Why Did The DoD Ignore Requests From Their Own Attorney For A War Crimes Investigation?
By Susie Madrak Saturday Oct 03, 2009 4:00pmWe can certainly come to our own conclusions, since we're not hearing any official explanation. But it would be nice to know why the last administration (you remember, from the Party of Personal Responsibility?) covered this up - and why the Obama administration isn't doing anything about it:
WASHINGTON—The military lawyer that represents an Afghan youth who spent roughly seven years in U.S. custody says the Defense Department has repeatedly ignored his requests for a war crimes investigation into the detainee’s treatment.
Air Force Maj. David Frakt, the attorney for former detainee Mohammed Jawad, says over the past 16 months he sent multiple memos to Defense Department and military leaders asking them to account for what a military judge called “abusive conduct and cruel and inhuman treatment” of his client. Jawad, who was arrested when he says he was 12 years old for allegedly tossing a grenade at U.S. military, was moved from cell to cell 112 times during a 14-day period to disrupt his sleep patterns, according to military documents. Frakt said he believes the treatment constituted torture, violated the Geneva Convention, war crime laws and Defense Department regulations.
“Why has no one – no one has been held remotely accountable for this,” Frakt said in an interview with Raw Story. “This is a mandatory investigation. It’s not optional, you can’t just sweep it under the rug… but they did as far as I can tell.”
As first reported in The Washington Independent, Frakt wrote in memos to Defense Department officials: “Accordingly, I believe I have an affirmative obligation to report the incident to my chain of command,” listing military rules that mandate reporting possible war crimes to a superior.
Both a federal district court judge and a U.S. military commission judge have questioned the use of sleep deprivation, also called the “frequent flyer” program, on Jawad.
When military officials changed Jawad’s cell 112 times between May 7 and May 20, 2004, roughly once every three hours, military Judge Stephen Henley, a U.S. Army colonel ruled “the scheme was calculated to profoundly disrupt his mental senses.” Although officials were allowed to use such tactics during interrogation, Jawad’s attorney Frakt said he was not interrogated months before or months after the sleep deprivation occurred.
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fills ya with bitter rage.
Yes. Yes it does.
Something comes to mind, about winning the hearts and minds of those whose land we occupy. How many 12 year olds have been tortured, only to be let go back to their mothers and fathers? Rage never ending.
Something else comes to mind. Having to burn the village, to save it. Different era - same war.
This really sucks donkey politics! I was voting for change in the way our country is run, not in the change of mind the POTUS is making. Did someone threaten him with deadly harm? We are screwed !
threatening with harm doesn't do as good as tossing green at politicians, if the amount his presidential run made is any indication. Corporations seem to luv them some Obama.
Threatened him? Doubt it. He is/was probably in on it from the get go.
Pretty much.
Department of Defense Delay
DODD.
There are FAR more important things we're obliged to think about first.
Sounds like going through "The Loop" in LA County's Twin Towers Jail...
Seriously, this SUCKS big time.
The non-humans that carried out these orders are coming back home one day to infect our neighborhoods. Cheney and bush ,the war criminals, enjoy untold wealth for giving such orders and are laughing their asses off at the american suckers who brought their boogyman story hook, line and sinker.
This is not the only GITMO detainee who has been screwed by our government. The sick thing is that this guy is actually lucky. He got out. There are more detainees in GITMO who are just as innocent. Maybe more innocent. Fayiz al-Kandari is still stuck in the hell hole for no good reason. There is no doubt that here are bad guys in GITMO but there are also INNOCENT people in GITMO. Read about Fayiz. Mohammed Jawad is lucky to have gotten out. Just think if your brother was still there. It would be enough to put you over the edge. I cannot imagine what it does to the innocent. I am so disgusted i could spit. Go read about Fayiz and stay informed.
Tell him he's really starting to act like an asshole!
keeping looking forward don't dwell on the past. Hell, I'm still waiting for an accounting of how many detainees got snuffed. The Constitution will not be repaired by Obama - Emanuel and Company. Judicially things have gotten worse since this con artist took office. He is consolidating his power.
Is there any promise "candidate Obama" made that "President Obama" hasn't broken?
Is this the guy I voted for?
confessions:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/arti...
Obama is not doing the job that I hoped and prayed he would be doing.
I feel like I've been suckered again by the Democratic Party.
Never again.
I want a divorce.
I feel I've been double crossed....and I'm just not feeling the love....
It's time to say goodbye.
I'll be out soon looking for somebody new to love who will be FAITHFUL and HONEST and TRUSTWORTHY.
Oh, and who will honor the Constitution.
Is this the kind of change we voted for?
Why is Obama acting like a republican coward?
Could it be because he gets his money from the same places all the other republican cowards get theirs from?
I think we are going to have to empty washington out. Even if it means tearing it dowm and making a pile of rubble from it.
It should be clear to everyone that all the people in washington now are their to help the big corporate donors get what ever they want and to shit on the rest of us. 99% of all the wealth in America goes to 1% of the people. Only 1% of the monet trickles down lie so much piss to the rest of us.
Look at all the people they kill with bombs and then look at all they kill with lack of health care!
republicanism is a mental illness! We need to do something with these crazy idiots NOW!
at least they're contradicting themselves openly.
Well the EUNUCHS, do nothing again.
Well no Public Option No Money No Vote
No Dispensing the Kangaroo Courts (Oops Military Tribunals), No Money, NO VOTE
You actually have to ask why are no war crimes investigations? It's because the US collectively swallows its own koolaid.
No matter how much evidence there already is proving war crimes by the US government and military, or war profiteering by US corporations, nobody will ever be charged. Most Americans believe the lie, "The US doesn't commit war crimes! We prosecute them!" and won't hear of anything else.
There could be proof of mass graves and mass executions of civilians and nothing would be done. No one will ever be charged unless the US is invaded and controlled by a foreign government.
There could be proof of mass graves and mass executions of civilians and nothing would be done. No one will ever be charged unless the US is invaded and controlled by a foreign government.
But that is why the corporations have the DOD to protect their money from the people who actually earned the money!
IT is the AMerican/republican way!
republicanism is a mental illness! Commit one if you can it would be a great favor to all Americans!
Hey liberals, next time don't fall for the lofty rhetoric and preacher style cadence.
Because McCain would be so much better. Or Hilary or Edwards. Who is your daddy? Huckleberry?
I liked Hillary because she's a fighter, not an appeaser. She's proof positive that she can excel even with a 24 hour a day 10 year smear campaign against her. I would have liked Kucinich or Dean or Gore (I think Gore wouldn't have wimped out like he did in 2000...he learned from his mistake) too. I wish Gore would have run again. Obama, to me, was always soft, always all about talk, and I am ashamed that my fellow liberals fell for it.
4/19/06:
"US contractor admits bribery for Jobs in Iraq"
by truthout.org
10/31/06:
"Weldon case recalls Ike's warning: Corrupting power of military-industrial complex"
newamericamedia.org
1/5/07:
"Contractor Fraud unchecked in Iraq"
(Cbs news takes a closer look at allegations of contractor waste and fraud in Iraq)
5/1/07:
"Government oversight continues with halliburton and cheney"
12/10/07:
"Halliburton covering up gang rape of employee"
3/7/08:
"War profiteering by tax dodge"
by boston.com
4/13/08:
"Iraq: State of Corruption"
6/12/08:
"Logjam of War Contractor fraud suits"
7/25/08:
Iraq: Contractor fraud: senators call for arrests, recovery of funds"
9/11/08:
"Oil officials given sex, gifts, investigators say"
10/30/08:
"Private security in Iraq tops $6 Billion"
pauline Jelinek/ap
11/21/08:
"Interior Department take action after scandal"
uSA today
12/9/08:
"Report: Requests for MRAPS unheeded"
by Richard Lardner
2/12/09:
"Texas firm pleads guilty to bribery"
take your choice susie, you can find all those stories above, on the web..
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