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Bush on 'Illegal Non-Combatants'

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Detainees
Posted on Thu Nov 20, 2003 at 02:57:44 PM EST
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Does President Bush really think that re-naming an unconstitutional and unfair procedure will make it palatable to the American people? Apparently. He and Prime Minister Blair gave a press conference today which included questions and answers about the Guantanamo detainees. No longer are they "enemy combatants." Now they are "illegal non-combatants."

From the White House transcript:

Q What do you say to those people, both those who support what your two governments have done since September 11th, and those who oppose it, that, in fact, the treatment of the captives in Guantanamo Bay actually belies all your talk of freedom, justice and tolerance? And on a specific point, in view of the comments from the Secretary of State and from Charles Kennedy and Michael Howard, is there on the minority of British nationals held captive an explicit offer from the United States to repatriate them? And, if that depends on a request from you, Prime Minister, are you prepared to make it now?

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: First of all, let me just deal with the very specific issue of the British nationals over in Guantanamo Bay. We are in discussion about this. I've already said in the House of Commons it will be resolved in one of two ways. Either they will be tried by the military commission out there; or, alternatively, they'll be brought back here. Now, we're in discussion at the moment --

Q How --

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR: It will be resolved at some point or other. It's not going to be resolved today, but it will be resolved at some point soon.

Let me just say this to you, however, about Guantanamo Bay, indeed, the people that are there. Again, let's just remember, this arose out of the battle in Afghanistan, that arose out of September the 11th and the attack there. And the very fact that we are in discussion about making sure there are fair procedures for trial -- or, alternatively, it's up to us, as the President very fairly has said, these people come back here -- is an indication that we actually treat people differently. So, even though this arose out of this appalling, brutal attack on America on September the 11th, nonetheless, we make sure that justice is done for people.

PRESIDENT BUSH: These are -- justice is being done. These are illegal, noncombatants, picked up off of a battlefield. And they are being treated in a humane fashion. And we are sorting through them on a case-by-case basis. There is a court procedure in place that will allow them to be tried in fair fashion. As to the issue of the British citizens, we're working with the British government.

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