There’s no question these men deserve a trial. As long as the U.S. is doing the detaining and the prosecuting, then we are bound by our rules. And in that vein, these men deserve a timely trial also.

Even in a military environment, there should be the presumption of innocence. If not, why even hold a trial? If the prosecution wants to withhold evidence, then the prosecution doesn’t have a case. To continue holding these men in this fashion makes us no better than that which we condemn them of.

Secret Evidence Bogs Down Gitmo Hearings

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — The secrecy shrouding government files on terror suspects is bogging down the Pentagon’s effort to hold trials at Guantanamo Bay, with defense attorneys accusing the government of withholding potential evidence.

At pretrial hearings this week, attorneys for two al-Qaida suspects captured in Afghanistan said they need more access to interrogators, witnesses and records. Prosecutors objected, citing a need to protect the identities of U.S. service members and other security concerns.
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“We’re going to have to see how willing the judges are to interpret the rules so as to give defense counsel some kind of chance to actually defend their clients,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler, a defense attorney for detainee Omar Khadr. “That means litigating these discovery issues and that takes time.”