A Hopeful Sign

Now that the Solstice has arrived, soon to be followed by increased day light, I anticipate my mood will lighten as well. It also helps that we will shortly be rid of the worst administration in my life time, if not in all history. I'm not the biggest Obama fan in the world, but I do welcome the change, such as it will be, as will most of the rest of the world.

One hopeful signal has come from Europe, according to this op-ed piece by Juurd Eijsvoogel published in the Netherlands' NRC Handelsblad. His subject is Guantanamo Bay and the foul prison placed there by the Bush Administration. President Elect Obama has promised to close that prison, but, as Mr. Eijsvoogel notes, there are some practical problems attendant to such a move.

America will soon have a president who has promised to close Guantanamo - only there are all kinds of practical risks associated with this. For example, there are dozens of prisoners who, as far as Washington is concerned, can go free, but who must fear torture or worse in their own country. Where can they go? ...

On the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Portugal offered to accept a number of innocent prisoners who have been locked up without trial. And, at the same time, Lisbon called upon other E.U. countries to do the same. A deep silence then descended upon the European capitals.

But Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reacted enthusiastically to the news out of Lisbon. And Washington spoke hopeful of a breakthrough. Because, although the Bush administration initially maintained that only the "worst of the worst" terrorists were kept at Guantanamo, it has been trying in vain for years to place the non-dangerous prisoners, who cannot return home, elsewhere. ...

But if it really matters that much to us, that Guantanamo is rapidly closed, then there is a lot to be said to each country, or for the E.U. as a body, to make a gesture. Not because we have a legal obligation to do so, but because there are strong political and moral arguments in favor of it. It would be a signal that the restoration of respect for America, and the country's return to the letter and spirit of international law is something that we value. This is especially true for a country such as the Netherlands who feel so strongly about international law and human rights.

Finding a safe haven for those who were wrongfully detained and subjected to "harsh" interrogation will not be easy, not for those released and not for those nations brave enough and generous enough to take on the task, but the Portuguese have opened the door and we should be grateful for that. Such a gesture implies that at least one country is going to welcome the US back into the international fold, and, if President Obama and his designated Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, follow through on the promise of multilateralism in concrete and substantive ways, more of our allies may be willing to take some of these detainees. Even this seemingly impossible situation can be resolved.

Portugal deserves both our gratitude and our respect, as will the other countries willing to step up.