In tweets posted on Thursday, the President backtracked on earlier remarks made to reporters in which he said he would \u201ccertainly consider\u201d sending Sayfullo Saipov to the infamous detention centre on the island of Cuba.<\/p>\n
\nWould love to send the NYC terrorist to Guantanamo but statistically that process takes much longer than going through the Federal system…<\/p>\n
\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n…There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed. Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!<\/p>\n
\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
But Trump\u2019s apparent support for Guantanamo Bay and his calls<\/a> for the death penalty have prompted some human rights experts to question just how much he actually knows about the legacy of the War on Terror and the wider legal system.<\/p>\n
Reprieve\u2019s Alice Gillham told HuffPost UK: \u201cIn moments like this our elected officials are under pressure to respond but the responses we\u2019ve seen have been knee-jerk<\/a> and wrong-headed and demonstrate that President Trump in particular knows very little about the American justice system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guantanamo Bay’s infamous Camp X-Ray.<\/strong>” alt=”Guantanamo Bay’s infamous Camp X-Ray.<\/strong>” data-credit=”Michelle Shephard via Getty Images” data-portal-copyright=”Michelle Shephard via Getty Images” data-provider=”getty” data-provider-asset-id=”632858152″ data-has-syndication-rights=”true”><\/p>\n
Here are 5 things Trump should acquaint himself with before tweeting next time…<\/p>\n
1) Guantanamo Bay Doesn\u2019t Work<\/h4>\n
Guantanamo Bay was established in 2002 in the wake of the 9\/11 attacks and has housed 780 \u201cenemy combatants\u201d<\/a> captured almost exclusively during the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Sixteen years later and 41 still remain<\/a> – the rest have all been released without charge despite detainments without trial lasting longer than a decade.<\/p>\n
Only seven of the remaining 41 detainees have been charged with a crime.<\/p>\n
In comparison, US federal courts have prosecuted 578 terrorism cases<\/a> \u201cinspired by jihadist ideas\u201d since 9\/11.<\/p>\n
Gillham said: \u201cThis is an event that happened on US soil, the federal law exists to prosecute serious crime including terrorism and is more then well equipped to deal with cases of this kind.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the idea that we would refer back to the kind of incredibly unhelpful rhetoric of \u2018enemy combatants\u2019, talk of threats of sending people to GB, that is not how you effectively deal with terrorism and the last 16 years have really shown us it makes much more sense from a security and justice perspective to deal with this within the rule of law and criminal due process.\u201d<\/p>\n
An inmate shackled to the floor as he attends a ‘Life Skills’ class.<\/strong>” alt=”An inmate shackled to the floor as he attends a ‘Life Skills’ class.<\/strong>” data-credit=”POOL New \/ Reuters” data-portal-copyright=”POOL New \/ Reuters” data-provider=”reuters” data-provider-asset-id=”RTX2L3FV” data-has-syndication-rights=”true”><\/p>\n
2)\u00a0It\u2019s Been A Rallying Call For Terrorist Groups<\/h4>\n
Guantanamo Bay has been used as a recruitment tool<\/a> in terrorist propaganda, portraying it as evidence that Muslims are unjustly treated by the West and America in particular.<\/p>\n
George Bush himself wrote in his memoirs<\/a>: \u201d[T]he detention facility had become a propaganda tool for our enemies and a distraction for our allies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although its prominence in jihadist literature has declined in recent years<\/a>, the striking orange jumpsuits<\/a> worn by those executed by Islamic State are a direct reference to the ones worn by Guantanamo Bay inmates.<\/p>\n
So whilst it may not be the \u201chome\u201d of terrorism, it has certainly played its part in the propaganda war that helps inspire it.<\/p>\n
Amnesty International\u2019s USA Security with Human Rights Director, Daphne Eviatar, said in a statement: \u201cGuant\u00e1namo has become an international symbol of torture, rendition and indefinite detention without charge or trial – it must be closed, not expanded.\u201d<\/p>\n
A newly arrived detainee is escorted into a processing tent in 2002.<\/strong>” alt=”A newly arrived detainee is escorted into a processing tent in 2002.<\/strong>” data-credit=”Marc Serota \/ Reuters” data-portal-copyright=”Marc Serota \/ Reuters” data-provider=”reuters” data-provider-asset-id=”RTSCTAM” data-has-syndication-rights=”true”><\/p>\n
3) There\u2019s A Reason Previous Administrations Have Tried To Close It, Not Expand It<\/h4>\n
Bush saw it for what it had become and so did President Obama who tried, but failed, to close it down completely before his second term ended.<\/p>\n
In 2016 he said<\/a>: \u201cFor many years, it\u2019s been clear that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay does not advance our national security – it undermines it.<\/p>\n
\u2033…\u00a0keeping this facility open is contrary to our values. \u00a0It undermines our standing in the world. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is viewed as a stain on our broader record of upholding the highest standards of rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n
The facility viewed from the skies above Cuba.<\/strong>” alt=”The facility viewed from the skies above Cuba.<\/strong>” data-credit=”Lucas Jackson \/ Reuters” data-portal-copyright=”Lucas Jackson \/ Reuters” data-provider=”reuters” data-provider-asset-id=”RTSBT9F” data-has-syndication-rights=”true”><\/p>\n
4) The Term \u2018Enemy Combatant\u2019 Has Been Hugely Problematic<\/h4>\n
Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday called on Trump to declare Saipov an \u201cunlawful enemy combatant\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\n
During the War on Terror, detainees were classed as such as opposed to \u201clawful enemy combatants\u201d or \u201cprisoners of war\u201d (POW).<\/p>\n
Both refer to a person captured on the battlefield, the justification put forward by some for Saipov\u2019s case being that the US is engaged in a war against Islamic State and its ideology.<\/p>\n
But each classification carries subtle differences in how they can be treated once captured.<\/p>\n
Lawful Enemy Combatant<\/em><\/h4>\n
A lawful enemy combatant is a \u201cmember of the regular forces of a State party or militia, volunteer corps, or organised resistance movement belonging to a State party engaged in hostilities against the United States\u201d.<\/p>\n
Once captured a lawful enemy combatant becomes a POW subject to international law as detailed in The Geneva Conventions<\/a>.<\/p>\n
As such a POW can only be held as long as the conflict continues and entitles them to a certain number of rights which ensure their detention is carried out in a way that affords them \u201chonour and respect\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlawful Enemy Combatant<\/em><\/h4>\n
During the War on Terror, the Bush administration decided that al-Qaeda and the Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan, did not count as any of the enemy forces described by the lawful enemy combatant definition.<\/p>\n
It therefore concluded detainees would be classed as unlawful\/illegal enemy combatants, a finding codified in a military order issued by President Bush<\/a>\u00a0in November 2001.<\/p>\n
This allowed the administration – against the advice of the State Department – to declare that detainees would not be subject to the Geneva Conventions.<\/p>\n
It was this decision that would ultimately lead to the political and military environment <\/a> that allowed the Abu Ghraib scandal<\/a>, waterboarding and torture<\/a>, and the\u00a0\u201ccruel and inhuman<\/a>\u201d conditions at Guantanamo Bay.<\/p>\n
The infamous orange jumpsuits.<\/strong>” alt=”The infamous orange jumpsuits.<\/strong>” data-credit=”ROBERTO SCHMIDT via Getty Images” data-portal-copyright=”ROBERTO SCHMIDT via Getty Images” data-provider=”getty” data-provider-asset-id=”57369754″ data-has-syndication-rights=”true”><\/p>\n
5) A President Really Shouldn\u2019t Tweet Things Like This<\/h4>\n
\n\nNYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!<\/p>\n
\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Presidents are generally advised not to publicly weigh in on pending criminal cases given their huge influence in forming the opinions of potential jurors or giving the impression of exerting pressure on the judiciary to find in favour of a certain result.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\nI’ve run out of adjectives. By weighing in like this, Trump may have just assured he DOESN’T get the death penalty. t.co\/rZPYR9LeuI<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) November 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Durkin said: \u201cAs far as Trump\u2019s call<\/a> for the death penalty for Sayfullo Saipov goes – needless to say we find this very concerning, as it violates the presumption of innocence as well as attempts to present the death penalty as a legitimate response.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some people have compared Trump\u2019s reaction to the New York terror attack to his response to last month\u2019s mass shooting in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
\n\nWhite man<\/a> killed 7.5x more people in LV. Trump wouldn’t even say “gun\/guns” in speech. Now tweets “DEATH PENALTY!” because of race\/religion.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Adam Best (@adamcbest) November 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nTrump didn’t scream “DEATH PENALTY!” for the Vegas shooter or Heather Heyer’s killer?<\/p>\n
Only for a muslim & The INNOCENT Central Park 5<\/p>\n
\u2014 Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) November 2, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Gillham said: \u201cIn some senses it\u2019s worrying because when someone is in a position of such importance and has such incredibly high office of state, there are expectations around that that this person is going to show leadership and judgement.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo obviously it\u2019s deeply concerning that his response to this case has been so wild and so improper and there is talk now that his response may actually end up prejudicing the trial that now needs to go ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time this President is not someone who has covered themselves in glory on many related issues and so I don\u2019t think his response is particularly surprising and one would hope that increasingly people are learning to take his wild and frantic Twitter outbursts with a pinch of salt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe President is not particularly known for his consistency or wisdom on any of these policy issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nwww.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/donald-trump-guantanamo-bay_uk_59fb2340e4b0415a420a02e0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
5 Things ‘Idiotic’ Donald Trump Seems To Not Understand About Guantanamo Bay Donald Trump has abandoned his idea to send the man<\/a> suspected of killing eight people in Tuesday\u2019s terror attack in New York to Guantanamo Bay after he was described as \u201cidiotic\u201d by a leading civil rights group. In tweets posted on Thursday, the … Continue reading 5 Things ‘Idiotic’ Donald Trump Seems To Not Understand About Guantanamo Bay<\/span>