So Sorry--Carry On

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Freed Briton tells of beatings:

One of the Britons freed from Guantánamo Bay spoke for the first time last night of the full horror of his ordeal.
Jamal al-Harith told how US soldiers brought in prostitutes to the camp, and paraded them naked in front of the many devout Muslims. The 37-year-old also claimed he was kicked, punched and assaulted with batons.

He told the Daily Mirror that detainees were shackled for up to 15 hours at a time in hand and leg cuffs with metal links to the skin. Mr Harith said punishment beatings were meted out by guards and prisoners were subjected to pyschological torture and mind games in an effort to break them.

Sadly, I can easily believe all of this, especially the story about the prostitutes. Young American men are particularly prone to stunts like this--don't ask me why, but humiliation of others seems to be a pretty common trait--as American as trash talkin'.

And what's a US base without a readily available supply of prostitutes? Freedom for he, but not for thee...

As far as the beatings, kickings, and shacklings? Par for the course as well. Back when these folks were being rounded up, it was simply accepted by the public that they were probably guilty of something, and given the "turn Afghanistan into a parking lot" sentiment at the time, my only surprise is that the detainees even arrived at Guantanamo alive. And it turns out, they were guilty of something: being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sort of like being guilty of "Driving While Black."