Yemeni Poet Faces U.S. Military Hearing

Associated Press, Yahoo News ^ | 8 26 2004 | PAISLEY DODDS

[the_gospel_of_thomas]

Yemeni Poet Faces U.S. Military Hearing

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By PAISLEY DODDS, Associated Press Writer

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - The Pentagon (news - web sites) has accused the third Guantanamo terror suspect to face a U.S. military commission in as many days of being a "key al-Qaida propagandist." But his father says his son is just a peace-loving man who enjoys writing poetry.

AP Photo

AFP Slideshow: Guantanamo Naval Base

Ali Hamza Ahmad Sulayman al Bahlul, 33, of Yemen, was scheduled to appear Thursday for a preliminary hearing on a charge of conspiracy to commit war crimes.

The hearings are the first step to military commissions, or trials, to be heard by a five-member military panel — the first such proceedings since World War II.

Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s chauffeur, 34-year-old Salim Ahmed Hamdan of Yemen, declined to enter a plea in the first hearing Tuesday. David Hicks, a 29-year-old Australian cowboy accused of fighting with Afghanistan (news - web sites)'s ousted Taliban regime, pleaded innocent on Wednesday.

The Pentagon has accused al Bahlul of being a "key al-Qaida propagandist who produced videos glorifying the murder of Americans to recruit, inspire and motivate other al-Qaida members" to attack the United States and other countries.

Because of a government delay in approving clearance for a translator, however, defense attorney Navy Lt. Cmdr. Philip Sundel said he hasn't had time to prepare for Thursday's hearing as challenges to the fairness of the proceedings continued to mount.

"This process is completely undefined," Sundel said ahead of the hearing.

Al Bahlul's father, Hamza Ahmed, told The Associated Press in previous interviews in Yemen that the family has suffered from his son's detention, both "psychologically and financially.

"He is cultured and peace-loving and he speaks English and enjoys reading and writing poetry," Ahmed said, noting his son used to send money home.

He said his son, who is married and has four children, told him in a letter that Pakistan handed him over to the Americans and that he had left Pakistan to seek medical treatment for his grandson before the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"In his letters he told me how much he missed his wife and children. He has not committed any crimes and he hates no one," Ahmed said.

Sundel was likely to challenge the impartiality of the commission's five-member, which has emerged a key issue in the hearings. The members could be disqualified for good cause.

Joshua Dratel, Hicks' lead civilian attorney, began Wednesday by challenging the impartiality of the presiding officer, Army Col. Peter E. Brownback, a former military judge, questioning his relationship with John D. Altenburg Jr., a retired Army general in charge of the proceedings.

Brownback was with Altenburg in Fort Bragg, N.C., and his wife worked in Altenburg's office. He also attended the wedding of Altenburg's son and spoke at a retirement roast for the general.

"Our concern is for a full and fair process," Dratel said.

Other panel members who have been challenged include one who knew a firefighter killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks and another who arranged the logistics for detainees to be sent from Afghanistan to Guantanamo.

Dratel also questioned panel member Air Force Col. Christopher C. Bogdan, who armed drone planes during the U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (news - web sites). Dratel cited a fitness report, or staff evaluation, that praised Bogdan's "fantastic results tracking and killing Taliban." His qualifications and impartiality, however, were not challenged.

Bogdan, who worked in Afghanistan, said the report was made by a supervisor but he had no knowledge of any individual deaths. It wasn't clear from the report what the supervisor was referring to, or in what capacity Bogdan was acting.

Hicks, who went to Pakistan to study Islam, was captured in neighboring Afghanistan and arrived at Guantanamo Bay in January 2002. He appeared in court wearing a charcoal suit and a tie.

Hicks was charged with conspiracy to commit war crimes, aiding the enemy and attempted murder for allegedly firing at U.S. or coalition forces. A trial was set for Jan. 10.

Hamdan — also charged with conspiracy to commit war crimes, including attacking civilians, murder and terrorism — withheld his plea until motions filed by his military-appointed lawyer are decided. A ruling is not likely until November.

His defense is challenging whether the hearing should proceed without a ruling on his "enemy combatant" status. That classification was used to justify trying the men before military commissions, which will allow secret evidence and no federal appeals, rather than courts-martial or U.S. civilian courts.

The five-member panel hearing cases will act as judge and jury. Brownback is the only member with formal legal training.

The last case to go before the panel this week is Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi, a Sudanese born in 1960, who is also charged with conspiracy. His hearing was scheduled for Friday.

[the_gospel_of_thomas]

In a related story, a "Fisherman" was charged for driving the get-away car from a Bank robbery where a dozen people were murdered ... so, he drove the killers away from the Bank, but PAISLEY of the Associated press perfers to title him by his HOBBY ( Peace loving 'poet' ..... BARF! )

[the_gospel_of_thomas]

STOLEN from the Yahoo message boards:


There once was a Yemeni Poet
Who couldn't defend himself but didn't know it
He is very pissed
to be called terrorist
But as for his defense, he'll blow it

The powerful poet Bahlul
Is now being taken to school
for supporting Osama
while riding a Lama
He now appears quite the tool

If Ali had a boat he'd row it
or a hand grenade he'd throw it
How his faith now has failed
rotting in jail
This dumbass, terrorist "poet"

[dighton]

Dark Night of Fascism, what with them coming for poets and all.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I guess I'm next!

[MinuteGal]

There once was a poet named Sulayman
Who sided with thugs in Kabulystan
A Shakespeare he ain't
Mom says he's a saint
But we know he's quite an unruly man.

Leni

[Conspiracy Guy]

With all the Kerry Bashing I've done in poems and song parodies I'll really in deep caca if Bush loses.

[MinuteGal]

A Kerry win
Forget the caca
You'll be in
Hock and shock-a

BURMA SHAVE

Leni

[MinuteGal]

A Kerry win
Forget the caca
You'll be in
Hock and shock-a

BURMA SHAVE

Leni

[MinuteGal]

A Kerry win
Forget the caca
You'll be in
Hock and shock-a

BURMA SHAVE

Leni

[Constitution Day]

A chill wind is blowing in this nation.

[MinuteGal]

I'm blaming me fer
The above posted threefer
When I pull a goofer
It's usually a twofer.

Leni

[Conspiracy Guy]

A few cuts from my album.

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