I hope that you are right. But if they are such “dangerous people” to justify their detention at Gitmo, how can they walk the streets free. Likewise, even if “normal” and “innocent” when they entered Gitmo, what are they like now ?

I am hesitant to believe that the Bush WH would allow these folks to talk to the press now. Likewise, considering what the USA has done to them, I wonder how likely the Bush cabal is to allow the chance that they may try to seek redress for the harm done to them (much less damages).

Because of this, even with the changes in the administration coming up in less than a month, I wonder what the conditions of transfer will be – after all, the mafia has to CYA.

That is why I don’t include a “free” option, even though I fully agree that the vast majority of Gitmo hasn’t been charged, but rather held without Habeus, often on the flimsy word of personal enemies wanting to collect a Bounty.

Australia is potentially willing to accept released prisoners, against whom, like the vast majority of remaining Guantanamo detainees, no credible evidence exists regarding their criminality. They would be admitted as political asylum seekers due to the probablility they’d be tortured, killed or persecuted in their homeland. They wouldn’t be imprisoned, or subjected to futher trial or penalty. They would of course be free to seek legal exoneration and compensation for their lengthy, illegal, torturous detention at Guantanamo.

Your post seems to assume that the detainees at Guantanamo have either been charged, or found guilty, of some legal offense. That’s emphatically not the case. The Justice Department, Pentagon, White House and Supreme Court have all acknowledged that the majority of Guantanamo detainees, despite their lengthy incarceration and attendant abuse, have no case whatsoever to answer. As such, none of the 4 possibilities you envisage – lifetime solitary confinement, lifetime confinement with media/legal access, standard life sentence or trial, are remotely applicable.

If there are any further legal proceedings regarding these detainees it won’t be to adjudicate their flimsily alleged criminality. Rather, it will be their captors, interrogators and the administration officials who sanctioned their illegal detention and treatment, who are the defendants on trial.

It’s interesting that you haven’t seen anything reported regarding this story “in this ex-penal colony”. Julia Gillard’s statement about this matter was covered, nationally, on both SBS and ABC news. As far as your comment that the “ignorant population of Australia has little interested (sic) in politics or anything beyong their selfish nose”, I’d suggest you need to both get out more and choose better media outlets before making such clumsily phrased, ludicrous, statements.

As for PM Rudd being a “huge disappointment”, I’d have to note that the 70% of Australians (in multiple recent polls) who approve of his performance, apparently don’t agree. While I’d prefer Rudd to be more pro-active on climate change, GLBT rights, paid maternity leave and other issues, the difference between his government and that of his hideous predecessor Howard, is difficult to overstate. In just one year he’s achieved: Workplace reform, Taxation reform, ratifying Kyoto, withdrawl of combat troops from Iraq, apologising to the Stolen Generation, increased funding to universities, hospitals, Medicare and the recent stimulus package targetting the disadvantaged, pensioners, carers, parents and the disabled. Almost singularly among OECD countries, Australia actually seems well positioned to avoid recession in the global economic crisis. I suppose, given your apparent contempt for your fellow Australians, it’s unsurprising that you regard this remarkable, progressive, economically shrewd, domestically beneficient legislative record as “disappointing”. But I’m gratified to note you share your categorical disapproval of Rudd with the most ill-informed, least significant fringes of the Australian politic.

That said, while I applaud your enthusiasm for war crime prosecution of Bush, Blair and Howard administration figures and their culpable legal counsel, I share with Geoffry Robertson QC, of the International Court, a pragmatically slender optimism about that entirely desirable eventuality.

Thanks. I enjoyed that thoroughly.

In my version, Obama gets sworn in, declares martial law, and arrests all Republicans. We airlift the cool people out of Utah and herd the Republicans there. They can have their own country, where they can do things the right-wing way.

They would be dead in weeks. The United States could then catch up with the rest of the world. You can call me a dreamer…

On the nature of Bubbles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Ocbt6l5NE

Are Australia, Germany, Portugal, et al. promising to keep these folks in lifetime solitary confinement – similar to the Nazi leaders convicted by Nurenberg (but without any outside contact or chance at parole a la Gitmo) – or lifetime confinement but full opportunity to send statements through their lawyers to the public – or treated like someone with a life sentence for other crimes – or the opportunity to have a trial ?

My whish list includes Gates, Negroponte, Perle, Powell, Rumsfeld, Rice, Feith, Wolfowitz, and ends up with Dana Perino handcuffed and with her mouth duck taped in a press conference set! Reporters taking pictures!

Please God, for the suffering and destruction these criminals brought to this planet,

I agree!!!!

Why are other countries taking detainees?

Thank you your right I looked at the letter he sent. I even called him President but I guess he understood I’m an American and went with flow. He was very kind in responsing to me.

Cats – Any time!
__________

Heh… you could put up bleachers and sell tickets for that…

Just after Barack is sworn is as the first legally elected President of the United States since 1996, a helicopter lands on the grounds of the capitol. From it leap armed members of a United Nations police force. They take Bush and Cheney in custody on the podium, hand cuff and then chain their legs, and then duck walk them off the podium to the waiting helicopter.

When the criminals are onboard the helicopter whisks them out to Dulles Airport where Chimpy and Cheney are put in middle seats in coach on the daily 5:20 p.m. KLM nonstop to Amsterdam. Early the next morning the criminals are met by more United Nations police who transport Chimpy and Cheney to the Hague where they are placed in 8 x 5 foot cages just like those at Gitmo where Chimpy and Cheney are detained until their war crimes trials can begin.

For added fantasy I propose that they are forced to remain in the 8 x 5 cages for up to 7 years just like the innocent prisoners at Gitmo . Damn, I get goose bumps all over just thinking about this.

me? i’d be satisfied if they all would be required to undergo one ‘demonstration’ waterboarding. Just to ‘walk the talk’…after that, they’d be free to go…