Senator Durbin has proposed to legislate to give each prisoner in
Guantanamo a real, civilian trial, or release him.
I support this, but there are a few details that need attention.
First, what about prisoners that were tortured into confessions?
I think those confessions will be inadmissible in real US trials,
which could mean that they can't be convicted of anything.
Charges against them ought to be dropped, but will the proposed
amendment do this?
Second, what will the US do about prisoners that face no charges but
have no country they can safely go to? That is not a justification to
keep them in prison.
I think it is ok to let them live in the US if they wish. A handful
of non-citizens in the US, even if they wish revenge, will not make
any significant difference to the security of Americans. They will be
insignificant compared with all the unidentified people who do or will
feel that way.
Third, what about those who find a home abroad and wish revenge?
There are so many people that wish for revenge against US
military violence that these would make no significant difference.