Do as we say, not as we do.

bullseyebarb · 22-10-2006, 19:38

The Brits and Europeans have been very vocal about Guantanamo and yet, strangely enough, seem awfully reluctant to accept responsibility for their own citizen prisoners. Guess it's just so much easier to complain about the U.S. If you think Gitmo is such a dreadful place, please feel free to take back the ten Brits who reside there!

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grego · 22-10-2006, 19:46

I dont think there's anything wrong with Guantanamo, I think its ridiculous in this country that our prisoners are kept in relative luxury at the tax payers expense, its the PC crew going on about human rights, I dont think that prisoners should have any rights, their victims rights aren't taken into consideration!

lettie · 22-10-2006, 19:53

I have to agree with Grego (because she's bigger than me and will beat me up).

I see nothing wrong with the punishment fitting the crime. The HR brigade have made the prospect of prison in this country appealing to some people. There should be no rights without responsibilities. Many of the families of the Guantanamo prisoners protest that their loved ones are innocent but there's no smoke without fire.

grego · 22-10-2006, 19:54

I'm hoping I wont be bigger than you for much longer!

Margaret Pilkington · 22-10-2006, 20:02

I too, am in agreement with Grego and Lettie. We are far too soft on prisoners in this country...personally I would have prisoners accomodated on the remote Islands of this country...I would give them enough basic food for one week and then they would have to build their own shelter and find their own food....never mind giving them TV's, computers, food and warmth. No wonder prisons don't rehabilitate...the prisoners get too used to having a cushy life to want to stay on the outside and mend their ways. Prison should be a deterrent, not a holiday camp.

garinda · 22-10-2006, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

The Brits and Europeans have been very vocal about Guantanamo and yet, strangely enough, seem awfully reluctant to accept responsibility for their own citizen prisoners. Guess it's just so much easier to complain about the U.S. If you think Gitmo is such a dreadful place, please feel free to take back the ten Brits who reside there!

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You are mistaken. There is certainly no outcry about Guantanamo in the UK. Most people are too busy, and hard at work, in the hope of saving up enough to go on an all inclusive holiday to Cuba next summer.

steeljack · 23-10-2006, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

You are mistaken. There is certainly no outcry about Guantanamo in the UK. Most people are too busy, and hard at work, in the hope of saving up enough to go on an all inclusive holiday to Cuba next summer.

you mean that place which provides free basic health care to 100% of its population and has a literacy rate of 95% ?

entwisi · 23-10-2006, 11:07

Isn't the major point of this is that the people there have not been given a fair trial? As far as I know, they have been refused a hearing as well. I'm all for making life harder for prisoners but they should be found guilty of something first.

Stanaccy · 23-10-2006, 20:16

There is very little difference to Guantanamo now and internment in Ireland several years back. Most people were arrested on rumour.

Both are wrong and inhumane. As Ian said if you are going to punish someone then at least have the pretence of a trial (remember the McCarthy witchhunts) if not a terrorist you may at least find a closet communist or socialist to maim.

Busman747 · 24-10-2006, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanaccy

There is very little difference to Guantanamo now and internment in Ireland several years back. Most people were arrested on rumour.

Those that were sent to Guantanamo were not chosen by random. They were found to be involved on the wrong side in a war against the Brits, America and the Western World.

Several of those (so called UK residents) now released have returned to Iraq and Afganistan to continue their crusade, sure, let the others go so that they too can plan their next atrocity

WillowTheWhisp · 24-10-2006, 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

The Brits and Europeans have been very vocal about Guantanamo and yet, strangely enough, seem awfully reluctant to accept responsibility for their own citizen prisoners. Guess it's just so much easier to complain about the U.S. If you think Gitmo is such a dreadful place, please feel free to take back the ten Brits who reside there!

OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today

Apart from the fact that I abhor such generalisations as "The Brits and Europeans" as if we have only one communal opinion amongst the millions of us, have there not been requests from the countries concerned for the prisoners to be returned to their land of origin/residence?

bullseyebarb · 25-10-2006, 19:40

It does not appear that you read the article to which I linked. The whole point was that the U.S. has been trying for some time to return some prisoners to their countries of origin......without much success. In the case of the ten Britains being held at Gitmo, your government has thus far refused to accept them. Reason given - surveillance would be too expensive.

WillowTheWhisp · 25-10-2006, 19:47

Interesting how it all depends on what you read and where you read it.

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Residents 'not government's responsibility'