Ever since this prison camp opened I was distrubed, sad, angry just…..helpless…. its now 2009 even after watching films and hearing people just TALK about Guantanamo…nothing is being done to help those that are innocent.

source

As one Washington diplomat oversees the closing of Guantanamo Bay — one prisoner at a time — reporter Michelle Shephard tracks his progress

Back to How to empty Guantanamo

How to empty Guantanamo

December 06, 2009

Michelle Shephard

Daniel Fried is more travelling salesman than dashing diplomat. His job peddling Guatanamo prisoners is especially hard when the pitch goes something like, “Please give these detainees homes even if we’re not willing to do the same.”

MICHELLE SHEPHARD/TORONTO STAR

WASHINGTON–He is known as the “Guantanamo czar,” a regal title that belies the daily drudgery required for emptying the world’s most notorious prison.

Sure, since U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Daniel Fried as his special envoy, the former ambassador has racked up the frequent flyer points, lunching in Palau one weekend and dining in Bermuda a few days later.

But Fried is more travelling salesman than dashing diplomat. His job peddling Guatanamo prisoners is especially hard when the pitch goes something like, “Please give these detainees homes even if we’re not willing to do the same.”

Daniel Fried, Dan to friends, may just have Washington’s toughest job.

And, yes, his last name is pronounced freed.

“I don’t think he sleeps,” says Boston lawyer Sabin Willett, whose Guantanamo clients’ were resettled in Bermuda due to Fried’s deal making. “He flies around the world to try to solve this insoluble problem.”

Fried’s task is to find homes for the dozens of prisoners the Pentagon has cleared for release, but who come from Syria, Libya, Algeria, Uzbekistan, China or other countries where there’s a likelihood they would be killed or tortured if returned. His job got more complicated when Congress decided in May that none of these men could set foot on U.S. soil.

(more…)

I feel very strongly about Guantanamo Bay - especially about people’s awareness and the ignorance that fuels a lot of people’s misconceptions of the prison and its people.

- is this how we treat humans that are innocent until proven guilty? -

Tomorrow, April 16, the American people may finally get a chance to see secret legal memos prepared by the Bush administration to justify the CIA’s illegal torture program.

Under an agreement with the ACLU, the Obama administration is now considering the release of four memos written by the Bush Justice Department, in 2002 and 2005, that were used by the Bush administration to provide legal cover for its abusive interrogation techniques.

Click this link to watch a new ACLU video about the secret memos, and the need for the Justice Department to appoint an independent prosecutor to conduct a thorough investigation of torture crimes.

https://www.aclu.org/investigatetorture

We have a right to know how the Bush administration circumvented the law and justified violating human rights. Americans should never be afraid of learning the truth about their government.

Thank you for supporting this fight for accountability.

https://www.aclu.org/investigatetorture

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If you have some time I suggest everyone just read this:

The Guard Who Found Islam

http://www.newsweek.com/id/190357
It’s just an interesting read.

So is this book

Ignorant Armies: Sliding into War in Iraq by Gwynne Dyer

http://www.amazon.ca/Ignorant-Armies-Sliding-into-Iraq/dp/0771029772

Side note:In no way am I BASHING those who were sent over to IRAQ or overseas

Luv,