Bastion of Freedom

In response to a freedom-of-information request from the ACLU, the FBI has released records of detainee abuse at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The documents included a report of a prisoner whose head was wrapped in duct tape for chanting the Quran (so much for freedom of religion) and another who pulled his hair out after hours in a sweltering room. The AP story on the documents also says:

"The reports describe a female guard who detainees said handled their genitals and wiped menstrual blood on their face. Another interrogator reportedly bragged to an FBI agent about dressing as a Catholic priest and 'baptizing' a prisoner."

Remember the phrase, heard after 9/11, that if we were to do--or not do--a certain act, "the terrorists will have won?" Time to resurrect that saying.

We can hope--without much faith--that stories such as this will lead the courts to reject attempts to prevent the detainees from obtaining legal redress.