Judge Orders High-Profile Gitmo Detainee Released
Military Prosecutors Had Hoped to Execute Salahi
Federal judge James Robertson today ordered Mohamedou Ould Salahi, once referred to as the “highest value detainee” in all of Guantanamo Bay, released after ruling that the government lacked any legal basis to hold him. The details of the release order are classified, but a redacted version is expected in the next few weeks.
Salahi has been held by the US since November 20, 2001. The memo regarding his detention accused him of traveling to Afghanistan to wage jihad, though this was decades ago in response to the Soviet occupation. He was arrested in Mauritania and renditioned to Jordan.
Salahi’s abuse in US custody, amid accusations that he was a “top” al-Qaeda operative, have been well documented, and prosecutors have repeatedly expressed hope that he could eventually be executed.
Though the Justice Department is said to be reviewing the ruling and Salahi remains in custody for the time being, the order does serious damage to the credibility of the military commissions system, as his attorney, Nancy Hollander noted: “they were considering giving him the death penalty. Now they don’t even have enough evidence to pass the test for habeas.”
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MvGuy
March 23rd, 2010 at 4:21 am
It's very important for those selling the Governments conspiracy theory, that it be peopled with "terrorists"
with minimal connections to any controversial government agencies like the CIA or the military.. Here is another example of why the government wants military trials, there are many bad cases, and innocent people… The guy is lucky he got an honest judge… Every day there are fewer of them
Valerianus
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:29 pm
"The memo regarding his detention accused him of traveling to Afghanistan to wage jihad, though this was decades ago in response to the Soviet occupation."
This is how the FedGov repays people that do its dirty work. Could the miserable cretins that comprise the inteligence organs and the military forces have any less shame? Americans, egged on by their Zionist puppetmasters, have demonstrated that they are cancerous growths that have metastisized across the planet.
MvGuy
March 24th, 2010 at 12:56 am
HHHHmmmmm, yes, one could put it that way. but as I said about a year ago: So, they lie cheat and steal!! What else is new. All of the driven, worldwide, will do it if they can get away with it.. It's OUR fault for allowing it …..to happen here….to us…to our country. We are the ones to blame, we are the ones that are buying this special relationship nostrum. We must like the abuse from our NUMBER 1 WELFARE QUEEN the wonderful way she complains of insufficient funds and how WE don't understand just how special she is. She is kinda like a (our) Dominatrix……She has great parties….and in some dark room she may deliver what you need… She isn't easy! Careful what you say… She can hear every phone every tweet… Careful what you think too….You may get Bitch Slapped like suckk-up Joe She spies on us and the FBI investigates. The Feds catch two operatives from her lobby handing U.S. classified information to her Embassie's "handler' of "assets" in HER pac, AIPAC…. A nice tidy nab….with photos!! BUT guess WHAT……Yaa you got it…. No prosecution….None….Zip!! Nada… Obama doesn't wanna 'spoil' /the "special relationship"…… It's US, not them that is responsible for the problem, for the embassasment…for our cowering, for us being cravenly demeaned……