Since when did the Defense Department care what the world thought about our war policies? When did Defense Department officials become concerned about their popularity and the consequences of doing what they think is right? Here’s the relevant quote:
“We were under incredible pressure from the world to release detainees at Gitmo. You just don’t know what people are going to do.â€
The United States has been too concerned with criticism about Gitmo. The appropriate position to take in a case like this is to tell “the world” that these are unlawful combatants and they do not have the same rights as burglars and carjackers arrested in the United States. They should point out they were lucky not to be executed summarily on the battlefield. In short, instead of whining about “pressure,” they should tell the world to take a flying leap.
