It's not really much of a victory. Our government grabbed him, stuffed him in solitary confinement for 2 years without counsel, was completely unable to mount an actual prosecution, and now have forced him to sign away his rights to redress.
Would you call it a victory if it were you? Or would you call it the end to a nightmare?
That's a good point. I meant victory in the sense of vindication for his (and the administration's critics') position. But you're right that his years are lost, and the release has conditions to let the Bushies try to save face.
I guess one might think of it as vindication of the rule of law, but it's more along the lines of a close win for the rule of law in the face of an aggressive assault. Sadly, Hamdi (and let's not forget Padilla) were the pawns.
At least the Detroit prosecution was dealt with before those guys were in jail for *too* long.
Of such victories is our country built, though, and in that sense, I'm happy about it.
The flip side of the coin is that it was a tragedy. Maybe Hamdi really was a bad guy, and we lost our opportunity to see justice done.
Or he had years of his life stolen from him, and will never be able to clear his name.
We'll never know. Thanks, George.
I just thought of all the poor sods who were held hostage in Beirut for years before eventually being released.
*Sigh*
The USA has learnt all the wrong lessons about terrorism.
Maybe Hamdi really was a bad guy, and we lost our opportunity to see justice done.
I agree with this point, as I do in the case of Jose Padilla and the various and sundry others that our government is holding indefinitely. Either we do justice, or we do injustice. There is no middle way. Any actions we take w/r/t these people is tainted now.