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Monday, June 27, 2005
John Kline: Camp X-ray is A-OK
From today's Strib:
On Tuesday, Sen. Dick Durbin finally apologized on the floor of the U.S. Senate for his odious mischaracterization of our U.S. military personnel serving at Guantanamo Bay. His apology came in response to the wake-up call from a chorus of critics who highlighted the offense and disgrace of his remarks. Unfortunately, the Star Tribune remains asleep.
Actually, Durbin didn't mischaracterize U.S. military personnel. I think it's unfortunate that a veteran like Kline is so quick to use the military as political pawns. Durbin accurately reported what U.S. soldiers and other interrogators did. If Kline doesn't like what happened, he should look to Bush and the enablers within his administration that gave permission to torture.
Your commendation of statements which so clearly dishonor our servicemen and women and diminish the true suffering of the millions of victims of those regimes of terror is shocking. Your description of organizations and individuals such as the Anti-Defamation League and Democratic Chicago Major Richard Daley as an "orchestrated right-wing smear effort" is equally surprising.
Oh, John Kline, who knew you could be so funny?
Truth: Officials at Guantanamo have provided unprecedented access and transparency since 2002. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been granted 24/7 access to the facility. More than 1,000 national and international journalists have made over 400 visits to Guantanamo.
We've covered the ICRC claims before. "One cannot keep these detainees in this pattern, this situation, indefinitely," an ICRC said in October, 2003. In November, 2004, the ICRC said American tactics at Guantanamo were "tantamount to torture". In May, the ICRC reported on incidents where the Quran had been mishandled.
Note Kline's clever presentation. The ICRC has 24/7 access to the facility. This is better than the claim that the ICRC is actually at Guantanamo 24/7. The ICRC regularly visits the facility. Something tells me the ICRC does not have 24/7 access to prisoners.
In light of these truths, it is curious that allegations of abuse by well-trained enemy combatants should be more readily accepted than the word of our men and women in uniform who serve -- and have previously served -- our country at Guantanamo.
This would be a compelling argument, if the source of allegations were solely from enemy combatants. Of course, that's not the case. Durbin was reading from FBI reports. U.S. soldiers and other interrogators have reported abuse and mistreatment. The ICRC -- which Kline just said has 24/7 access -- has found what it considers to be credible claims of mistreatment.
These patriots deserve our respect and gratitude. They are doing an excellent job of uncovering truths which will help keep America safe -- and this is the truth Americans need to hear.
And you, John Kline, are doing an excellent of job of misleading Americans.
