Web Letters: A Trial for Thousands Denied Trial

This issue will not be properly covered by the mainstream media. Instead, led by Fox News, they will attempt to divert attention from the real issues on interrogations by painting this story as one of defense attorney tactics used to get this "terrorist" off. This, despite overwhelming evidence that there is merit to Padilla's claims.

I love this great country as much as the next citizen, but recent events were inevitable, what with our decision-makers being so heavily influenced by big corporate interests. Even though the US has imposed its will on the entire world for many decades, it has not ever been to this degree - ever. I'm amazed (not really) at the hypocritical statements coming from Bush and Rice on how Iran is isolating itself from the world, when they don't even acknowledge the effects that their own policies are having on this great country.

Hopefully the Miami litigation will put Guantanamo on the front page where it needs to be. This case, as well as the upcoming military commissions, the habeas appeals to the Supreme Court (round 3 for the GTMO litigation), any other GTMO-related litigation, and the new bills on restoring habeas and Geneva, are all crying for proper coverage. If that happens, the citizens will be awakened to reclaim their country and set it back on the path of living by the principles this country was founded upon.

Matt Diaz

Jacksonville, Florida

I disagree with the writer: People who want to harm the USA need to know if and when they are caught they are going to face any means available to us to extract the most information out of them.

If, during the time of sensory deprivation, they experience anxiety, hallucinations, bizarre thoughts, significant psychological distress, depression, and anti-social behavior, that is the price of being NO GOOD terrorists or enemy combatants.

Does the writer think we should have put them in jail and give them the opportunity to achieve a university degree? Did the writer give a thought to what would have happened if American soldiers would have be thrown into a Muslim run jail? They would not see tomorrow; their heads would have come off in no time!

This is our trouble: being nice to people who are not nice to us and never will be and they are taking advantage of our niceness and think we are nothing but fools.

Nurit Greenger

Los Angeles, California

Naomi Klein is a bringer of light. And lord knows we sorely need more light. This is the darkest time I can remember for this country. It seems as though all of our most cherished beliefs have been turned on their heads.

What could possibly be the purpose of destroying the minds of these unfortunates? I can only conclude that the our intelligence agencies know that these people are merely window dressing for our War on Terror (a tactic) full of shadows, false flag atrocities, outright stupidity.

The law of karma mandates that we will pay for such crimes. That karmic debt will be born by both the perpetrators and those of us who stand by watching with disgust.

Anne Winn

Kimberton, Pennsylvania

Unfortunately, we can expect the rank and file to be indifferent until the first unschooled generation grows up. Until then, you can "activist" until the crack of doom to no avail. Don't let the state raise your kids using coerced lessons. More and more every year opt to homeschool, so that day is coming...

Winston Smith

South Bend, Indiana

Naomi... Thank you for this extremely insightful article.... I have always appreciated your investigative writing and still have "Baghdad: Year Zero" saved on my computer.

But this article has left me numb and extremely distressed.

Categorically destroying people's minds...for what? How can they obtain any useful information when they drive people insane?

This is not "torture" to obtain information, which is how they've always couched it (and of course I don't sanction that in any way, shape or form), it is simply torture for torture's sake as far as I can tell.

God almighty, what has become of the United States?

We need to send this article far and wide.

Carol Nicola

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Wouldn't it be wonderful it this trial received the media attention that the blonde bimbos Anna Nicole and Brittany have received.

The major news outlets can spend 24/7 on these stories and one that really has an impact on our constitution and country get very little coverage.

Thank goodness for The Nation and thanks, Naomi!

Beverly Harmon

Springfield, Missouri

I think the Bush regime's intention was to so break Padilla that it would be impossible for him to tell anyone what had been done to him. Given his apparent state of mind, this may in fact have the effect the government wanted. A defendant deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial has little credibility.

Michael Kwiatkowski

Cleveland, Ohio

Excellent piece and I have been missing your work. I enjoy your writing and I am moved by it, always have been.

Thanks for all of your work!

Kirk Lamoreaux

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Following the Second World War, millions of words were written, hundreds of films were made, recounting the inhumane treatment of prisoners by the Germans and the Japanese. The Nazis and the Nippons were portrayed, mainly by the British and the Americans, as inhuman monsters. No doubt those of them who were engaged in those historical atrocities were.

What then, can we expect to read in the near future about the behaviour of Americans over the period since 9/11? Their arrogant disregard for the Geneva Convention (it only applies to others, not to us). Their apparent perception of all non-Americans as being sub-human and entirely dispensible? The concept that all conceivable inhumanities are entirely justifiable when carried out under the banner of the "War on Terror"? That respect for Human rights and human dignity can be automatically suspended if someone is even SUSPECTED of being a terrorist? Torture is now an officially acceptable means to justify the ends?

I see little difference in what I read or heard of the Japanese and Germans in my childhood, and what I am currently reading or hearing about the Americans today.

The old hackneyed line in dozens of Hollywood films was, in a German accent of course: "We have ways of making you talk".

...and now, at a time when human behaviour and attitudes is supposed to have advanced apace, it seems our main achievement is that we have sophisticated these ways?

Perhaps that "line" will need to be re-written as "we got means to make you squeal, punk" ?

The real problem is that we have now become immune to death, destruction, torture, maiming, injustice, absolute power, lying conniving and dishonest politicians. All these things are mundane. They no longer shock us. They happen on a daily basis. Fictional horror films would occasionally make us jump or squirm. Now we can sit impassively through them, because the real horror show is on 24-hours news coverage.

Armageddon would perhaps be a blessing.

Michael Flannery

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia