mpohl 1 #1 September 1, 2006 SPIEGEL ONLINE - August 28, 2006, 12:43 PM URL: http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,433886,00.html Difficult Re-Entry for Guantanamo Prisoner Learning to Walk without Chains For well over four years, Murat Kurnaz lived in a small, brightly lit cell at Guantanmo. Now a free man, he has to re-learn how to deal with reality -- and how to walk without chains on his feet. Murat Kurnaz arrived back home in Bremen on Friday morning. DPA Murat Kurnaz arrived back home in Bremen on Friday morning. Murat Kunaz may now be home. But the ex-Guantanamo prisoner, who arrived in Germany last Thursday following more than four-and-a-half years in isolation, has a long way to go before he re-adjusts to reality. Indeed, having not been allowed out of his cell without his feet chained together, Kunaz even had to relearn how to walk normally, his defense attorney says. Kurnaz, now 24, touched down at the United States military base at Ramstein on Thursday evening following lengthy negotiations between Washington and the German government to secure his release. His lawyer Bernhard Docke said Kurnaz would first have to re-learn how to cope with reality. Kurnaz, a Turkish citizen with German residency, had never seen euro notes before and was surprised to learn that mobile phones now have cameras built into them. From the air base, Docke said, Kurnaz drove with his family to Bremen where he lived prior to his arrest. On the way, Kurnaz asked for them to stop the car so he could look at the stars -- which, because of the bright lights at Guantanamo, he hadn't seen in well over four years. Kurnaz, who became known as the "Bremen Taliban" following his arrest in Pakistan in 2001, said the bright, neon light in his cell hadn't been turned off during the entire time he was held at the camp, his lawyer said in a press conference after his arrival in Germany. Even in the process of freeing Kurnaz from imprisonment, the US took no chances. Docke says his was chained to the floor of an American transport plane and his eyes were covered during the flight. Fifteen American soldiers were on the flight with him. "The Americans are incorrigible, they have not learned a thing," Docke said. "He was returned home in chains, humiliated and dishonoured to the very end by the Americans." Defense Department officials told the Washington Post last week that they agreed to release Kurnaz only after receiving assurances from Germany that he would be treated humanely and that he would not pose a security threat. Documents declassified and reported on last year made it clear that both US military intelligence and German officials had concluded that Kurnaz had no ties to al-Qaida or any other terrorist organization. Kurnaz has said he was on a missionary trip in Pakistan and was originally arrested by Pakistani authorities because he was a foreigner. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #2 September 1, 2006 Oddly enough, this story isn't getting massive coverage by the liberal media in the US. In fact I haven't seen or read any coverage at all. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #3 September 1, 2006 QuoteDefense Department officials told the Washington Post last week that they agreed to release Kurnaz only after receiving assurances from Germany that he would be treated humanely and that he would not pose a security threat. Like he was treated as described in this article, I'm assuming? I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #4 September 1, 2006 QuoteQuoteDefense Department officials told the Washington Post last week that they agreed to release Kurnaz only after receiving assurances from Germany that he would be treated humanely and that he would not pose a security threat. Like he was treated as described in this article, I'm assuming? Yes, for the last four and a half years, despite our not having any evidence that he was a terrorist (according to the article). Personally, as an innocent man, I can think of few things that would make me more likely to become an "anti-government guerilla" than 4.5 years of being treated worse than a zoo animal without a legitimate reason. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rasmack 0 #5 September 1, 2006 QuoteDefense Department officials told the Washington Post last week that they agreed to release Kurnaz only after receiving assurances from Germany that he would be treated humanely... I love the fact that they even try to keep up the pretense of wanting these people treated humanely. In reality they probably wish that the Earth would just open up and swallow the entire camp, to make the problem just go away. Release them? No way. They are terrorist scum. Prosecute them? No way. We have no evidence. We just know. HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
micro 0 #6 September 1, 2006 QuoteQuoteQuoteDefense Department officials told the Washington Post last week that they agreed to release Kurnaz only after receiving assurances from Germany that he would be treated humanely and that he would not pose a security threat. Like he was treated as described in this article, I'm assuming? Yes, for the last four and a half years, despite our not having any evidence that he was a terrorist (according to the article). Personally, as an innocent man, I can think of few things that would make me more likely to become an "anti-government guerilla" than 4.5 years of being treated worse than a zoo animal without a legitimate reason. Blues, Dave Freakin incredible isn't... and even on the plane... chained and surrounded by how many? was it a dozen or so? Sheesh. Probably didn't even get an apology when they let him go. More likely, a kick in the ass to speed him on his way. Lordie. I miss Lee. And JP. And Chris. And... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #7 September 1, 2006 <> - Could you give me the 6 numbers for this saturdays Lotto too then? Cuz you've clearly got the gift . (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rasmack 0 #8 September 1, 2006 Did I forget to put in the tags again? Did you? Edit: Lotto numbers: 42, -4, pi^2/6, exp(-i*pi/3), 9, 11HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Royd 0 #9 September 1, 2006 QuoteKurnaz, a Turkish citizen with German residency, had never seen euro notes before and was surprised to learn that mobile phones now have cameras built into them.Oh, my God!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,571 #10 September 1, 2006 QuotePersonally, as an innocent man, I can think of few things that would make me more likely to become an "anti-government guerilla" than 4.5 years of being treated worse than a zoo animal without a legitimate reason. Isn't it scary that people have actually made the argument that 'We shouldn't release anyone because after the way we've treated them if they weren't terrorists before they sure will be now.' How can you answer logic like that?Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #11 September 1, 2006 < tags again? Did you? >> - Whoops [\hyper sensitive mode] P.S them numbers better work (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mpohl 1 #12 September 1, 2006 You can't! And that is that! P.S.: Understand though that the US criminal justice system (not that there is any justice in Guantanomo), is based on revenge, not on re-integration into society,as, for example, in Europe. QuoteQuotePersonally, as an innocent man, I can think of few things that would make me more likely to become an "anti-government guerilla" than 4.5 years of being treated worse than a zoo animal without a legitimate reason. Isn't it scary that people have actually made the argument that 'We shouldn't release anyone because after the way we've treated them if they weren't terrorists before they sure will be now.' How can you answer logic like that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zep 0 #13 September 4, 2006 Missionary or terrorist don't see the difference, Oh yes I remember, One hides behind a cloth the other hides behind the people. Guantanamo is their because it is a necessity, So you the innocent people can sleep safely Gone fishing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akarunway 1 #14 September 4, 2006 Quote Missionary or terrorist don't see the difference, Oh yes I remember, One hides behind a cloth the other hides behind the people. Guantanamo is their because it is a necessity, So you the innocent people can sleep safelyI'd sleep quite well w/o Gitmo thank you. I'm not one of the scared sheepleI hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
