Hospice care and the firing of the Gitmo Commander UPDATED

The current commander of Guantanamo, John Ring, was relieved of duty on friday -- two months before his tour of duty was to end. Why, you may ask? Well officially the answer is  "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command."  Read the very short announcement here.

Some think his firing had something to do with his recent discussion about the aging of the Gitmo population... and the effects of that aging (ie -- gitmo as a nursing home).

You can almost hear the disgust in Commander's Ring's discussion about the medical problems and how he, as commander, is supposed to deal with those health problems. Clearly the military does not want this dirty laundry aired....

The Guardian has more on Commander Ring's firing.

And another look at the hospice care of men who are held indefinitely without charge.

UK finally looking into it's role in torture of Abu Z

Well that only took 18 years....read more here.

A memoir from one of the youngest detainees....

Saudi Arabia offers few prospects for the bright young Mohammed El-Gharani. With roots in Chad, Mohammed is treated like a second-class citizen. His access to healthcare and education are restricted; nor can he make the most of his entrepreneurial spirit. At the age of 14, having scraped together some money as a street trader, Mohammed seizes an opportunity to study in Pakistan. One Friday in Karachi, Mohammed is detained during a raid on his local mosque. After being beaten and interrogated, he is sold to the American government by the Pakistani forces as a member of Al-Qaida with links to Osama Bin Laden, but Mohammed has heard of neither. The Americans fly him first to Kandahar and then to Guantánamo Bay.
 
In Guantánamo Kid, Jérôme Tubiana and Alexandre Franc tell the eye-opening, heart-wrenching story of one of Guantánamo’s youngest detainees. Written in collaboration with Mohammed El-Gharani, Guantánamo Kid reflects as closely as possible his memories and experiences of life in the camp.

Read more about his memoir and buy a copy here.

And Whatever You Do....

Don't talk about the torture....

More here.
h/o to Walt