This American Life in Gitmo

If you didn't happen to catch WBEZ's This American Life broadcast this week, you would do well to get a hold of it and have a listen. An excellent program and will infuriated you even further about this administration's ministrations regarding prisoners and its utter disregard for the standards of international law and the historical force of habeas corpus.

Highly recommended: Habeas Schmabeas:

The right of habeas corpus has been a part of this country's legal tradition longer than we've actually been a country. It means the government has to explain why it's holding a person in custody. But now, the war on terror has nixed many of the rules we used to think of as fundamental. At Guantanamo Bay, our government initially claimed that the prisoners should not be covered by habeas – or even by the Geneva Conventions – because they're the most fearsome terrorist enemies we have. But is that true? Is it a camp full of terrorists, or a camp full of our mistakes? Reporter Jack Hitt unveils everything we know about who these prisoners are. In interviews with two former detainees, he finds out the consequences of taking away habeas, for them and for us.

Please check it out.

It will be interesting to watch the reaction of Bush supporters to this program, if they can actually stoop to listen to NPR instead of warming themselves in a pool of Rush Limbaugh's sweaty excretions, that is. Also, expect another GOP assault on public broadcasting.