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Posted on 01/22/2002 7:43:27 PM PST by Pokey78
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By Sun man BRIAN FLYNN, who
witnessed the Twin Towers carnage
Just over four months ago I stood rooted to the spot in downtown Manhattan watching a horror too terrible for words unfold in front of me.
As the Twin Towers crumbled before my eyes, taking thousands of those inside with them, I knew my job was to describe what I had seen as best I could.
While panic raged around me I sat on the kerb and started writing, describing the sights, the smells, the emotions and reactions.
The photographer I worked with on the disaster, Thomas Hinton, was at the foot of the World Trade Center and lucky to survive.
As he stood beneath the blazing skyscrapers, workers inside faced the choice so terrible we can barely even imagine it — between being trapped in a furnace or jumping to their death.
In the street, sickening thuds as falling bodies hit a thick glass canopy became a steady beat.
Thomas’s natural reaction as a human being was to drop his camera, sickened and upset, and allow those who fell some last privacy.
But after a dozen had landed in front of him, and unable to help in any other way, he realised the only power he had was to chronicle what was happening so the world would never forget their fate.
Choking back his own emotions, he picked up his camera and started taking pictures as bodies continued to rain down.
For those who flung themselves from the upper floors, some holding hands so they would not die alone, it was a very public death. Tens of thousands on the streets below watched in disbelief, tears streaming down their faces.
Millions more around the world saw the photographs. After much deliberation, The Sun printed one harrowing picture on Page Three.
It was not done to titillate, but to portray the enormity in a way words simply could not.
Yet even as I spoke with sobbing relatives trawling hospitals holding photos of missing loved ones, Osama bin Laden’s men were celebrating this “victory” over innocent civilians — many of them Britons.
It is hard to imagine that such men are human at all.
But now the International Committee of the Red Cross informs us that simply releasing a photograph of the detainees being processed at Camp X-ray infringes their rights.
None could be identified beneath hats, goggles, facemasks and jumpsuits. The picture taken by the US Navy simply recorded the conditions in which they arrived at the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba.
These unbelievably dangerous men, who were captured trying to kill Americans and then vowed to murder their guards, were shown kneeling down with their hands and feet shackled.
The hand-wringing liberals who whine they were being mistreated condemn the very photograph which enabled them to make that bizarre, perverse judgment.
Without a hint of irony, spokesman Darcy Christen argued it had exposed them “to public curiosity.”
Forgive me if I don’t weep.
Just as newspapers had a responsibility to chronicle September 11 and inform readers of the way the war was being conducted in Afghanistan, so we have a responsibility and a right to record the treatment of these prisoners.
The victims of September 11 — the true, innocent victims — faced a very public fate.
It is only right that the imprisonment and treatment of the terror fighters who despise freedom and human rights should be subject to just as much scrutiny.
Why should they be accorded a privacy which those who died plunging from the World Trade Center never had, simply to spare their feelings?
The public has a right to know what is happening to those who fought to defend the September 11 atrocity and protect its perpetrators. And The Sun intends to keep on telling you.
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By MARTIN WALLACE
HUNDREDS of readers yesterday praised The Sun for revealing the truth about Camp X-Ray.
Our front page story told how al-Qa’ida prisoners at the US camp in Cuba are NOT being mistreated in any way — a fact backed up by British diplomats.
As they praised our level-headed reporting, readers blasted the pathetic bleatings of whinging left wing newspapers.
We got it right when we reported that no gags, no shackles and no blindfolds are being used in the camp.
The Sun’s story was even featured on the influential Drudge Report website — sparking a flood of emails from America.
.
Here’s what our readers have to say about Camp X-Ray.
“Well done The Sun for showing how the al-Qa’ida prisoners are really being treated.”
Debbie Ivall, Reading, Berks.
“The Sun has printed the real story about the treatment of al-Qa’ida prisoners at Camp X-Ray.
“Far from the harsh regime suggested by human rights groups it sounds like five star treatment to me. “I can’t wait to hear Home Secretary Jack Straw’s excuse for criticising the prisoners’ treatment.”
Louise Carpenter, Green Fawdon, Tyne and Wear.
“Why is Jack Straw questioning America’s treatment of the captured Taliban and al-Qa’ida suspects?
“By taking this action Mr Straw is weakening the strong bond forged by Mr Blair.
“America is a strong believer in human rights.
“Well done The Sun for pointing out that America is being cautious and vigilant, but definitely not cruel and inhumane.”
Dave Sloan, Plymouth, Devon.
“Thank goodness The Sun has seen sense and printed the truth.
“Why is anyone whinging about the treatment of the prisoners in Camp X-Ray, when it is clear they are being kept in humane conditions.
“If it were up to me I would have shot every single one of them as they are brutal callous killers, who deserve nothing better.
“These do-gooders and human rights groups should keep their noses out, as they are so far from reality.”
David Smith, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear.
“I’m glad The Sun has told the story as it is. “I am confused by the furore over the al-Qa’ida members being imprisoned.
“It has been proved that they are not being mistreated so it’s time the bleeding hearts shut up.”
Alan Grant, Ticehurst, East Sussex.
“I’m aghast at the reaction to the US treatment of al-Qa’ida prisoners in Cuba — have people forgotten about September 11?
“The Sun has shown that they are not being mistreated, but if they were I would have no sympathy for them.
“I wonder how those who are protesting their rights can manage to sleep at night — they need their heads tested.”
Gavin Bevis, Derby.
“I cannot understand all the fuss concerning the treatment of al-Qa’ida prisoners.
Considering the atrocities they have committed I would be quite happy to see them with chains around their necks.”
Jenny Jackson, Cornwall.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, American readers have raced to back The Sun for presenting the facts.
“Thank you for reporting the truth rather than misleading your readers with sensational and totally inaccurate stories about Camp X-Ray.
“I greatly admire your Prime Minister for his courage and leadership.
“We, in America, are quite aware that the attacks of September 11 not only affected America, but many other nations.
“British subjects were killed by these cowards.
“Let us hope that those voices in Great Britain who would give aid and comfort to this enemy will soon grow silent or at least be ignored.”
Burst Horstmann, New Orleans.
“My warmest thanks and congratulations for your story on the real conditions at Camp X-Ray.
“An army of pundits, quacks, and terrorist appeasers seized on a single photograph.
“The Sun has bluntly exposed them for the charlatans they are.” Jimmy Reynolds, Texas.
“I would just like to thank you guys for exposing those lousy jerks in the left wing media for their lies over how those prisoners are being treated.”
Angela Rollisson, California.
“I loved your story exposing the lies about the American treatment of al-Qa’ida prisoners in Cuba and I can only hope that everyone in Britain reads it.
“Americans love knowing that you, our British ‘cousins’ are with us.”
Jennie Taliaferro, Dallas, Texas.
“I want to thank you for your favourable coverage of Americans regarding the prisoners in Cuba.
“It was good to see. It’s too bad a few idiots have turned many Americans against our one time ‘best friend’.
“Again, at least the Sun is with us.”
Jeff Ammend, Florida.
“At least someone on your side of the Atlantic speaks the truth about the treatment of the terrorists in Cuba.”
Timothy Bergreen, San Diego.
“As an American I want to thank you for your article defending us against the absurd charges that we are treating the al-Qu’ida in an inhumane way.
“I am appalled at the willingness of our allies as well as some of our own people to believe we are doing such, although God knows they have done nothing to earn such kind treatment at our hands.
“You rightly point out the kind of justice they would mete out to us. Thank you again.”
Jim Parker, New Jersey.
“Apart from The Sun I think there should be a public apology by the newspapers and politicians in the UK whose recent outcry over the conditions of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, had no basis in fact.
“In much of the media’s continual craving for melodrama, they did not bother to confirm any of the facts, which in this case could have been done by a simple phone call.
“This can also be said of the politicians.”
Neil Price, Washington DC.
The sheeple might get "too upset".
All of these Al Qaida terrorists were awaiting their opportunity to slaughter more Americans, men women and children alike.
They are being too-well treated.
ABSOLUTELY! All this carnage was on Spanish TV and I wish I had tuned into Univision etc. that day. Witnesses reported that they were confused by all the these hardly unrecognizable "splats" just outside the WTC buildings. Blood streaming onto the pavement from these "splats".
Yes they do. My only complaint about Rumsfeld's comments yesterday: He didn't call the anti-Americans what they are: liars.
The Guardian, The Irish Times and others lied for two weeks about civilian casualties (aided by an American college professor) and they knowingly lied about the prisoners.
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