: Indefinite Detention

From an article¹:

The United States wants to hold most of the suspected terrorists at a prison camp in Cuba for the duration of the war on terrorism instead of trying them before military tribunals, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Wednesday.

Rumsfeld said the 660 or so men held at the Guantanamo Bay naval base are imprisoned not as punishment but "to keep them from going back and fighting again and killing people." He said most would be held until the global war on terrorism is over - a fight that Rumsfeld has said could last years, if not decades. (link)

How can we know whether they're terrorists, if they've never stood trial? Right now the only thing we know they're guilty of is defending their country against attack. Contrary to what Rumsfeld claims, this is not a crime nor a terrorist act in itself. It's a shameful day for America when senior officials make such statements. Istighfirullah.

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Complete text of the article, Rumsfeld Says Terror Suspects Will Be Held, by Matt Kelly

The United States wants to hold most of the suspected terrorists at a prison camp in Cuba for the duration of the war on terrorism instead of trying them before military tribunals, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Wednesday.

Rumsfeld said the 660 or so men held at the Guantanamo Bay naval base are imprisoned not as punishment but "to keep them from going back and fighting again and killing people." He said most would be held until the global war on terrorism is over - a fight that Rumsfeld has said could last years, if not decades.

The defense secretary said he expects some suspects to be tried before military tribunals but prefers that most continue to be imprisoned indefinitely.

"Our interest is in not trying them and letting them out," he said in a question-and-answer session after a speech to the National Press Club. "Our interest is in - during this global war on terror - keeping them off the streets, and so that's what's taking place."

The Guantanamo Bay detention center holds prisoners from 42 countries detained for alleged links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network or the ousted Afghan Taliban regime that sheltered it. They include three teenagers whom the military may recommend for release soon.

President Bush has designated six of the men, including two Britons and an Australian, as possible candidates for military trials. Pentagon prosecutors still must determine whether any of the six will be charged, and Bush has the final say over whether they will go to trial, continue to be held, or be released to other countries.

Rumsfeld said the Defense Department is ready to go ahead with trials if Bush decides on that option.

"We have the apparatus arranged, ready, and we have a very fine group of advisers as to how to do it in the event it has to be done," he said. "But for the moment, we don't have any candidates."

The detentions have caused an uproar in Britain and some other U.S. allies whose citizens are being held in Guantanamo Bay. After protests from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and others, the United States agreed that the British and Australian suspects would not be subject to the death penalty and would be exempt from some rules their governments found objectionable.

In the United States, groups including the American Bar Association have condemned some of the same rules, such as one allowing military officials to eavesdrop on conversations between terrorist suspects and their defense lawyers.

Human rights groups and countries of detained foreigners also have criticized the United States for refusing to designate the detainees as prisoners of war under international treaties.

reference=http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/6739321.htm