1115.org

Take a group of people who really haven’t done anything. Take them to Guantanamo, that is. And they are tarred and feathered forever as the worst of the worst, even when responsible legal authorities determine — despite all the pressure that a thoroughly dishonest government can and does exert — that they never really did anything at all, and should never have been put through the Guantanamo tarring-and-feathering.

Refuse to take that group of people. Into the U.S., that is. And you only reinforce the “worst of the worst” fears that precede them wherever they might be slated to go.

At this stage, there’s obviously no good way the U.S. can ever persuade any other country that there’s really no good reason to fear these people, or to oppose them being resettled in your backyard.

So there’s an outbreak of NIMBY in Palau. (In fact, isn’t there pretty much an undeclared worldwide pandemic?):

The tiny Pacific nation of Palau’s decision to allow 13 Chinese Muslims from the Guantanamo Bay prison camp to resettle there has sparked anger among islanders who fear for the safety of the tranquil tourist haven.
[...]
Palau President Johnson Toribiong explained his decision to grant the Uighurs entry as traditional hospitality, but public opinion has appeared overwhelmingly negative. Some complained Friday that the government failed to consult the people.
[...]
Fermin Nariang, editor of the Palau newspaper Island Times, said he had been stopped in the streets of the capital, Koror, by residents venting their anger.

“This is a very small country … and some are saying if the whole world doesn’t want these folks, why are we taking them?” Nariang said.

It looks like the $200 million resettlement deal may be in jeopardy:

(Toribiong) said Palau would send a delegation to Guantanamo to assess the Uighur detainees. It was unclear when this would happen or when the Uighurs would arrive in the island nation.

Frankly, I think Toribiong should just offer to take that $200 million and divide it up among Palau’s 20,000 citizens. Maybe $10,000 per head would ease their worries and fears?

Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? We bribed Palau to take these guys. The government of Palau should now bribe the people of Palau. It’s just a matter of letting the bribe pass through to the people.

In other news, the Bermuda resettlement plan — which is already a fait accompli — is also running into opposition and controversy:

Four other Uighurs left Guantanamo Bay for a new home in Bermuda on Thursday. Some residents of the North Atlantic island were also unhappy, with dozens unleashing their anger on the Facebook page of a local newspaper, The Royal Gazette.

Even Britain, which handles Bermuda’s defense, security and foreign affairs, expressed displeasure at the deal.

The British Foreign Office complained that Bermuda’s leaders failed to consult “whether this falls within their competence or is a security issue for which the Bermuda government do not have delegated responsibility.”

It is possible that the Palau-bound Uighurs will just continue to languish in Guantánamo for the nonce (where “nonce” is defined as “possibly forever”). Buy, hey, that’s okay. At least in the Obama administration’s book. Because their “continued presence at Guantánamo Bay is not unlawful detention.” The Solicitor-General said so. That must be at least as good as an a la carte Office of Legal Counsel memo from a Yoo or a Bybee.

Long live the Homeland! (And to hell with everything else.)