And Through The Bars That Hid The Stars

I know not whether Laws be right,
Or whether Laws be wrong;
All that we know who lie in gaol
Is that the wall is strong;
And that each day is like a year,
A year whose days are long.
–Oscar Wilde, The Ballad of Reading Gaol



Someday we’ll be asked why they hate us:


Even in a courtroom that was closed to the public and the press, and with the detainees allowed access to the proceedings only by telephone, the court could find no reason to hold these men. This decision makes it clear once again that even with presumptions in its favor, the government cannot muster the barest evidence in support of its arbitrary detentions. For seven years, the Bush administration sought to avoid the courts because it had no evidence and sought instead to create a lawless prison.


They created a lawless prison. If I had to sum up the past eight years in a single sentence that would be it. They created a lawless prison. And I’m not talking about Guantanamo. I’m not talking about Guantanamo at all.


A.

5 thoughts on “And Through The Bars That Hid The Stars

  1. It’d be nice if Obama would express some interest in doing something about that. But I guess he’s saving his political capital for something important.

  2. It’d be nice if Obama would express some interest in doing something about that.
    What’s this, chopped liver?

    Kroft: There are a number of different things that you could do early pertaining to executive orders. One of them is to shutdown Guantanamo Bay. Another is to change interrogation methods that are used by U.S. troops. Are those things that you plan to take early action on?
    Mr. Obama: Yes. I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that. I have said repeatedly that America doesn’t torture. And I’m gonna make sure that we don’t torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America’s moral stature in the world.

    Nov. 16 ’60 Minutes’ interview

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