A Further End to Democracy

The recent Supreme Court ruling stating that President Bush does not have the authority to have military trials for the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay is cause for the world to further focus its gaze on the United States. This combined with the fact that Guantanamo Bay holds prisoners not only form the countries of enemies of the U.S., such as Iran and Iraq, but also from the countries of allies, such as Britain and Canada, makes this decision more than just a case of human rights violation, it makes it personal. The saying, "Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer," doesn't seem to apply when they are all mixed together at the same camp.

This brings into sharp relief the whispered worries of the citizens of the allied nations which have been going on ever since the war in Iraq began, "What's to keep the United States from attacking us?" Is such a scenario likely? No. There has been no sign that these countries' relationship with the U.S. is in jeopardy, Bush's refusal to shake Prime Minister Harper's hand aside. Furthermore, it is likely not possible for the U.S. military to launch an attack as over budget and thinly spread as it is in Iraq; a war which, when compared to fighting another first world nation, should be a cake walk. However, whether or not these whispers of war are founded, or even truly believed, it is telling that a country which was once the envy of almost every country on earth has under the Bush administration been turned into, or revealed as, a monster.

So, why does the monster get to continue to do monstrous things? What does the decision of the Supreme Court really mean? Will the prisoners at Guantanamo be given civilian trials or none at all? The answer is a resounding, "Um."

The issue of the prisoners at Guantanamo being given due process isn't a new one; it was made by the Supreme Court two year ago, and lead to the prisoners being offered military trial. At the time, that decision was supposed to remedy the poor treatment and lack of legal action against prisoners. While a few more prisoners were charged, there is little sign that the 2004 Supreme Court hearing resulted in any real changes being made. The recent suicides of two detainees and the attempted suicides of others certainly suggest that life has not improved.

Finding a light at the end of the dark tunnel that is Guantanamo Bay is a difficult task given recent history, but there are a lot of people searching for it. To them this decision is the beginning of the end of these prisoners unlawful suffering. While I hope that they are correct in the belief that justice has and will ultimately prevail, I'd prefer to leave celebrating the return to moral high ground until the Supreme Court makes a ruling with a little less room for interpretation.

BBC News - Q&A: US Supreme Court Guantanamo ruling (2004)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3867067.stm

USA Today - Bush: Guantanamo's future up to Supreme Court
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-06-14-bush-gitmo_x.htm

ABC News - After the Ruling, Impact on Guantanamo Prisoners
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2136471&page=1