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A little perspective, maybe? Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell has come under some fire over a tweet he posted (and we noted) earlier today: “Thx to Wikileaks we spent Easter weekend dealing w/NYT & other news orgs publishing leaked classified GTMO docs.” The reason this feels wrong and icky, we think, is the extent to which Morrell (and the Defense Department writ large) never earnestly acknowledge the shocking facts that it’s now known they were keeping secret. Even as it’s probably the tact any government we’ve had in modern American history would take, it projects institutional coldness, and further secrecy. Morrell’s tweet also begs the counter: “Thx to Casio I spent last year dealing w/detention and interrogation in GTMO prison.” source

Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Feb 2011 00:26

224 number of people killed in the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania
285 number of charges Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani faced in front of a civilian court recently
one number of charges he was actually convicted of; he’ll go to jail for at least 20 years source

» Why this trial is a big deal: Ghailani was the first suspect who served time in Guantanamo to face trial in a civilian, rather than a military, court. The suspect once faced much harsher charges that could’ve led to the death penalty, but instead will receive a much lighter sentence. For its part, the Justice Department is OK with that: “We respect the jury’s verdict and are pleased that Ahmed Ghailani now faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and a potential life sentence for his role in the embassy bombings,” they wrote.

Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

In federal court. In NYC. Seems like a bad spot. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a guy who has become as famous for the photo of his capture as he has for what he did, will face charges for masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks. This step is part of Obama’s slow-moving grand plan to close Guantanamo for good. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

And let me just say, the president, quite frankly, has screwed this up. You know, he announces on the first day of his being inaugurated that he’s going to close Guantanamo Bay and he didn’t do the hard stuff.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham • Describing his disappointment with the Obama administration’s handling of the Guantanamo Bay closing, noting the lack of prosecution of terrorism suspects which would make a closing possible. Graham, by the way, supported Obama’s plan. In response, the White House says the Bush administration left them with a lot of work to do. More than 200 cases for 200 inmates need to be sorted out. • source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink