Quote Originally Posted by PanzerJager
Yet Americans understand the claims of torture to be pure bullshit and that enemy combatants in a time of war do not in fact have the same rights as Americans.
Actually you are incorrect - some of the claims of torture are indeed crap - others have to do with the intent of the laws that govern the military and the treaties that were signed by the United States. The defination of torture and its different interpations lead to this confusion - and its the reasonable and right thing to do - to question the governments actions in regards to its activities. While I don't see minor sleep deprevation, loud music, and other such minor discomfort techinques as torture - it can be argued that these things do indeed fall within the scope of the intent of the anti-torture statues of the United States and International treaties -which I beleive is the jest of the JAG thesis.

It seems like the MSM saw an opening to pander to the left earlier in the summer. There hadnt been any terror attacks and terrorism had fallen from the spotlight. Senator Durbin made his comments and Gitmo was put up as a sacrificial lamb to the left.
Durbin is an politicial animal - he stated what he did to pander to what he believes is his politicial base - it could cost him his next election. Again a free society questions its governments actions. If the governments actions is right - then the defense of the actions by the supporters will have logical basis for their opinion. Emotional appeal - is not a logical method to defend the governments actions.

However, to America's credit, people realized just how crazy Senator Durban and those who sympathize with the enemy are and the issue didnt gain any real momentum. The MSM played it up as best they could and still got no where.
That because many of us understand that it was an emotional appeal - and he got criticized by many groups for his pandering comments.

The attacks in London put the final nail in the coffin of the Gitmo controversy.. it may rise again like the ugly leftist driven monster it is.. but for now its dead.
Oh I don't think it did - Because while I agree holding detainees in GITMO is not against the statues governing the United States Military - nor is it against the Geneva Convention - certain aspects of what is happening there can be seen as illegal according to United States Law and is against the Genva convention.