Bin Laden Driver Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison

American Forces Press Service ^ | Donna Miles

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2008 – The first detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to have his case brought to trial was sentenced today by a military panel there to 66 months in prison for providing material support to terrorism.

Salim Ahmed Hamdan, who served as Osama bin Laden’s driver, was tried and sentenced under the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

Following a two-week trial, a military jury yesterday found Hamdan guilty of providing material support to terrorism, but not of the more serious charge of conspiracy.

Navy Capt. Keith Allred, the military judge, sentenced him to 66 months confinement but offered an eight-day credit. Military prosecutors had urged 30 or more years imprisonment, claiming that a tough sentence would send a message to other al-Qaida supporters.

Hamdan’s case now will undergo an automatic review by the convening authority, which will evaluate findings and appropriateness of the sentence, officials said. He will have legal representation through the process and the opportunity to submit matters for consideration on his behalf. The Court of Military Commissions Review will then review the case.

After that process, Hamdan has the right to appeal to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court, officials said.

Despite his shorter sentence, defense officials said Hamdan is likely to remain in prison longer than 66 months. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said during an Aug. 5 news conference he is still considered an enemy combatant and a danger.

Morrell called Hamdan’s trial “a fair and transparent process” that allowed journalists to observe and report on the proceedings. Hamdan “was offered a vigorous defense by his counsel, in which the prosecutor was able to make his case,” Morrell said.

The United States is “clearly trying to work to reduce the detainee population in Guantanamo” and bring more trials forward, Morrell said. In addition to bringing detainees to justice, the process will “at the same time provide a system that protects the American people from some very, very dangerous characters out there,” he said.

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Hamdan Sentenced To 66 Months

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[ConorMacNessa]

A slap on the wrist, IMHO.

[Red_Devil 232]

He only has to serve 5 months with his time served!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Well, I sure am glad we’re getting serious about this stuff...NOT! (Grrrrrr!)

[Non-Sequitur]

Despite his shorter sentence, defense officials said Hamdan is likely to remain in prison longer than 66 months. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said during an Aug. 5 news conference he is still considered an enemy combatant and a danger.

So then why did we go through the whole farce of a trial? Where will he do his time? Gitmo. Where will they take him once his sentence is up? Gitmo. Why not stop the asinine trials and just lock them up and throw away the key? Or just shoot them out of hand, since they can't release them?

[Jeff Head]

So, Bin Laden's driver, who was convicted of providing material help to terrorists who kill American...and who, IMHO, would clearly have killed Americans himself if given the chance...is given 5 years in prison?

Sorry, we are sending signs, IMHO, that we are not serious about going for the throat of these killers.

When this guy gets out, he will be welcomed as a hero back with his cohorts and will be right back at it.

30+ years would have been much more to my liking...particularly since they took the death penalty off the table...which is what this individual, engaged in such a war against us, deserved IMHO.

[dragnet2]

Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean get about 168 months each...

And Osama bin Laden’s driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan gets 66 months?

Hmmm...

[eyedigress]

I just watched the Fox babe Meghan Kelly(sp) point that out. Un-real.

[SevenofNine]

You know what I understand this guy was small fry in Al Quada workings so maybe he got this sentence to spill bean on his fellow terror suspects

[Roccus]

This country is not serious in its dealings with terrorism. What is it going to do when it realizes it will have to deal with islam in its entirety?

[Steve Van Doorn]

clearly the WOT is over. We have moved in to a policing phase.
If that really is our policy we should declare victory and move on.

[PackerBoy]

66 months! I should have driven bin Laden around, done my 66 months and then gone on the Liberal Lecture Circuit. (/sarcasm)

[PackerBoy]

66 months! I should have driven bin Laden around, done my 66 months and then gone on the Liberal Lecture Circuit. (/sarcasm)

[exit82]

bin Limo Boy will then write a book, go on a book tour, give Chris Matthews a tingle up his leg, give Keith Olbermann a (never mind), and be interviewed in Vanity Fair.

This guy has a bright future in the land of the infidels.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Maybe Hamden’s sentence is fair... But for the libs who oppose any prosecutions of the Gitmo terrorists, I wish they had to view Danny Pearl’s “sentence” every time one of their brethren starts bleating on behalf of these terrorists. And to the Europeans who are so upset with the USA — tells us “where’s the justice?”

[AlphaOneAlpha]

“He only has to serve 5 months with his time served!”

If he’s released, he will likely return the middle east. And, if we’re lucky he will be found dead shortly thereafter. The sands have begun to shift over there....

[GregoryFul]

Our government officers are totally insane. Capture a warrior on the battlefield, charge him with a crime, carry on a trial, convict him of some sort of "illegal" activity, sentence him to some sort of re-constructive "punishment!" Release him to do it again?

How can we afford such idiots who permit this in our government?

[ricks_place]

Salim Ahmed Hamdan, automobile driver to Osama bin Laden, received a 66 month sentence, enough time to buy a new automobile on an installment loan.

[berdie]

That is an interesting and very possible scenario.

But if true, he could be in a world of...

Oh well.