A federal judge ruled today that the U.S. government must release the names of those who have been detained since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The only exceptions are those who are material witnesses to the terrorism investigations (meaning they could have information with which the government could prosecute a suspect) and those who do not want their names released.

This ruling comes nearly 11 months after the attacks, and since that time, nearly 1,200 people have been detained, according to the Justice Department. In addition, more than 700 were detained and/or arrested on immigration charges. Most of the people detained were deported, but as of June, at least 147 people were still being held.

This information is included in this article which is also linked below:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&ncid=716&e=1&u=/ap/20020802/ap_on_go_su_co/attacks_detainees_8

My opinion on this matter is that it's about time. The Justice Department has argued that, in releasing the names, it could let terrorist groups know how far the United States is progressing in its investigation. But I have a feeling that if someone has been detained for nearly a year, their contacts would know something was up. And how many of the detainees were completely innocent? Their lives were forever changed, and they may never be the same again. It's really not so different than when the U.S. government rounded up thousands of Japanese-Americans shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and put them in camps. Most lost their homes, their possessions, and some also lost family members and their own lives.

I'm not saying the U.S. government should stop investigating the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and I'm certainly not condoning either those attacks or the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I just think the detainees should be given a bit of a chance. Yes, we don't know exactly why they were detained, but there is a point where they deserve some civil rights. After all, in America one is innocent until proven guilty.

What do you think?

Ell"Maybe it's just a small can of worms?"myruh