US considers Pacific for al-Qaeda prisoners [Growing Prisoner of War Dilemma]

BBC ^ | Last Updated 24 Nov 2001

[B.Bumbleberry]

The United States has confirmed reports that it is considering using military bases in the Pacific to house any captured members of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

[B.Bumbleberry]

No question the prisoner of war problem is going to devolve upon us. Presents both risks and opportunities. What the ultimate outcome will be, who can guess. Just another hand in the tar baby.

[Recovering_Democrat]

YEAH, I'm bettin' some of the jackals attempt a mutiny on their way to the air bases and wind up sleepin' with the fishes.

[JD86]

Take no prisoners.

[ExpatCanuck]

How about the bottom of the Pacific?

[Professional]

Keeping prisoners will only lead to massive terrorist activities. Let the Afghans keep them, or make sure they meet Allah. We should not keep those rodents.

[madrastex]

Once again, C-130's should be pressed into service.Since all these guys are fighters, issue them all parchutes, and a book of matchesd and drop them out the back door aver the island.Etiquette requires that one shout "Good luck!", as the last one falls out the door. The plane makes a u-turn and picks up another load of fighters with parachutes.Repeat process till done.

[Not now, Not ever!]

Bikini Atoll is available, they could use it for pre-conditioning for their future condition.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Keeping prisoners will only lead to massive terrorist activities.

I agree...

Let's pack'em into the tallest building in Trashcanistan seal them up. Then remotely fly an old 747 packed with astrolite into it. Problem solved...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We need to teach the al-Qaeda prisoners the proper ritual of seppuku !

Click Logo and scroll down for more info.

Not for the faint of heart!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

To find all articles tagged or indexed using taliban_list

Click here: taliban_list

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Spending all their lives in the desert, I'll bet that they are great swimmers!

[Two Thirds Vote Aye]

There is NO dilemma. They must ALL be killed, or they are susceptible to flying OUR airplanes into OUR buildings.

Nothing personal. It is a matter of PURE SELF DEFENSE. EXECUTE EVERY ONE OF THE AL-QAEDA.

[AngrySpud]

Not the south Pacific, but the northern Pacific --- specifically, the Aleutian Islands. The island of Adak has a naval air station that closed down with the end of the Cold War. It's just sitting there and would make a fine detention center.

[Rustynailww]

anyone notice how the war has changed since bush allowed muslim prayers in the whitehouse?

[Brian Allen]

How's about we contract their care to the Russians? They're short of dough and would probably be quite pleased if we were to both reward them handsomely and do the [Prison] construction work for them!

[PokeyJoe]

How about we just ship them via a Saturn V rocket into the sun?

[Irish Eyes]

Are we still using one of the Hawaiian Islands for bombing practice or did we stop that ?

[bandleader]

To B.Bumbleberry:What we ought to do with any prisoners is this,put them all in that soccer stadium in Kabul where the Taleban used to hold half-time executions(instead of kicking contests),and drop a Daisy-Cutter on them!This would be very economical for many reasons.The costs of transport and imprisonment would be spared,the costs of burials(there would be nothing left to bury,and these babies are only $15,000 a pop!!!

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

You beat me to this one! I have been advocating using some of the Aleutian Islands for prisons for several years now- God knows they are worthless for anything else. And nobody is make a break by swimming for it- not in those waters.

[AngrySpud]

" ... they are worthless for anything else."

LOL! Actually, there are some gems up there, including Adak. I was stationed there from '83-'86, and was able to have my family there. A sportsman's paradise: hiking, fishing, and hunting. Of course, if you didn't care for those pursuits, it could be living hell. Windy ALL the time, and wet for MOST of the time. During my three years there were only three (3) days where the sky was completely clear from sunrise to sunset.

The detainees should be housed in the unheated aircraft hangars.

[AngrySpud]

"Are we still using one of the Hawaiian Islands for bombing practice?"

That was the island of Kaholawee(sp?), and bombing stopped at least ten years ago. The island is a spiritual site that's been turned back over for native Hawaiian use. There is a caretaker detachment that hosts EOD personnel that arrive for ordnance clean-up. I got a rare chance to visit the island on a rodent disease survey project.

[Stefan Stackhouse]

If they are not wearing the uniform of any nation's army, if they cannot provide a rank or serial number of any nation's army, then how can they possibly be "prisoners of war?" They are not covered by the Geneva convention, and it is very important that our government stake out a very firm and unambiguous position that we will not accept their being covered by the Geneva convention. They are all the equivalent of spies, saboteurs, and agents provacateurs in a war zone, and should be treated appropriately.

[Cachelot]

How about we just ship them via a Saturn V rocket into the sun?

Hah. That would be neat. "The Taliban Pension Plan: A Place In The Sun"..

[Brian Allen]

You beat me to this one! I have been advocating using some of the Aleutian Islands for prisons for several years now- God knows they are worthless for anything else. And nobody is make a break by swimming for it- not in those waters.

I flew through Adak a couple of times on trans-Pacific ferry flights and on one occasion couldn't even FLY out of there, let alone swim. Didn't get more than a hundred NM out several times and had picked up so much ice I almost didn't make it back to Adak. Where I approached and landed almost blind and almost at cruise speed to keep from dropping out of the sky!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr .....

Good place for a prison!

[Had to walk backwards to pee!]

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

I worked out in the Bering Sea (oil rig) a few years back, and I NEVER saw a nice day! Cold, wet, and either windy or a full gale blowing. I don't mind the cold so much (used to live in the Interior of Alaska- REALLY chilly!) but the rain and wind just got on my nerves.

Had a chance to go to ADAK (as a contractor) but I turned it down.

[HangThemHigh]

"How about the bottom of the Pacific? "

Show some mercy and give them a sporting chance. Take 'em about a 100 miles out and see if they can make it back. (Wonder how many sand monkeys can swim?)

[AngrySpud]

" ... on one occasion couldn't even fly out of there "

I remember my flight in: a civilian four-engine prop job (Reeve's Aleutian Airways). On approach there was so much snow we couldn't see anything out the windows. The plane was a roller coaster, crabbing sideways just before a perfect touchdown. Alaskan bush pilots --- they're incredible.

[NativeNewYorker]

I don't see any benefit to keeping these guys alive.

The Arab/Moslem court of public opinion has already condemned us to death, and their plight will provide grist for the CNNs and Johnnie Cochrans of the world.

Lord knows their bluster about butchering infidels, personal bravery, desired martyrdom and all that BS disqualifies them from any reasonable expectation of surviving capture.

And their only offensive moves on our soil took place with men out of uniform preying on utterly innocent civilians, including children.

Kill 'em all. Let Allah sort 'em out.

[Liberals are Evil Socialists!]

WHAT??? Hopefully, not Hawaii...

[Scarfo]

One word. Ritalin. the NEA has been using it for years to control our government school children. We will give them color crayons and let them drool on the pages. No need for heavy security.

[aculeus]

My recommendation: One of the Aleutian Islands.

[taxbreak]

I agree, take them to he hague as "war-time criminals" and then hang every last one of them for "crimes against humanity."

Keeping these people in a prison only invites schemes to get them released.

[desertcry]

This has been proposed by a Freeper a few days back. Now I'm sure the Whitehouse is lurking in FR.

[redhead]

I agree. Plus, the weather/climate there is perfect. Wind, rain, wind, rain, wind, rain, bugs, etc. And the north Pacific waters are about 40 degrees. If they try to swim for it, they will get about 15 minutes before they die of hypothermia. Ideal location. I'm all for it!

[Cowboy Bob]

My only problem with keeping these people alive, particularly on some US controlled island, is that before you know it, the ACLU will be out there trying to protect them, and ensure that they are afforded all the rights granted under the US Constitution.

[Cautor]

I say we pay the Russians to house them in some of their old prisons. I'm sure they'd be happy to earn the money.

[Brian Allen]

A Reeves Aleutian Airways Lockheed L-188 Electra. [The PC-3 Orion "chassis"] The first four-engined transport on my [Then] boy-pilot's licence and still one of my very favorite aeroplanes! FReegards

Brian

[cardinal4]

Hey!You cant use Bikini they tested Hbombs there....Oh,I get it.Heh,heh

[off-roader]

This can be simple and economical. 1) Simply place the *ssholes on a Pacific Isle to fend for themselves.

2) Monitor their actions.

3) As soon as any one faction gains power over the others, send in the US Navy Seals.

As a result, the cost to house these *ssholes is near 'nil and the Seals obtain some "live fire practice".

[Go Gordon]

Actually, with the recent emphasis on shark attacks, why not find some warm water islands and use the bastards for experiments.

Scientists one year from now: "Sonic repulsion?
Observers/lab technicians: "No we tried that but omar, abdullah, machmed, and mullah whats-his-name were gobbled up in seconds."

Scientists: "How about chemical distilants."
Observers: "no, the smell of the unbathed over powered the chemicals, and sheik whatever, mohammad, and attah were meat in seconds."

Scientists: "Well, we need to repeat these experiments 1000 times to get a true sampling for results to be published in the medical journals. Carry on and we'll be back in a year."

[Cobra64]

Our ground forces deserve a lot of R&R. That said, let them have a week off for shark fishing.

Tie up the rag-heads by the feet, slather 'em in hog fat, hook 'em with a grappling hook and troll for the Great Whites.

Benefits? No grave-diggers to employ, and it's great for the eco-system. A commercial film crew would be on hand to film the action, and DVDs would be made available for GI's friends and families to share in the excitement. If we act fast, it'b make for a great Christmas present.

[Cobra64]

How about we just ship them via a Saturn V rocket into the sun?

Too expensive. Trolling for sharks is much more sporting.

[Cobra64]

...and then hang every last one of them...

Too little rope, too much work, not enough fun.

[Cobra64]

This has been proposed by a Freeper a few days back.

Yes it was. I participated in the posts. Some were pretty funny. The general consensus was to put 'em on a desolate island, preferably one used as air force bombing practice.

[Wonder Warthog]

Now that is a FINE idea. A nice small one with LOTS of deep water between it and any of its neighbors. Land'em from a ship with a few tents and some boxes of MRE's and leave'em there until we are ready to sort'em out.

[Eva]

I liked a suggestion that someone made on another thread, let the Russians send them to Siberia.

[Wonder Warthog]

"The detainees should be housed in the unheated aircraft hangars."

MUCH too kind.
Toss'em on shore with some tents and boxes of MRE's, leave some shovels and axes, and come back when we are ready to sort'em out for trial.

[desertcry]

Yap, that indeed will be the minimum cost to the American taxpayer solution, and most appropriate payback for 9/11.

[Uncle George]

We could build them a pow camp at "LUDLOW" California: They would feel at home there and they could eat at "ROYS CAFE".

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

Don't we have an unused military base in Greenland or Alaska that we could put to use? I don't like the idea of these guys basking in the Pacific tropics on our nickel.