U.S. retreats from Gitmo suicide rhetoric
posted at 1:04 pm on June 12, 2006 by Allahpundit
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A deputy assistant secretary of state called the three suicides yesterday “a good PR move,” which of course is precisely what they were. Why else would the victims have coordinated their actions? They wanted attention, they got it.
But there’s no sense acknowledging the obvious when there’s faux outrage and agenda-pushing to be had, so the British papers did what they had to do and now an assistant secretary of defense’s done what he had to do, and the beat goes on. Which, I think, officially makes this a trend.
Lost in the shuffle of what Ilario Pantano referred to this morning as “self-flagellation” are details about the three “victims.” According to the DoD:
One of the Guantanamo detainees who committed suicide had been cleared for transfer to another country, a second was involved in a 2001 prison uprising in Afghanistan where a CIA agent died, and a third had ties to al-Qaida, the Pentagon said Sunday.
The first man mentioned was suspected of being a member of a militant missionary group.
All that said, I do basically agree with Moran’s take on this, although I think he veers a bit into self-flagellation territory too. Judge for yourselves. I’ve got a feeling he and I will be in the minority on this one.
Update: One of our commenters says the O’Reilly Factor will have a special report on Gitmo tonight. Apparently cameramen were allowed inside the facility, and filming stopped only a few hours before the suicides.
Update: Did someone say faux outrage and agenda pushing?
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Just three? Adding up how many Americans died on Sep.11th, and add to that how many of our soldiers have been killed..I would say there are a few more who need to do the nasty deed themeselves.. I do not hold any sympathy for these animals nor for their family…hope noone thinks I am uncivilised by saying the world is a better place without these kinds of muslims.
Sandys Beach on June 12, 2006 at 1:15 PM
Give them all a length of rope with dinner. See how many want to visit 72 virgins overnight. Save us all money.
clyde on June 12, 2006 at 1:25 PM
I would be very angry if they are getting Club Med treatment in Club Gitmo.
Yep…why don’t they all go hang themselves to save our taxpayers some money?
easy87us on June 12, 2006 at 1:26 PM
The adminstration better don’t try to please the liberals and foreign nations, and in due course piss us off.
I want the entire world to understand that we are gonna take charge. You either respect us or we kick a$$.
Remember, we have warned you, we have a big enough base now to throw you RINOs out and we are going to do it.
We are so angry now…if you want to know what I mean, go listen to Mike Savage please.
easy87us on June 12, 2006 at 1:30 PM
I believe I stand with the majority when I write that the only “stain on American justice” (Moran’s words) is the American politicians’ lack of will to win!
Frankly, I don’t give a damn what American liberals, the Brits, French, Russians, Kofi Anan or anyone else thinks about how we run this war! If I remember correctly, the Marine barracks in Lebanon housed OUR Marines who died, the USS Cole and dead sailors are OURS, the World Trade Center structures were OUR buildings, and the people who died on September 11 were mostly OURS.
Liberals just don’t get it. They never have and probably never will. Their lunacy, that, “We’re better than they are so we have to behave even if it kills us” is pure garbage. We have an enemy that wants to kill us. In fact, for those liberals who are not yet aware, they have in fact already done that – some, by sawing off their heads! And in the face of this kind of barbarism, we must be “better than they are” – even if it kills some of us.
The HELL with European criticism, Amnesty International, the BBC, and anyone else judging us. Let history judge us. Gitmo is exactly where these thugs belong because to release savages into a civilized world will bring only more hate, killing and harm.
Indeed, the suicides at Gitmo WERE a “PR move” and from my chair, I’d like to see another 300 like them.
ForYourEdification on June 12, 2006 at 1:35 PM
Watch the ‘O’Reilly Factor’ tonight for a good account of what goes on at Club Gitmo. Pictures never seen before; access never had before either. Nowhere would so much be spent on them and nowhere would so much consideration be given. Filming stopped only hours before the suicides happened.
ForYourEdification, thanks for the clarity! And thanks for your service to the FDNY.
Entelechy on June 12, 2006 at 1:43 PM
The qeustion is not whether “the suicides at Gitmo were the result of despair, as the New York Times says or whether it was a public relations ploy as Colleen Graffy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy says”.
The question is why are the conditions there so lax that it is possible that they happened at all?
Entelechy on June 12, 2006 at 1:51 PM
We must feel the detaines pain, we must understand them. Did they have a bad childhood? Bulldung: If the left had their way they would have people like Jerry Springer, or Opra Wimpre in charge of Gitmo. There you go a talk show on CBS Jerry Springer’s Gitmo audience parcipatation of course.
birdman on June 12, 2006 at 2:04 PM
I’m amazed there haven’t been more suicides at Gitmo. Remember the ‘hunger strikes’ of last year? If a muslim can be convinced to die for Allah, whether it’s in Iraq, Afganistan or Gitmo-and Islam can benefit by disgracing the enemy holding the prisoners-I’m amazed that more haven’t killed themselves. The prisoners have been well cared for, well fed and treated much better than they would be if they were being held by most other countries.
They have had their judicial reviews, no matter what lies you may hear on the news programs. Gitmo is clean-the mission there is so important that the military goes to extreme lengths to get it right, make sure that all is done properly.
The suicides do not shame our military but the prisoners who took the cowards way out. Shame on them. If all 400+ prisoners decided to suicide, it still wouldn’t be our fault.
Don’t let HClinton anywhere near Gitmo-she might just smuggle in ropes.
Doug on June 12, 2006 at 2:36 PM
This is good and bad. Good because, well, I am always happy when Islamo-fascists die, AND it frees up tax dollars. Having said that, it is bad because we all know what Congress does with extra tax dollars.
Cary on June 12, 2006 at 2:50 PM
The suicides were planned and O’Reilly’s visit, shooting for tonight’s story, just gave them the timing and pub that they so desire. It is a pity that our MSM will so eagerly run to the aid of such horrible criminals and terrorists, but our enemies know this well. And they use it well. The distraction will keep us from moving towards a real answer or solution. I must reserve judgment on Gitmo as I do not know enough about the 400 or so inmates/detainees. While I would hate even one innocent person being incarcerated, these are horrible people carrying out horrible terrorist actions against humanity. So what do we do? How do we prosecute the worst of the worst? In our own courtrooms, costing us $BILLIONS? I hope not. I don’t have enough info for that discussion. I would not encourage bond or an early release either. This is a confusing and frustrating situation that we must figure out now for all future ‘detainees’ in this war and the next. This new urban-terrorist warfare is going to be a piece our future. How do we judge and then punish those responsible? And most importantly, how do we protect Americans around the world while doing so?
Lots of sheets? The easiest solution is seldom the correct one.
shooter on June 12, 2006 at 2:51 PM
Allahpundit, although I usually agree with you, I must take exception on this one. The Geneva convention provides certain protections in exchange for following certain procedures (like wearing uniforms). Asymmetrical combatants (the terrorists) do not follow the procedures, and thus violate this “contract”. They have NO rights. In asymmetrical warfare, there are no rules.
dman on June 12, 2006 at 4:32 PM
As I commented yesterday, is there something ordinary Americans can do to alleviate Gitmo’s apparent shortage of rope?
chsw
chsw on June 12, 2006 at 5:24 PM
I’m with the ‘more rope’ commentors. A good terrorist = a dead terrorist.
docdave on June 12, 2006 at 6:00 PM
A lot tidier than a vest stuffed with dynamite.
I thought that liberals were all in favor of the right to die?
Geneva convention is a treaty that applies to the nations that signed the conventions. Otherwise the contract does not apply. And, of course, had the Gitmo bro’s signed the Geneva convention, they would be in violation of it and therefore legally could and usually would be shot on the spot when captured. That’s where the ’soldier out of uniform and therefore shot as a spy’ stories come from, the good old Geneva convention.
Of course, head slicing our guys would be another violation. Decapitation to music wasn’t spelled out in the Geneva convention, but it’s not in the Book of Hoyle either.
I participate in the Doneeda Convention. That s where we we ‘don’ need-a’ permission to defend our nation, our borders, our homes, ourselves.
entagor on June 12, 2006 at 11:53 PM
Why do we need to give these POW’s a day in court? They are being held and interrogated for possible information that could stop future attacks.
I am sick and tired of the so called rights we give to people that clearly are POW’s and enemies of the USA.
As far as the suicides and the cause, I could care less. They decided to kill themselves and I am not going to loose sleep over their decision.
BooFrigginHoo
ScottyDog on June 13, 2006 at 11:22 AM
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