By Patricia L Johnson

Today our Commander in Chief through Executive Order  reaffirmed his February 2, 2007 decision that "members of al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces are unlawful enemy combatants who are not entitled to the protections that the Third Geneva Convention provides to prisoners of war."

There’s only one problem with this picture – we can’t seem to get it right.  We don’t seem to be able to tell the good guys/gals from the bad ones – and as always, the numbers speak louder than words.  The March 2007 DoD release indicates we’re keeping 385 at Guantanamo, yet 80 of that number are already designated for release or transfer which means we’ve already released and/or transferred more than we’ve held as 390 have been released or transferred since 2002.

"In 2006, 111 detainees were either released or transferred from Guantanamo resulting in a cumulative total of approximately 390 releases and transfers since 2002. The number of detainees currently at Guantanamo is approximately 385, of which more than 80 have been designated for release or transfer, pending discussions with other nations or pending resolution of litigation in U.S. courts." 

Just out of curiosity – how would you feel if you were one of the 390 detainees that had been held at our southern hospitality suite for a period of 2,3,4 or 5 years without being entitled to the protections that the Third Geneva Convention provides to prisoners of war?

Would you be a happy camper? 

Or, when you returned home to your family and native country, would you do everything humanely possible to seek revenge upon those that made your life miserable and kept you from your family and friends for that period of time?

Lock your doors and bar your windows because they will be coming – maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next week or next month, but sooner or later they will be here and they will seek revenge from the people that stood by and allowed their families to live under despicable conditions while they were held prisoners of war.