The Iraq “detainee/prisoner” abuse scandal and abuse scandals at other United States detainee facilities, have yet to be totally determined. These “detainee/prisoner” abuse situations would not have mushroomed as they have,were it not for the arbitrary and secret environments they are cast into.

In contrast, consider our criminal-system where “suspects/prisoners” are: given a Miranda warning; allowed a phone call; gets legal representation; and can have visitors. Here our Rule of Law system works, because a humane system of transparency/respect/openess, discourages dark/secret environments.

The United States can regain our moral high ground by: prosecuting all the aiders and abettors of detainee-abuse;adapt our Rule of Law systems for “all” detainees; re-affiliate with the International Criminal Court treaty; and more truly interact with other nations.

John Bauer Martinez, CA