Ted Rall for August 28, 2004

Transcript:

Yaser Hamdi, a U.S. and Saudi Citizen who fought with the Taliban, was captured in Afghanistan in 2001. For 2 1/2 years, we have jailed Hamdi. Calling him a dangerous "enemy combatant" we have denied him a lawyer. We never charged him with a crime. ("They may be detained for the duration of hostilities. They need not be guilty of anything." -Alberto Gonzales W.H. Counsel) To justify his detention, officials repeatedly claimed that Hamdi was a terrorist and a threat to America. Yet Hamdi is about to walk free. After 2 1/2 years. Uncharged. (Bush: So long! Have a nice trip!) Why they hate us, exhibit 3280171. ("No detainee has been mistreated in any way." -Runsfeld, Jan 2002)