Now and then

White House website, today:

The United States is deeply troubled by the conviction today of Egyptian politician Ayman Nour by an Egyptian court ... We are also disturbed by reports that Mr. Nour's health has seriously declined due to the hunger strike on which he has embarked in protest of the conditions of his trial and detention.

Rummy on the Gitmo hunger strikers in November:

And they've made a decision that they [Gitmo commanders] think it's appropriate for them to provide nourishment to people who, for whatever reason, at various points in their detention decide they want to not provide normal nourishment to themselves. ...

But there are a number of people who go on a diet where they don't eat for a period and then go off of it at some point, and then they rotate and other people do that. So it's clearly a technique to try to get the attention of you folks, and they're successful. Yes?

Ayman Nour. Attention-seeking dieter.

UPDATE 30 DEC: Since we're on the topic of hunger-strikers, it's worth adding here the news that the number of them at Guantanamo is now 84 and has doubled since Christmas Day.