05-10-2006, 05:46 PM
Quote:The
American prison complex at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba has become an international symbol of injustice and should be closed, the Attorney General, Lord
Goldsmith, says.
His remarks - which risk straining the Labour Government's relationship with Washington - went beyond anything said by Tony
Blair. The Prime Minister has described Guantanamo many times as an "anomaly" but almost always adds that its creation is the fault of the terrorists
who committed the 11 September atrocities.
"The existence of Guantanamo Bay remains unacceptable," Lord Goldsmith said yesterday. "It is time,
in my view, that it should close. Not only would it, in my personal opinion, be right to close Guantanamo as a matter of principle, I believe it would also
help to remove what has become a symbol to many - right or wrong - of injustice. The historic tradition of the United States as a beacon of freedom, liberty
and of justice deserves the removal of this symbol."
The Attorney General's remarks - in a detailed and carefully written speech on international
terrorism - is the most authoritative call yet from a British politician for the civil rights of the 500 Guantanamo detainees to be restored. Two other
ministers - the Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain, and the Foreign Office minister Kim Howells - have also said that Guantanamo should close, but
only when asked direct questions.
Speaking last night to the Royal United Services Institute, Lord Goldsmith also said that some of the steps taken
by the Government to counter terrorism had been "very controversial". They included introducing control orders restricting the movement of suspects who
cannot be brought to trial because of insufficient evidence. Lord Goldsmith denied this is a form of house
arrest.
Full Story
What do you think? Is torture EVER
acceptable? Might torture be justified in certain extreme situations? Suppose that someone has kidnapped a little boy and buried him alive and the
perpetrator has admitted to doing it but refuses to tell where the child is buried. Could it be acceptable to torture the perpetrator in an effort to force him to
reveal the location of the child and thereby save his life?