Next week there will be preliminary hearings at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for five men accused of helping plot the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. I will be there to report the story for America.
As I spend a week at Guantánamo and observe the military commission hearings, I will share the experience with America’s readers via Twitter (#GTMOJesuit) and daily posts on this blog. I hope that you’ll follow the story!
This week’s editorial in America, “Obama’s Scandal,” tells the story of Adnan Farhan Abdul Latif, who last month became the ninth detainee to die while detained at Guantánamo. Latif had been approved for release by the military as early as 2004. The editorial asks, “Is it ever morally acceptable to detain a person, citizen or not, possibly for the rest of his life, without charges or a trial?” We suggest using the Golden Rule to determine what is considered fair treatment for detainees. “If a foreign government detained you, or a loved one, what would you expect at due process?”
Here is a sampling of America’s coverage of the Guantánamo prison:
"The Prosecution Rests" (Luke Hansen, Sept. 26, 2011)
"The Detention Scandal" (Editorial, April 11, 2011)
"Guantánamo Pilgrimage" (Luke Hansen, Oct. 25, 2010) (See my podcast interview here.)
"Rule of Law" (Editorial, July 21, 2008)
"The Rights of Detainees" (Brian R. Farrell, Sept. 24, 2007)
"From Terror to Torture" (Editorial, Jan. 31, 2005)
Luke Hansen, S.J.
Comments
And I commend America Magazine for keeping this issue a top priority. The indifference of most Americans to the plight of these men is very discouraging.