The Agrinautica

   So reports of documents emerging documenting "abuse" at Guatanamo Bay keep surfacing. I must admit, I've been entirely underwhelmed by all of these. Some list "forced to listen to Christina Aguilara" as abuse. Yes that sounds painful to me, but not to a a point that I would say constitutes abuse of prisoners. Maybe I'm insensitive or evil but:

(1) "a detainee got out of his cell during a search for contraband food and knocked out a guard's tooth with a punch to the mouth and bit him before he was subdued by MPs. One soldier delivered two blows to the inmate's head with a handheld radio, the documents show." ... "The soldier who struck the inmate, and was dropped in rank to private first class as a resul" - hey I'd strike out too if my tooth was knocked out

(2) "[another] soldier had mistreated detainees twice — the second offense involved cursing at inmates — and that his superiors failed to report either episode." - in the first one maybe he gave them the finger? "Investigators recommended disciplinary action against the soldier and a probe into why the incident wasn't reported up the chain of command, but the outcome is unclear from the papers."

(3) "One detainee who was believed to be leading the protest threw what an MP said smelled like water from the toilet on him. The MP tried to spray water from a hose in response, but the detainee blocked it with a mat. The guard who tried to spray the detainee was charged with assault, given a reduction in rank to private first class, which was suspended, and reassigned to other duties at Guantanamo."

"Disciplinary measures against the troops were either relatively minor or unclear in some reports."

   I don't know, I think thats some serious disciplinary measures for unsuccessfully trying to squirt someone with a hose who just threw toilet water at you, or for cursing at someone. Worse things happen in high school locker rooms all the time.
   Perhaps charged of abuse should be applied to the prisoners treatment of the guards, as international law certainly condemns the use of toilet water against ones opponents. I'd also link here to my entry where I talk about how the inmates have desecrated the Koran significantly more than the guards in Gitmo, but I can't for the life a me find it. )=


   That said and before my more liberal friends jump all over me, let me say that from my research into the subject (which I did do in an academic manner having addressed the subject at a recent conference), the international law on the matter of "unlawful combatants" is clear that they should be considered "lawful combatants," ie prisoners of war, until a "competent tribunal" finds otherwise. It doesn't even say who that needs to be but there has been no attempt to trot our friends in Gitmo before any kind of tribunal. And I really don't see any compelling reason not to. So that much is sketchy, but as far as I can tell, there have been no teniable claims that Gitmo prisoners are systematically abused in a manner we should be alarmed about.


   In Other News (that might actually be relevant), I'm very proud to say that yesterday my country on nationstates.net, The Glorious Dominion of Blehtahepdakorum finally regained "Psychotic Dictatorship" status after I banned advertising and allowed disputes to be resolved through fencing. I don't think it would be a terrible thing of advertising that wasn't sponsoring something was banned -- ie one can still have television commercials becasue thats what makes television possible, but no billboards or neon signs. I especially think neon signs are a nuisance.
   Down the street from me there's a church that has a giant neon cross in front of it. Lord knows I'm not religious, but that neon cross bugs the crap out of me -- its just so tacky.

   United States Supreme Court Justice O'Conner unexpectedly resigned today. People have been anticipating the resignation of Chief Justice Rehnqvist due to his ailing health for some time now, but this one was completely out of left field. I think Rehnqvist's current thoughts on when he'll be replaced is "over my dead body" -- literally speaking. I think they're just going to clone Justice Antonin Scalia to replace the two.

   Also there's actually a few Snailie Awards I still want to get out, but I don't have time right now... hopefully I'll get on that soon though.

Previously on Emosnail
   Two Years Ago Today: Upcoming Shows - The upcoming shows I plan on going to, and the Diedrichs crew goes to the spa.
   Year Ago Yesterday: 27 of 30 - OMGWTF: Goodbye Mohawk - Photo Essay: the mohawk gets cut off!!!
   Year Ago Yesterday: 28 of 30 - Phone Post - report from a parking lot
   Year Ago Yesterday: 29 of 30 - Kristy Gets Attacked By A Humungous Spider - Rotepopo Red Spider Brigades perhaps?
   Year Ago Yesterday: 30 of 30 - The End - So I had to do like five the last day... I actually ended up writing 37 posts in 30 days since I hadn't counted the ones I'd made before I started competing
   Year Ago Yesterday: 31 of 30 - Exit Polls - Once you're goin its hard to stop, as this very entry is proof of.