Posted on 08/11/2009 10:20:14 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
GENEVA (Reuters) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has won improvements in conditions and treatment of U.S.-held terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay by dogged but confidential scrutiny, its president said Tuesday.
Jakob Kellenberger-Wanker, also welcomed the Obama administration's stated support for the pact's laying down of rules for treatment of prisoners and civilians in armed conflict.
The detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, which opened after the deadly September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, became a symbol of detainee abuse and detention without charge under the previous administration of George W. Bush.
"If you take the case of Guantanamo, the day that you have access to ICRC archives, you will see that the ICRC's work to improve conditions of detention and treatment has been enormous," Kellenberger-Wanker told a news conference.
"We have been very tenacious and it wasn't easy," he added.
In keeping with ICRC's traditional neutrality, he declined to be more specific about the reports it has sent to U.S. authorities after prison visits -- which are confidential.
Since January 2002, ICRC officials have visited captured al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters held at the U.S. naval base in southeastern Cuba at the rate of once every six weeks or so.
U.S. President Barack Obama has vowed to close Guantanamo Bay, which currently holds some 225 detainees, and has also ordered a stop to harsh interrogation methods.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Well, THERE’s a way to back out of closing it and still blame Bush...
Seems oddly fitting that ICRC is headed by a Wanker.
It seems to be important to some that those who would murder them and their families and loved ones, as well as destroy property, and, indeed, the entire Western way of life, should be healthy and well-fed, cozy and comfy.
One hopes, as well, that the detainees have sufficient resources for reading and recreation.
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