U.S. judge orders release of 17 Guantánamo detainees

International Heral Tribune ^ | 10/8/2008 | BWilliam Glaberson

[doc30]

A federal judge has ordered the Bush administration to release 17 detainees at Guantánamo by the end of the week, the first such ruling in nearly seven years of legal disputes over the administration's detention policies.

The judge, Ricardo Urbina of U.S. District Court, ordered Tuesday that the 17 men be brought to his courtroom Friday from Guantánamo, where they have been held since 2002. He indicated that he would release the men, members of the restive Uighur Muslim minority of western China, into the care of supporters in the United States, initially in the Washington area.

"I think the moment has arrived for the court to shine the light of constitutionality on the reasons for detention," Urbina said.

[relee]

If they must be released I can’t think of a better place to release them than Washington D.C

They are being released in McLean, VA and they will stay with relatives there. McLean is a very nice part of Virginia and I'm certain they will like McLean better that Cuba, except maybe the weather.

[wardaddy]

Post 8, before someone actually read the article.

this case is troubling...can’t send them back and not much evidence whether they were fighting a holy war or the chinese

[wardaddy]

you know dirt....nobody talks about it but we have held Mariel boatlift guys never charged with anything in the US in Federal prison since 1980 because we felt they were a threat...

it’s a dark world for those caught between soverignty

[dirtboy]

Amen, wardaddy. From what I have read, the Chinese wanted the US to classify the Uighar rebels as terrorists in return for not exercising Security Council veto power against US Iraq resolutions after 9/11. I have no problem with letting actual enemy combatants rot in Gitmo. But I also have no desire to empower the executive to hold ANYONE without some semblence of due process - and I’m fine with military tribunals to accomodate that. But this case is very disturbing, and a classic example that the power of the executive to declare someone to be an enemy combatant without recourse of appeal is just too dangerous.

[Squantos]

I would be willing to bet ya a cold drink that they ain’t there due their pissy attitudes.........:o)

[neutronsgalore]

“I have some insight into this. They should be released.”

I think they should be released too....at high altitude over the Pacific.

[Osage Orange]

I’d wager more than that.............

[Squantos]

LOL......:o)

[Osage Orange]

BTW, I have repeated your tag-line to many folks.

Some nervously laugh, some look at me oddly.

I say it very seriously and look them right in the eyes.....Personally I love the reactions........

[aNYCguy]

I think when a judge makes a decision like this, he should be completely totally responsible for what these people do afterwards, and anyone harmed by them should be able to bring suit against him.

Are you fifteen years old?

[brytlea]

Why, are you trolling for underage girls? (or boys??)

[Syncro]

Heh...

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Members of this group were at a camp in Tora Bora set up by AQ and the Taliban. Some fought the US. Some took part in the Mazari Sharif uprising that led to the death of a CIA officer. They have since attacked guards at Gitmo.

Let them rot.