The Gitmo Dilemma

[ladytera]

I'm posting two articles for discussion here:

UK Says it Fears Terror Suspect Could Escape

AP Nov. 13, 2008

LONDON – Bail should be revoked for a radical Muslim preacher accused of raising funds for terror groups because he is planning to go into hiding, the British government argued Thursday.

Britain's Home Office said that Abu Qatada — once described as Osama bin Laden's representative in Europe — has extensive contacts that could help him evade authorities.

"Should Abu Qatada abscond his supporters would base a significant propaganda campaign on this, further boosting Abu Qatada's already substantial extremist profile and influence which would damage U.K. national security," Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said in a statement to Britain's Special Immigration Appeals Commission.
More...
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081114/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_abu_qatada

[ladytera]

Obama Plans U.S. Trials for Gitmo Detainees

AP Nov. 10, 1008

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama's advisers are making plans to close the Guantanamo Bay prison and prosecute terror suspects in the United States, a plan that the Bush administration said Monday was easier said than done.

Under the plan being drawn up by Obama's advisers, some detainees would be released and others would be charged in U.S. courts, where they would receive constitutional rights and open trials. But, underscoring the difficult decisions Obama must make to fulfill his pledge of shutting down Guantanamo, the plan could require creation of a new legal system to handle the classified information inherent in some of the most sensitive cases.

Many of the about 250 Guantanamo detainees are cleared for release, but the Bush administration has been unable to find a country willing to take them.

More...

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27640617/

Your thoughts on these are welcome. This has been a hot button issue on the left political sphere. Should we be learning from the other countries who have already seen the problems caused by criminalizing prisoners of war? What are the alternatives?