Unjust Guantanamo trials signal USA downfall

Just when I think that President George W.Bush and his administration couldn't make America look worse in the eyes the rest of the world, they seem to find a way to do just that. While the United States and many other countries have done immoral acts in the past, the Bush administration broke the cardinal rule of shady government activities; they got caught. The Bush administration did not follow a lawful procedure in declaring Salim Ahmed Hamdan as an enemy combatant who was not entitled to the protections and privileges under the Geneva Convention.

There is no clearer sign of an incompetent government than one who cannot even properly follow the procedure of its own laws. However, if you don't want to believe that our government is incompetent, then perhaps you'll believe they were merely breaking international law by unlawfully ruling that an enemy soldier should not be given the protection of the Geneva Convention. Basically the United States tried this man without due process, which means that they were denying him access to the evidence, commission sessions and witnesses that were brought against him, and allowing hearsay to be used as evidence as well. Obviously, this is a gross violation of due process.

Bush's stance on declaring all prisoners at Guantanamo Bay as enemy combatants, and therefore not allowing them to be tried fairly, has drawn increasing criticism from many countries — even Britain and Australia, our own allies.

It is stunning to believe that our government would do such a thing. America is a country built on the theory of freedom and rights for all. The fact that our government was basically going to send these prisoners through a mock trial with the verdict already decided and deny the defendants even the slightest ability to defend themselves is sickening.

This brings back memories of Nazi trials. The real question is, Why did the Bush administration do this? If America is the shining beacon of hope in the world then why has our government decided to make us look like the evil empire? If ever there is a clear example of how our country has fallen then we need to look no further than these heinous trials. In 1945, after the Allies defeated the Nazis, the Allies presided over the Nuremburg trials. In such stark contrast to the recent trials, the Nuremburg trials were a fair and legal proceeding that allowed the Nazi officials to defend themselves with the full aid of the law. These two contrasting trials show how far our government has fallen.

Every American wants the Afghani prisoners at Guantanamo Bay brought to justice, but it must be done fairly and in a way that portrays America as a fair nation and one that will not violate the rights of enemy soldiers. This despicable course of action doesn't come as a surprise. It seems this government wants to portray our country as an evil bully that does whatever it wants and destroys anyone who stands against it, not caring if it breaks international law.

How will other countries treat our soldiers when they are captured? If America doesn't follow the Geneva Convention then why should our enemies? This is something I thought I would never see from our great nation, but somehow it doesn't surprise me coming from this administration.

The one beacon of hope that I can find is that many human rights groups have spoken out against these farcical trials, which tells me there are still good people in this country who aren't afraid to speak out. Never forget that everyone has a voice; the only reason the government doesn't hear it is volume.

Daniel Bracke is a second year English major at CSULB.