5subslr,
I agree, SAS and SBS were probably the first there.
However, short of Gestapo-like treatment, I don't see how that gives the Brits any right to criticize what the U.S. does with its own prisoners.
Although many nationalities died on 9/11, the rest of the world is well aware that by far the greatest number were U.S. citizens and, afterall, the atrocity did occur on U.S. soil. unless there is some genuine human rights issue, they should keep there noses out of it as far as I'm concerned.
I do agree that the Afghans seem to treat this like some kind of game and appear quite content to 'forgive and forget' when it comes to the Taliban. But I'm not sure that their largesse extends to the mostly Saudi and Egyptian (I believe) al Qaeda foreigners.
I do not see why the U.S. could not have reached some agreement with the Northern Alliance (especially in the early days) about how al Qaeda prisoners would be dealt with. In fact, the new Afghan Gov. is currently looking for handouts from the U.S. (who isn't?) to rebuild the country. Surely this could have been used as bargaining chip.
Whatever the rationale, I can see only a downside in shipping these al Qaeda wacko's to Cuba.