If they were captured on the battlefield they were incarcerated until the war was over, and I have no problem with that.
Well has the war ended?
No, it has not. Which brings me to....
But it's my understanding, and correct here me if I'm wrong, that we are detaining some (many?) people who were not captured on the battlefield, which pretty much eliminates the presumption of guilt, IMO.
And this may be the area that divides how you and I look upon this situation. I am going to assume, and correct me if I am wrong, that your meaning of 'the battlefield' is Iraq and Afghanastan. And if my assumption is correct then I ask you this ; What nation do these people represent, what nation are they fighting for and what flag do they fight under? For me, there is no specific battlefield. The battle field in this type of war is everywhere. When the enemy carrys out attacks on city streets, on finacial institutions, on public transportation and on government buildings, they've created a battlefield wherever they've attempted to or have attacked us. When they do not represent a nation, a governed people, or fight under a flag, the battlefield is where they choose to make it.
Therefore looking at it the way that I do, anyone who is caught plotting against, attacking or committing treason against the USA and her allies, be it on what you percieve as a battlefield in Iraq or Afghanastan, or what I perceive as a battlefield ( city streets, public place, etc.), should be incarcerated in a military prison, like Gitmo, and not be given a trial or representation.
I think, and I say this with all due respect Plaw, that many people, including yourself, have looked upon this war as a conventional war, similar to wars that we have fought in the past.
This war is not a conventional war. It is a different type of war. And IMO until people begin to see it that way and understand that it is a totally different war than those fought by us in the past, their opinons, views and ideas will never change.
Don Cardi
