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cabdriver

Published Letters: 194     Editor's Choice: 5

  • Ahem.

    [Read the article: "We'll make you see death"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Let us not forget the fact that at least 5 military prosecutors have quit the Guantanamo proceedings and received reassignments, due to their being convinced that the proceedings are rigged.

    Major (then Captain) John Carr, USAF; and Major Robert Preston, USAF

    "Two Prosecutors

    At Guantanamo

    Quit in Protest

    By JESS BRAVIN

    Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

    August 1, 2005

    Two Air Force prosecutors quit last year rather than take part in military trials they considered rigged against alleged terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

    Maj. John Carr, then a captain, and Maj. Robert Preston accused fellow prosecutors of ignoring torture allegations, failing to protect exculpatory evidence and withholding information from superiors. Altogether, the actions "may constitute dereliction of duty, false official statements or other criminal conduct," Maj. Carr wrote in a March 15, 2004, email summarizing his complaints to the then-chief prosecutor, Army Col. Fred Borch..."

    http://tinyurl.com/r4m8c

    Captain Carrie Wolf, USAF

    "...A third US military prosecutor has walked out of the commissions process set up to try Guantanamo Bay detainees because of concerns it was unfair, the ABC has learned.

    Australian detainee David Hicks is due to stand trial under the system.

    Air Force Captain Carrie Wolf chose to take a reassignment along with other prosecutors.

    Capt Wolf asked to leave the Office of Military Commissions at the same time as two other colleagues, Major Robert Preston and Captain John Carr.

    Earlier this week, the ABC revealed that in March 2004, Maj Preston and Capt Carr requested transfers because they believed the process was "rigged" and pursuing "marginal" cases.

    Maj Preston was nominated for the Air Force's outstanding judge advocate award last year and Captain Carr has been promoted to major since leaving the military commissions.

    It is understood Capt Wolf shared her colleagues' concerns and also asked for a redeployment..."

    http://tinyurl.com/dsc94

    Lt. Col. Stuart Couch, USMC

    "...Lt. Col. Stuart Couch

    The Conscience of the Colonel

    jesse bravin / wall street journal, march 31, 2007

    When the Pentagon needed someone to prosecute a Guantanamo Bay prisoner linked to 9/11, it turned to Lt. Col. V. Stuart Couch. A Marine Corps pilot and veteran prosecutor, Col. Couch brought a personal connection to the job: His old Marine buddy, Michael "Rocks" Horrocks, was co-pilot on United 175, the second plane to strike the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

    The prisoner in question, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, had already been suspected of terrorist activity. After the attacks, he was fingered by a senior al Qaeda operative for helping assemble the so-called Hamburg cell, which included the hijacker who piloted United 175 into the South Tower. To Col. Couch, Mr. Slahi seemed a likely candidate for the death penalty.

    "Of the cases I had seen, he was the one with the most blood on his hands," Col. Couch says.

    But, nine months later, in what he calls the toughest decision of his military career, Col. Couch refused to proceed with the Slahi prosecution. The reason: He concluded that Mr. Slahi's incriminating statements -- the core of the government's case -- had been taken through torture, rendering them inadmissible under U.S. and international law..."

    http://tinyurl.com/4zvp4e

    Col Morris D. Davis, USAF

    "... Posted on Fri, Apr. 4, 2008

    Guantanamo prosecutor says why he quit

    By Emilie Lounsberry

    Inquirer Staff Writer

    A year ago, Col. Morris D. Davis, then chief prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay, was a key supporter of the plan to try accused terrorists before military commissions.

    But yesterday, Davis was in Center City telling an audience of lawyers how he lost faith in how that plan was playing out - so much so that he resigned in October in protest.

    "We may have reached the tipping point where it's too late to save Guantanamo Bay and military commissions," said Davis.

    Waterboarding, political interference in building cases, and the possibility of secret trials were all part of the problem, he said, and have left the United States with a "black eye around the world."..."

    http://tinyurl.com/429usn

    Wednesday, April 9, 2008 09:20 PM

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