Ted Rall for April 06, 2012
Transcript:
It's a new day in Amerimmar, formerly known as the United States. (Man: Hope! At last!) (Man 2: Best day ever!) (Woman: Unbelievable!) A political prisoner locked up for years by the nation's military rulers has won a seat in Congress. (Man 3: Aung San Suu Kyi- free after a hellish stay in GITMO!) (Woman 2: Now she's heading to Congress!) (Man 4: Where are you going next?) (Woman 3: Disneyworld!) (Man 4: And you can!) Could democracy be next? (Woman 3: Don't be silly. This isn't burma.)
Under US law, everyone at Gitmo is innocent. None have been convicted, or even charged, in a court of law. The reason they haven’t been charged is that, according to the military, there isn’t much evidence (in many cases, none) that they have committed any crimes. They are political prisoners, pure and simple.
The comparison is, it’s hard to imagine the US liberalizing to the extent that Burma has, allowing political prisoners such as those housed at Gitmo and other torture prisons to run and win political office.