McClatchy has another prize-winning article. This one is about Guantanamo. The author interviewed 66 released detainees, more than 12 Afghan officials and U.S. officials with deep knowledge of the situation. The conclusion is in the title of the article, "America's Prison for Terrorists Often Held The Wrong Men."
Of the 66 detainees interviewed, 34 had a connection to militants, but 23 of these 34 had little information as they were very low level operatives. Seven of the 66 were fairly high up in the hierarchy and likely had valuable information. Some were in their 70s, one was 80.
Former Secretary of the Army, Thomas White, said that, as early as 2002, "it was obvious that at least a third of the population did not belong there." And why should they, as many were there because we offered money for nasty people or people were settling old grudges by accusing their neighbor of chicanery.
Then, there is the whole question of how we treated - and treat - the detainees. The answer in large measure indicates how far we have fallen away from the ideals of this country.
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