Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The May 8 news story "Ex-Guantanamo Detainee Joined Iraq Suicide Attack" stated that "the Defense Intelligence Agency has estimated that as many as three dozen former Guantanamo detainees are confirmed or suspected of having returned to terrorist activities."

This characterization begs the question. Why should we assume that these activities are a "return" to terrorism instead of an initiation into terrorism prompted, at least in part, by resentment based on the Guantanamo imprisonments? In a system that puts habeas corpus, not to mention release, beyond the reach of most detainees, is it plausible to believe that the Defense Department has evidence of detainees' prior terrorist activity?

MARK B. JACOBS

San Francisco