American Officals: Cry for help just "attention-getting" tactic


On Monday, 29 May 2006, the CBC reported:

Dozens more detainees at the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have joined a hunger strike that American officials say is an "attention-getting" tactic.

Navy Cmdr. Robert Durand told the Associated Press that the rising number of people taking part in the hunger strike was an "attention-getting" move.

Most of the Guantanamo Bay inmates have never been charged with any offence, but the military insists they would be threats to American security if they were released. Durand said the tactic may be related to a May 18 incident at the base that left six inmates injured after a clash with security guards.

After much consideration I have to say that I agree with Cmdr. Durand's lucid, articulate and well-deduced conclusion that a hunger strike by uncharged prisoners is, in fact, motivated by a hankering for publicity. I would also add that it is this same childish cry for attention that one so often finds these days in 911 distress calls, flare guns and National Hurricane Center warnings.

Now, it's common for a politician or a military spokesperson to say something blindingly obvious but it's his "I'm-totally-for-real" tone that makes me wonder what the blog Cmdr. Durand imagined the general public thought was behind this hunger strike which spurred him to speak to the associated press.

"Alright everyone, listen up! They're not fasting for personal or religious reasons, OK? They've assured me the food is quite tasty. They're just whining about being kidnapped and indefinitely imprisoned and tortured without a trial, that's all. Really, the food is actually quite good. This is just an attention getting tactic and nobody's falling for it."

"[The hunger-strike] reflects detainee attempts to elicit media attention to bring international pressure on the United States to release them," Durand said.

The detainees probably could not have said it any clearer or better, what with being gagged, and hooded.

I also wonder if anyone in the history of strike quelling has ever blundered their way into a baitless trap so neatly. I'm sure the 75 men who are now refusing food at the high security prison are contemplating appointing Cmdr. Durand their new key spokesperson, citing the extent of his public reach, his ability to embody the hypocrisy that keeps them under lock and key, and also the ease with which he has unwittingly become their thoughtless pawn.

Durand blurted further, "The hunger-strike technique is consistent with al-Qaeda practice..."

Really? I didn't know Gandhi had ties with al-Qaeda. Why, that freedom hating son of a bitch!