Clinton's Guantanamo--How the Dem. president set the stage for a land without law.

Slate ^ | Dec. 21, 2005

[Hadean]

Democrats, who've grown ever bolder in their attacks against what they consider a lawless executive branch, shouldn't saddle up their high horses just yet—at least when it comes to condemning the abuse of prisoners on Guantanamo. True, the Bush administration's record on that score has been nothing short of shameful. Our government has, with its actions there, harmed apparently innocent people, alienated loyal allies, created a rallying cry for jihadists, and increased the dangers to our own troops if they're ever captured. What's overlooked in the smug condemnations, however, is that Clinton helped pave the way for this current mess.

We sometimes forget that during the Clinton presidency, the United States ran an extralegal detention camp on Guantanamo—and went to federal court to defend its right to do so. The camp during the Clinton years was by no means the nightmarish operation it is now; certainly, there weren't allegations of torture. But Guantanamo under Clinton produced its own share of suffering and abuses—and perhaps most important for today, the court decision that shut it down was eventually wiped off the books, thanks to legal maneuvers by the Clinton Justice Dept.

... the Bush dynasty was interrupted by Bill Clinton in 1992 and his record on Guantanamo was an ugly one. Despite signals on the campaign trail that he intended to shut down the camp, Clinton changed his mind. As a result, the refugees remained, even after he assumed office, in leaky barracks with poor sanitation, surrounded by razor wire and guard towers. They responded with a hunger strike, and after raucous protests against their confinement, a number were thrown in the naval brig as if they were criminals. Worse still, federal authorities refused to release the sickest Haitians, even though military physicians on Guantanamo lacked the means to treat them...

[Ninian Dryhope]

"Our government has, with its actions there, harmed apparently innocent people, alienated loyal allies, created a rallying cry for jihadists, and increased the dangers to our own troops if they're ever captured."

What nonsense. Why bother reading the rest of the article after reading this false premise?

No innocent people have been harmed there, the Europeans have shown time and again that they are anything but loyal and they sure are not allies, the jihadists were murdering us by the thousands long before Gitmo, and the lousy bastards were torturing and murdering any American they could get their hands on long before anyone was put into Gitmo.

Leftists are some sick puppies. I hate them almost as much as I hate the Jihadists.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

When I saw where the artile was from...slate...I knew immediately it was going to be full of drivel...I was not mistaken..

[grobdriver]

and increased the dangers to our own troops if they're ever captured.

Oh dear - you mean they're gonna start putting panties on their heads instead of cutting them off?
Whatever will we do?

[yer gonna put yer eye out]

Another load of horse manure to feed the (minds?) of the breathless left.

[gridlock]

The camp during the Clinton years was by no means the nightmarish operation it is now; certainly, there weren't allegations of torture.

Of course there were no allegations of torture. There was a Democrat in the White House. Why would the MSM go making allegations of torture when there was a Democrat in the White House?

Note that medical care was substandard when Clintoon was President. Now Gitmo detainees get the best medical care available anywhere and actually gain weight while on hunger strikes.

[libertylover]

Of course there were no allegations of torture. There was a Democrat in the White House

Exactly! There was no torture then and and there's no torture now, but the reason for the allegations is precisely as you say..

[gridlock]

Well, it kind of goes without saying that the allegations are false.

[ashukla]

http://www.americanthinker.com/comments.php?comments_id=3996

Bill Clinton's Guantanamo problem

You never heard about it? That’s not surprising, because Clinton got it taken off the record, eliminating a legal decision from the books. The victims weren’t illegal combatants, but poor, black Haitians. Slate reports:

Guantanamo under Clinton produced its own share of suffering and abuses—and perhaps most important for today, the court decision that shut it down was eventually wiped off the books, thanks to legal maneuvers by the Clinton Justice Department. [....]

...the Clinton administration finally shut down the camp and allowed the Haitians to come to the United States. At the same time, though, the administration managed to undo the new precedent recognizing due process rights for foreigners on Guantanamo. In negotiations with attorneys for the refugees, the Justice Department agreed that it would not appeal the ruling, but only if the lower court decision was vacated—that is, erased from the books. The refugees’ lawyers agreed to the deal because they feared they would lose if the case went to the Supreme Court, which had already intervened in favor of the government at earlier stages of the litigation. As a result, the judge’s landmark decision that due process applies on Guantanamo doesn’t exist anymore, technically speaking.

Ed Lasky 12 22 05

[FreedomPoster]

"Our government The Lamestream Media has, with its actions there shameful seditionous use of the 1st Amendment, harmed apparently innocent people created "innocence" out of thin air for murderous radical Jihadis , alienated loyal allies, created a rallying cry for jihadists, and increased the dangers to our own troops if they're ever captured."

There, that's better.

[Ninian Dryhope]

Good work.