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Cleared chaplain honored at benefit Army accused Muslim of spying. (Kennedy also)
A.P via The Houston Chronical ^ | June 27, 2004 | MADISON J. GRAY

Posted on 06/27/2004 8:09:15 AM PDT by bayourod

NEW YORK -- In the first public appearance since his exoneration, a Muslim Army chaplain who had been suspected of espionage thanked supporters of civil liberties.

James Yee was arrested last year in an investigation of suspected espionage at the U.S. military's detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was imprisoned for 76 days before all charges against him were dropped.

He appeared Friday night at a Chinatown benefit to raise money for his legal bills, although a gag order limited his ability to talk about the case.

"I'm not here tonight to talk about my case but to thank those who stand in support of civil liberties," Yee said. "I thank everyone for their patience, and God willing, they'll be able to hear my story."

Yee, 35, ministered to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, where the military is holding suspected Muslim terrorists. He was arrested in September carrying what authorities said were classified documents.

In March, Army officials dismissed all criminal charges against him, saying national security concerns prevented them from seeking a court-martial in open court.

Yee was then found guilty of the noncriminal Army charges of adultery and downloading pornography. The reprimand he received was thrown out by an Army general a month later.

Yee's case has garnered nationwide support, particularly among the Asian-American and Muslim communities.

"James Yee would not have been targeted if it were not for this heightened hysteria against Muslims," said Wayne Lum, an Asian-American community activist.

Several members of Congress, including Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, have called on the Pentagon to investigate the Army's treatment of Yee.

After he was exonerated, Yee returned to his home base of Fort Lewis, Wash., and resumed his duties as chaplain.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: chaplain; espionage; fortlewis; gitmo; jamesyee; muslimchaplain
Are there many Muslim Chinamen?
1 posted on 06/27/2004 8:09:15 AM PDT by bayourod
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To: bayourod
He was arrested in September carrying what authorities said were classified documents. In March, Army officials dismissed all criminal charges against him, saying national security concerns prevented them from seeking a court-martial in open court

I would guess they are still watching him.

2 posted on 06/27/2004 8:16:23 AM PDT by CindyDawg
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To: bayourod
"Army officials dismissed all criminal charges against him, saying national security concerns prevented them from seeking a court-martial in open court"

That's not my definition of "exonorated".

"Yee would not have been targeted if it were not for this heightened hysteria against Muslims"

Nor would he have had his job.

3 posted on 06/27/2004 8:17:26 AM PDT by bayourod (Can the 9/11 Commission connect the dots on Iraq or do they require a 3-D picture?)
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To: CindyDawg

I say you are right.


4 posted on 06/27/2004 8:18:50 AM PDT by Unicorn (Two many wimps around The democrats would rather win the WH then win the war-Tom Delay)
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: bayourod

In the first public appearance since his exoneration

In March, Army officials dismissed all criminal charges against him, saying national security concerns prevented them from seeking a court-martial in open court.

How is that exoneration???  If you can't see that this guy was working against America (being a muslim should be enough of  a clue, but in this case there are others) than you're an idiot.  If you can see at and choose to align yourself with him and his cause, then you are a democrat.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

6 posted on 06/27/2004 8:20:31 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel (Meat, it's what you're made of.)
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To: bayourod
Typical RAT logic.

If you're not convicted and sent to the slammer for whatever reason, you're exonerated.

7 posted on 06/27/2004 8:33:32 AM PDT by Condor51 (May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. -- Gen G. Patton Jr)
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To: bayourod

Somebody up there simply needs to remove this scum - as the hollywierd saying goes "with extreme prejudice"

accidents do happen to traitors.


8 posted on 06/27/2004 8:47:59 AM PDT by steplock (http://www.gohotsprings.com)
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To: bayourod
In March, Army officials dismissed all criminal charges against him, saying national security concerns prevented them from seeking a court-martial in open court.

Kinda goes against the ridiculous headline. Hope we're feeding him all sorts of false info and lots of rope.

9 posted on 06/27/2004 8:52:21 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn
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To: mtbopfuyn
The chaplain in question has an honorable past, including being a West Point graduate. Note that he converted some time after graduation, with no appearance of being a sleeper. Regardless, as soon as he finishes his service commitment, he will be leaving the Army.

I have a number of friends in uniform, including a few chaplains. The one that know him has a hard time believing the charges could be true. Apparently there are other discrepancies as well that have caused a number of the military chaplains to doubt what is being said publicly by all concerned. There clearly is more that is going on here than is being published.

That said, I have no doubt there are American Muslims and Muslims in America that actively support our enemies. Its not clear if the chaplain is one of them.
10 posted on 06/27/2004 9:34:00 AM PDT by Starwolf
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To: Condor51
If you're not convicted and sent to the slammer for whatever reason, you're exonerated.

Incorrect. To exonerate means "to free from blame, to declare (a person) blameless" - a far cry from the reasons given by the Army for the charges being dropped.

Or would you consider a mobster who has committed murder but who has avoided prosecution (and, thus, fulfilled your understanding of "exonerated") by agreeing to testify against other criminals and has been placed in the WPP to be "blameless"?

11 posted on 06/27/2004 9:45:19 AM PDT by King Prout (the difference between "trained intellect" and "indoctrinated intellectual" is an Abyssal gulf)
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