Guantanamo Man Charged With Spying (UK Version)

Independent (UK) ^ | 9-24-2003 | Rupert Cornwell

[blam]

Guantanamo man charged with spying

By Rupert Cornwell
24 September 2003

An American serviceman who worked as a translator at the Camp Delta prison for al-Qa'ida and Taliban terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay has been charged with spying, the Pentagon said yesterday.

Senior Airman Ahmad al-Halabi, who worked as an Arabic language translator at the camp in south-eastern Cuba where 660 people are in custody, was arrested two months ago. He is being held at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

He is facing 32 charges, including nine counts relating to espionage and others including disobeying orders and making false statements to officials.

According to a military spokesman, Airman Halabi knew Captain Yousef Yee, the Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo who was arrested earlier this month. But it was not clear last night whether the two cases were linked. Pentagon officials allege that classified information was discovered in the airman's laptop computer, for which he could give no satisfactory explanation.

The US government has classified the detainees as "illegal combatants", meaning they are not covered by the 1949 Geneva conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.

In the 20 months of Camp Delta's existence, more than 30 detainees have attempted to commit suicide.

Captain Yee was arrested two weeks ago as he disembarked from a flight from Guantanamo Bay. He is being held at a US Navy prison. A military magistrate ruled there was enough evidence to hold him for up to two months while army investigators look into the case.

[dinok]

We have to come to terms with the sad fact that Muslims are conficted in this fight and most are on the side of our enemies. many will not go out of their way to fight for Al Queda, but when placed in the position of choosing between Believers and Infidels...we Americans are the Infidels they will not choose.

No...I don't want to send them to camps...but I certainly don't want them in position to do damage to national security.

If you think my oppinion is crewel, ask yourself how people forced to jump off the World Trade center felt in their last seconds of life...or how their families have had to cope since.

Time for us to get tough America...

[blam]

"Time for us to get tough America..."

I agree.

"Pentagon officials allege that classified information was discovered in the airman's laptop computer, for which he could give no satisfactory explanation. "

I wonder where his email addresses lead, more arrests?

[Savage Beast]

The people of the West are in denial. Whether or not they will face reality in time to save themselves remains to be seen.

Muslims are loyal to Islam.

Liberty, freedom of thought, seperation of religion and state, and freedom of religion are incompatible with Islam.

The goal of Islam is the establishment of a worldwide theocracy with the Koran as the only constitution and the sahri'a as international law. This is incompatible with Western Civilization.

As long as the people of the West refuse to acknowledge these realities, they will be unable to protect themselves, their children, and Western Civilization, including its rights and liberties.

[BiffWondercat]

Funny, no mention of Syria in that....

[blam]

Weirder & Weirder...

Soldier Who Guarded Guantanamo Detainees Vanishes

[Ben Hecks]

"He is being held at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California."

Unusual choice of places for detention - lots of AF bases closer to Cuba.

[blam]

"Unusual choice of places for detention - lots of AF bases closer to Cuba."

I agree. Somebody on FR will know what it means.

[piasa]

Not sure, but maybe it is because al Halabi was stationed in CA after his time was up in Cuba.

[dinok]

"The goal of Islam is the establishment of a worldwide theocracy with the Koran as the only constitution and the sahri'a as international law. This is incompatible with Western Civilization."

This is a key point that we in the west just refuse to accept. And we do so because the reality of it means that we are seeing the bigining and not the end of this conflict. Most people, even after 9-11, refuse to accept this. We have become a feminised nation that is all too willing to go back to pre 9-11 days simply by wishing it.

I wish it was not so as well. I have children and the last thing I want for them is a future clowded by wars. But to put my head in the sand is to invite those wars.

If we are to live together...either Ismam has to evolve in to something else, or we westerners must give up our western ways. Current Islam and Western Civilisation do not mix.

[piasa]

Yep, what I thought: He was based at Travis AFB in CA

[piasa]

see above for your answer

[piasa]

More details:

U.S. air force translator charged with espionage at Guantanamo Bay prison

[RLK]

When are we going to learn.

[blam]

"Yep, what I thought: He was based at Travis AFB in CA"

Okay, Thanks.

[debg]

if they are at gitmo...they are everywhere.

[blam]

"if they are at gitmo...they are everywhere."

Sure.

I saw a guy on tv the other day who claimed to be CIA, he said that they had been tracking Yee ever since he converted to Islam. Even during the time he was in Syria. So...it appears someone has their eyes open.

[gitmo]

According to a military spokesman, Airman Halabi knew Captain Yousef Yee, the Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo who was arrested earlier this month. But it was not clear last night whether the two cases were linked.

Not surprising. 2 arab-speaking individuals on a 14 square mile closed base know each other.

[Savage Beast]

The people of the West are hoping against hope that Islam will evolve into something more compatible with Western Civilization. They do not want to confront Islam. They hope that coexistence is possible. They wish peace and prosperity for the world's Muslims.

Perhaps their optimism will be rewarded with success.

However, radical Muslim extremists have no intention of coexisting or evolving. They consider non-Muslims to be infidels and enemies of God. They have declared war on the West and attacked the United States and other countries. How much they represent the Muslim population is not known, at least in the West, but the people of the West are hoping that these radicals represent only a small percentage of Muslims, who will be rendered powerless by the peace-loving Muslim majority. Just how realistic these hopes are and how fruitful they will prove to be remains to be seen.

[Ben Hecks]

"He was based at Travis AFB in CA"

Thanks - maybe Vandenberg has "transient quarters" for certain types of detainees since they are so close to the Lompoc federal prison.