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Thursday, June 15, 2006 

Anti-Gitmo Sentiment

While visiting a "boycott Batelco" site this morning, I happened upon this petition requesting the closure of the "detainee camp" at Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo). Before I address this petition, first let me say that I am no fan of the George Bush family. They are only interested in lining their pockets with money earned by the sweat of the working class brow!

However. We are in a state of declared war, with "detainees" being held in the most logical place - Cuba. (After all, would you want these suspected violent minded people in your country?) Being in a state of war, this technically makes these "detainees" prisoners-of-war. In line with the Geneva Convention, they are being humanely treated, and have access to medical attention. Not only are they provided clothing to wear, fed three meals a day, and have a roof over their heads, but they have access to television and radio, creature comforts, and are protected by the very system they have allegedly tried to destroy.

To me it sounds more like a hotel, than a detention facility - and there's no bill to pay for services rendered when they leave. And some have been released, as they are cleared. If these same people were "detained" in other less humane countries, they'd be wearing rags, eating anything they could get their hands on (if anything), would have a hole in the floor to defecate in, and would most definitely be tortured until they confessed, named other co-conspirators, or died. Why not return them to their country of origin to rot in their own jails? You would not be treated so well in their prisons!

Why spend millions of US dollars to maintain these POWs in a more comfortable lifestyle than to what they are accustomed? Many legitimate American citizens live in the squallor of deep poverty, because money to fund the various programs designed to help our citizens has been discontinued. Why? To fund this horribly inhumane detention facility!

So I say, PLEASE sign the petition! There are much better ways to spend US tax dollars, like providing free prescription medications to our elderly, or giving our military a pay raise that is comparable to the dangers and sacrfices they face on a daily basis!