Guest column: Follow spirit and letter of human-rights declaration (Des Moines Register

[struggle4progress]

KATY HANSEN .. director of the Iowa United Nations Association, Iowa City ...

... After 9/11 the Bush Administration opened Guantanamo Bay and has held prisoners without trial. Prisoners were transferred to countries using torture. These violate two of the Universal Declaration's articles.

Article 8: "Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals..."

Article 9: "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile."

Gradually, the courts are unraveling some of the most damaging violations, but how can the United States be a leader if, in reality, it is violating the very principles it claims to advocate? ... http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081210/OPINION01/812100334/-1/NEWS04