Saturday, December 29, 2012

In a similar...but different vein...UPDATED

The senate yesterday confirmed once again the laws allowing all of us to be spied on all the time without warrant...because the threat of terrorism is so great that we must give up our civil liberties...
Emptywheel has more here.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Gitmo History....

The history of the U. S. occupation of Guantanamo Bay is something that we tend to forget. To remind yourself as to why the whole base should be closed and given back to Cuba-after, of course, we release the remaining men- read this article from the guardian.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Happy Holidays.....sigh.


Gitmo in the news


I get these updates on news stories related to Guantanamo from the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) which has been the umbrella organization for the probono effort to represent the men at Guantanamo. If you have any money left in your pocket this would be the one organization I would ask you to make a donation.


Truthdig: The Final Battle





Washington Post (Editorial): Mr. Obama’s inertia on Guantanamo



Andy Worthington: Torture, Torture Everywhere






Los Angeles Times (Editorial): Free the CIA torture report




Saturday, December 15, 2012

BIG SIGH... (updated)

Now the powers to be are saying that Latif had acute pneumonia....emptywheel has more here.

Jeff Kaye has more here.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

European Court rules for German Man tortured by US

May this please be the start of some kind of accountability.....

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

LATIF LETTER EXPLAINING HOW HE WAS BEING PUSHED TOWARD DEATH


I don't know if Latif's lawyers (and the rest of us) will ever learn the truth as to how he died but they sure as hell are putting up a good fight. The question remains, how could that man have taken his own life given the security at Guantanamo. And even if he did somehow manage to deceive the military and hoard some pills (extremely unlikely) the follow-up question is -if they in fact checked on him every two or three minutes why did not one of his guards notice him dying? all disturbing questions. Truth- out has more on this man's death.

and this addendum from one of Latif's attorneys, David Remes.


The government’s storyline—that Adnan smuggled medication into his cell and used it to kill himself—defies reason. There were too many hurdles in his path. Adnan was moved three times: from Camp 6 to the psych ward, then to the hospital, and finally to his cell in Camp 5, where he died. If ordinary procedures were followed, three guards escorted Adnan every step of the way. Adnan walked in handcuffs and leg chains attached to a waist chain. He was thoroughly searched at each transfer point. He was monitored in his cell by an overhead dome camera. Guards walked the corridor. His cell was frequently searched. As Jason and Jeff show, the SOPs for administering medication to detainees are designed to make hoarding virtually impossible. Given all these controls, it is hard to see how Adnan could have smuggled medication into his cell, much less kept and used it. The military’s theory does not add up and leaves the disturbing question whether the military placed extra medication in Adnan’s cell to facilitate his suicide.

Friday, December 7, 2012

FROM ROGER FITCH AND OUR FRIENDS DOWN UNDER AT JUSTINIAN


THE 7th Circuit, sitting en banc, has overruled a unanimous three-judge appeals panel, and given former Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld immunity for torture that he personally ordered.
Jonathan Hafetz, the Times and Kevin Gosztola comment on the case.

READ THE REST HERE.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

maybe there is something here...



I received an email today from my good friends at Reprieve and they noticed something that the rest of us did not pick up on:
“The Senate bill also included a new round of Iran sanctions, a “permanent ban” on transferring detainees from Guantánamo and prohibitions on the military detention of U.S. citizens…
…The White House threatened to veto the bill over the changes to the Pentagon’s proposed budget as well as the restriction on using funds to transfer Guantánamo detainees. The administration’s veto threat came before the bill’s Guantánamo transfer restrictions became even stronger after the Senate approved an amendment from Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.).”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/4/obama-veto-possible-over-guantanamo/#ixzz2EGhHsRU8
“The Senate bill also restricts Mr. Obama’s ability to transfer detainees out of Guantanamo Bay, whether to the United States or to foreign countries…
While the provision has been in previous years’ laws, Mr. Obama this year signaled he may be willing to veto the legislation over that restriction.”

Maybe it is just smoke and mirrors but if you feel so inclined it might be a good time to send an email to the Pres...and tell him to follow through on this long overdue threat....
you can send an email here....