Posted on 03/16/2007 6:54:36 AM PDT by meg88
Two key congressional leaders secretly flew to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Saturday to observe the closed military hearing for al-Qaeda leader Khalid Mohammed, according to Capitol Hill staff members and Pentagon officials.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a committee member, watched the proceedings over closed-circuit television from an adjacent room, said Tara Andringa, a spokeswoman for Levin. They were joined by a representative from the CIA, according to one U.S. government official.
The official transcript of Mohammed's hearing, called to establish whether he qualifies as an "enemy combatant," acknowledged the presence of five unnamed military officers, a translator and an official tribunal reporter.
Yesterday evening, Graham said he was not prepared to discuss the trip. "We'll issue a joint statement tomorrow, but we were there together," Graham said.
His statements, as quoted in the Pentagon transcript, paint a deeper portrait both of Mohammed, who comes across as a confident and large-egoed man fascinated with airline plots, and of the inner workings of al-Qaeda.
The transcript is also revealing of the Bush administration's efforts to buttress the case for the secret detentions and the opaque legal process under which detainees such as Mohammed are being held.
Mohammed's description of his treatment while in CIA custody was redacted from the transcript.
Allegations of abuse that he raised with the panel were forwarded to the CIA's inspector general for investigation, two officials said.
John Sifton of Human Rights Watch said the redactions and the secret nature of the tribunals raised concerns about the process. "There have been serious allegations of torture, and yesterday's transcripts are redacted in the precise portion of the hearing when torture allegations are made -- which further casts doubt on the legitimacy of these proceedings," he said
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
FYI Ping
If they watched on tv it could have been done from DC and not create such a carbon footprint disaster for all of us flying all over the place.
They must have needed more cuban cigars.
And I'm going to bet that the two of them observed direct opposite proceedings and Levin will spin it to make our military and GWB look bad. Trust me.
You just know Combover Levin saw torture, torture, torture.
Maybe this will encourage Lindsay not to wobble on terror.
Yep, I can't wait to hear what Levin has to say at the presser (sarcasm button on)
Fyi...
Thanks, Mo1.
This could mean there are plans to execute KSM....you bring in Congressional oversight from the beginning to stifle any objections to this being a kangeroo court.
ooooohhhh Rosie O Doughnut will not be pleased that levin was present during the torture, er ah stike that, should read "proceedings". Of course after eating her third Sara Lee Cheesecake while hanging upside down all was right with in Rosie's world.
The fascination with Rosie th' blob never ceases to amaze me. The woman is a seriously ignorant loon with a major meltdown on the way. What is really stunning is that Babba Wa-Wa is willing to ruin her otherwise lucrative career by associating with this idiot.
The freak is saying he is the one who murdered Daniel Pearl and even dares you to look at the video and deny it wasn't him. If he is capable of this horrific murder, what makes anyone think he didn't do the rest of what he is claiming?
Can anyone point me to where the contemptible Rosie O'Donut made her remarks re this piece of crap. I guess she did it on The View (which I wouldn't watch with a gun to my head) -- I keep hearing reference to it but can't find it on the 'net anywhere.
Many thanks and much obliged!
If Graham was there and said everything was fine, that's good enough for me.
WOW!
Ding ding ding! We have a winner!
Did Sen. Levin invite Rosie? From her inane ranting yesterday it sounded like she was there too...
Ms. Walters is nothing if not a shrewd businesswoman, and Rosie O'Donut is helping to rake in the profits. It kind of reminds me of the Carny barkers who pitch for rubes who want to pay to see the two-headed cow.
Yeah, he hasn't even had time to leak anything yet.
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