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Afghanistan happy about Gitmo detentions
Despite a storm of international criticism over the the detention of more than 600 prisoners by the United States in Guantanamo bay, the Afghan Government is not complaining. Many Afghans have been held there without trial in legal limbo since the camp opened two years ago. Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Omar Samad says he remains firmly behind the continued imprisonment of suspected terrorists arrested in the country.
| "We have enough nuts here. You're welcome to keep them as long as you want..." |
Refusing to say how many Afghans were being held at naval base in Cuba, Mr Samad said those detained represented a threat to Afghanistan and the wider world. "We have a rough idea of how many but we are very mindful of the fact that those who have been taken there should not be innocent," he said, adding that Afghans were probably one of the biggest groups. "We are very mindful of the fact that for many of those who were taken to Guantanamo, we have proof that they were involved in terrorism." Responding to criticism that two years after opening the camp, the US was ignoring international law in its treatment of the detainees, Mr Samad said Afghanistan was confident the right outcome would be reached. "Different countries have different views but Afghanistan knows very well how dangerous some of these people can be and what kind of threat they can pose to society as a whole," he said. "We are pretty confident on the whole that there are many terrorists and dangerous elements in Guantanamo who need to one day be brought to justice whatever arrangements are made."
| But two whole years is such a long time! Why, compared to the amount of time their victims will remain dead, its... uhhh... ummm... never mind. |
Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-01-12 |
