The Emerging Gitmo Model?

While much of the "torture debate" has emphasized the so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques" defined by the twisted legal framework of the Office of Legal Council memos, IRF teams in effect operate at Guantánamo as an extrajudicial terror squad that has regularly brutalized prisoners outside of the interrogation room, gang beating them, forcing their heads into toilets, breaking bones, gouging their eyes, squeezing their testicles, urinating on a prisoner's head, banging their heads on concrete floors and hog-tying them -- sometimes leaving prisoners tied in excruciating positions for hours on end.

Little Known Military Thug Squad Still Brutalizing Prisoners at Gitmo Under Obama
Jeremy Scahill, AlterNet, May 15, 2009

Here's how your truly commented on this article in a private email:

Personally, I don't think even for a minute that this is about Gitmo, Al Qaeda, fighting terrorists, etc. as much as it is about developing and expanding totalitarian law enforcement and penal methods. Everybody and their brother knows that most of those people at Gitmo can be let go and nothing will change; at least, they can be treated with reasonable dignity and chances are they will be quite manageable. Give them their books, let them write letters home and receive letters, feed them three squares, and chances are there won't be any more problems than in any good ole' county jail.

Then what gives? What gives, I think, is that Gitmo is but a prototype, with a view of every police station and every county jail in the US of A being eventually gitmoized. And while they ain't there yet, not by a long shot, I can't help but say that some progress is apparantly being made in that direction.

What's Happening at Guantanamo?

The text below came to me via email. Use this map to navigate your way to the venue.

Regardless of what you think the people held at Guantanamo may have done I believe it is important for all of us as Constitution-respecting Americans to do what we can to make sure the rule of law prevails over the current Administration's dictatorial policies. And Guantanamo is a very important front in that struggle.

Newton Dialogues on Peace & War presents:

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT GUANTANAMO?
Why Should We Care?

Talk by Attorneys Doris Tennant and Ellen Lubell

Newton lawyers Doris Tennant and Ellen Lubell are pro bono representing a Guantanamo detainee who has been held for five years without charges. They have just returned from their first visit there.

Wednesday, April 4, 7 P.M.

Newton Main Library
330 Homer Street, Newton, MA

Hello friends. Please come to this event. Doris Tennant and Ellen Lubell are representing a Guantanamo prisoner pro bono, so they are providing their time at no charge. However, their costs, including their own travel and that of a translator, translator fees, and Freedom of Information Act requests, are running at least $20,000 for this year, and will likely continue at that same pace or more. Most of the other attorneys who are representing Guantanamo detainees are members of large law firms that cover these types of expenses, but in their case the “firm” is just them. If you would like to make a contribution to help them defray costs, it would be much appreciated. Please make your check payable to “Tennant Lubell Detainee Fund.” Your contribution will not be tax-deductible, but they promise to put it to good use to help provide fundamental legal rights to a man who remains in indefinite detention.

Doris Tennant, Esq.
Tennant Lubell, LLC
288 Walnut Street
Suite 500
Newton, MA 02460

617-969-9610, X 101
Fax: 617-969-9611

www.tllawgroup.com