American convict opts to remain in Afghan jail (Jack Idema)

CNN.Com ^ | May 28, 2007 | AP

[RDTF]

An American citizen imprisoned in Afghanistan for running a private jail for terror suspects has a new passport. His dog has been vaccinated for overseas travel. But two months after being freed by presidential decree, Jack Idema remains in his Afghan cell.

The reasons why, like most of Idema's dramatic personal story, are murky and complicated. They include a visa dispute and a compensation claim by one of his victims.

They also involve documents that Idema says would finally prove his claim that he was a hired mercenary hunting al-Qaeda suspects on a mission sanctioned by U.S. counterterrorism officials -- a claim that American authorities have denied.

Idema's Afghan lawyer and prison officials say Idema could be just days away from leaving the country. But Idema, a former Green Beret from Fayetteville, North Carolina, has appeared in no hurry to quit a prison cell that by local standards is top of the line.

His self-described prison "suite," has its own kitchen, a private bathroom, couches, rugs, TV, Internet access and a small staff. He is also friendly with prison guards aligned with the Northern Alliance, the coalition of anti-Taliban militias that helped the U.S. drive the hardline militia from power in late 2001.

"He is allowed to keep a dog, weapons and a cook. Why? Because the anti-Taliban factions of the Afghan government have never, not once, considered him a prisoner, but a temporary guest," Idema's U.S. lawyer, John E. Tiffany, said in a recent court filing.

Idema is one of three U.S. citizens arrested in July 2004 and imprisoned at Policharki prison for abducting several Afghans and holding them in a makeshift jail in Kabul. Brent Bennet, another former soldier, was released last September, as was freelance journalist Edward Caraballo, who was filming their activities, in May 2006.

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[RDTF]

from article:

Idema told The Associated Press by cell phone from Policharki it might be hard for people to understand why he has remained after President Hamid Karzai’s decree in late March that freed him.

But he said he risked arrest by Afghan intelligence agents and that departing would harm his chances of recovering documents, tapes and computer files that show his alleged relationship with U.S. officials.

“My car is parked outside right now,” Idema said. “I could drive through the Policharki gates right now. Then what happens? I get arrested. [The intelligence service] will arrest me for not having an Afghan visa and they’ll torture me and kill me. If I’m lucky, I’m only going to be tortured.”

A U.S. federal judge in April said the United States had to respond to a lawsuit by Idema alleging that the State Department and FBI illegally kept him imprisoned, directed his torture and destroyed evidence. Idema said he has audio recordings and documents to back up his claims.

[TheThinker]

Looks like the MSM has a new media darling...