US fires Guantanamo defence team

December 3, 2003 12:11 PM

US fires Guantanamo defence teamIf we make the rules, we will win the game. "A team of military lawyers recruited to defend alleged terrorists held by the US at Guantanamo Bay was dismissed by the Pentagon after some of its members rebelled against the unfair way the trials have been designed, the Guardian has learned"
posted by Postroad (22 comments total)

Color me surprised.
posted by damnitkage at 12:31 PM on December 3, 2003

Thank god for The Guardian!
posted by Witty at 12:43 PM on December 3, 2003

read this yesterday, @ talk left(also saw an article supporting this)We're pleased to learn that the U.S. plans to release 140 detainees from Guantanamo. On the other hand, we're outraged by this:

Then read about this guy born in Louisiana(can't find an updated link) He is now getting council. After that wondered if the administration is correcting things before all the shite pointed out above hits the fan .
posted by thomcatspike at 1:02 PM on December 3, 2003

Calvinball.
posted by kgasmart at 1:06 PM on December 3, 2003

In a non-related story; Canada quietly and politely asks if it's possible to move to another continent.
posted by CrazyJub at 1:18 PM on December 3, 2003

What sort of a legal victory will the Bush administration be able to claim, if they do not promote proper legal defence for these prisoners? It's like they ...

Jeez, I think I've lost the will to live.
posted by dash_slot- at 1:23 PM on December 3, 2003

When I first heard the headline on BBC Radio last night ("US Military Lawyers Dissent and are Fired", or something like that) I misunderstood it to mean that the lawyers didn't want to have to defend terrorists. I commend them for having the integrity to object.
posted by jpoulos at 1:50 PM on December 3, 2003

So what TV network will have the broadcast rights to this public entertainment spectacle? And boy I can't wait for the snazzy new commercials that they'll air between testimonies.
posted by badstone at 1:58 PM on December 3, 2003

dash_slot, I seem to have an abundent supply and am willing to share.
posted by billsaysthis at 2:19 PM on December 3, 2003

The land of the free.
The home of the brave.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 3:53 PM on December 3, 2003

cheers billsaysthis - can you send a weight round by courier? (hope no-one else needs it in the sad times we're heading into...)
posted by dash_slot- at 4:26 PM on December 3, 2003

The land of the free.
The home of the brave

ah cuba, with all the new....oh
posted by clavdivs at 4:43 PM on December 3, 2003

News Flash!

Bush appoints the Washington Generals as the new Guantanamo defense team.
posted by CrazyJub at 4:52 PM on December 3, 2003

New Flash!

Bush orders recreational sports team for GITMO.
Washington Senators recalled into active duty
posted by clavdivs at 4:56 PM on December 3, 2003

Just remember kids, this is the same govt that is trying to overturn the miranda ruling, one of the parts is to tell people that they the right to an attorney.
posted by MrLint at 5:02 PM on December 3, 2003

Calvinball is right.
posted by signal at 6:02 PM on December 3, 2003

At this writing, Google news lists this story in seven news outlets. Not one of them is in the U.S.

Let's see: Pentagon, Guantanamo, War on "Terror" -- nope, no domestic interest there...
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:37 PM on December 3, 2003

The US government claims the story is false:

The Pentagon's recently established Office of Military Commissions denied the claim. "That is not true, never happened," said its spokesman, Major John Smith.

The Guardian seems to be the original (only?) source for this story; the other links on Google News are derived from it. Perhaps within a day or so other news sources will have had a chance to do some investigating. It seems to me it ought not to be hard to track down a few of the actual lawyers involved...
posted by hattifattener at 7:24 PM on December 3, 2003

As much as I wouldn't be surprised, I too would like to see another confirmation.

But, it sure seems plausible...in which case...Calvinball it is.
posted by dejah420 at 8:33 PM on December 3, 2003

Calvinball???
posted by Blue Stone at 6:05 AM on December 4, 2003

Blue Stone: Calvinball is a game for which the only rules are made up while the game is played.
posted by Ptrin at 9:15 AM on December 4, 2003

The only permanent rule is that you can't play the same way twice.
posted by Mitheral at 10:44 AM on December 4, 2003