Thursday, July 21, 2005

Guantanamo Detainees Mean Business

According to the BBC world service, fifty-two detainees at the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility (read: prison) in Cuba are currently holding onto a three day hunger strike, protesting the "inhuman" living conditions of the facility. As is general knowledge, Guantanamo Bay (affectionately nicknamed 'Gitmo') is the site of a massive detention and interrogation program for multinational terrorism suspects and those deemed to be collaborators and informants. Much controversy has arisen over the care and treatment of the detainees, some of which might objectively be referred to as torture. Precious little useful intelligence has emerged from this facility, which houses many charged with no actual crimes and held indefinitely. Many of the lefty persuasion have raised an outcry for the release of these detainees, held away from U.S. shores and the Constitution that, on U.S. soil, would protect the detainees from much of the suffering they are made to endure and, probably, require the release of most of them. The question must be asked of whether we, as a nation, are a noble, sophisticated people, or simple savages. Accountability for this facility must be more strictly maintained and enforced, if our government wishes to keep the facility open. Give those who have committed crimes the trials they deserve, and release the rest. Let no more word of such brutal and unnecessary captivity pollute the government that serves us. No, not in our name. Not in the name of America.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Karl Rove-Guilty or.... Guilty?

Sorry about the long hiatus... The veteran has been a very busy little boy lately, what with my summer job and still taking a couple of classes. Let's talk about the Rove controversy. As many probably know, Karl Rove is currently under scrutiny (if not outright investigation) for the possibly outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. For those who don't understand the lingo, the evidence points to him having blown her cover. This is a rather severe federal offense at least, and a possible threat to national security at worst. For right now, Rove has been keeping things under wraps, and neither he, nor his lawyers, nor the White House have much to say about the incident, other than 'he didn't do it'. Well, the veteran thinks that he did, and apparently, so does most of the democratic party. Step up, Karl Rove, and admit your guilt. Name some names. Be a man, you wretched tool. Sincerely, The Moderate Virginia Veteran.