Facebook Unites Former Gitmo Prisoner and Guard

You will not believe this remarkable story, by Brian Stelter in the New York Times.

Brandon Neely, a former Guantanamo Bay prison guard, was new to Facebook and looking up names of old Army acquaintances when he came across the profile of freed Gitmo detainee Shafiq Rasul. Neely sent a message to his former prisoner. Rasul replied and after a few exchanges they reunited in a BBC special that will air tonight.

Just when you start to wonder about Facebook's seedy business strategy, a story like this reminds you of the awesome and unique power of social media sites to help people connect, re-connect and come together in ways that simply have never been possible, ever.

Just look at this picture from the Times of Neely with two former prisoners.

Ok, this is a little weird -- what was the photog prompt, "Enhanced interrogation role play reversal!" -- but it's also sort of mind-blowing. This is kind of the best Facebook story I've ever read. Mark Zuckerbeg, I almost forgive your wrong-headed, self-serving rant about the death of privacy!