Khadr's interrogators told to destroy notes, lawyer says

[CHIMO]

Source: Globe and Mail

OTTAWA — Interrogators at Guantanamo Bay – including those assigned to Canadian Omar Khadr – were encouraged to destroy handwritten notes from interview sessions to protect them from future legal action, according to newly released documents.

A “standard Operating Procedure” manual for “Intelligence exploitation teams” operating at Guantanamo Bay – codenamed “Tiger Teams” – was shown to Mr. Khadr's U.S. military defence lawyer, Lieutenant-Commander Bill Kuebler, late last week.

“This mission has legal and political issues that may lead to interrogators being called to testify, keeping the number of documents with interrogation information to a minimum can minimize certain legal issues,” the manual states, according to an affidavit filed by Lt.-Cmdr. Kuebler.

The revelation is another in a long line of documents, findings and events that have cast the Guantanamo Bay legal proceedings in a less than flattering light. That interrogators were instructed to destroy their handwritten notes is of particular importance to Mr. Khadr, because much of the case against him is believed to rely on what he said during some of those interrogation sessions.



Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080608.wkhadr09/BNStory/National/home

[cal04]

1. Gitmo interrogators told to trash notes

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080609/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/guantanamo_interrogations

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A military defense lawyer says the Pentagon urged interrogators at Guantanamo Bay to destroy handwritten notes in case they were called to testify about potentially harsh treatment of detainees.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler says the instructions were included in an operations manual shown to him by prosecutors.

The attorney for Canadian detainee Omar Khadr says the apparent destruction of evidence prevents him from challenging the reliability of any alleged confessions. He said Sunday he will use the document to seek a dismissal of charges against Khadr.

A Pentagon spokesman said he was reviewing the matter.

[JDPriestly]

10. If they don't have the notes, what did they base their reports on?

And who really wrote the reports? Were they edited by someone without the notes? This was a stupid thing to do. The reports are hearsay evidence. I don't know what evidence rules apply, but I would want the interrogators to appear in court and testify regarding the truth of the reports. If I were the judge, I would not allow the reports to come in without the interrogator's testimony and cross-examination of the interrogators or guards. Again, though, I don't know what evidence rules apply.

[NBachers]

2. Tiger Cremes? Tiger Screams?

Yeah, they're real TIGERS! alright. Ganging up on a single caged individual to intimidate, lie, torture, goad, overpower, manipulate, terrorize, bully, and beat. Real courageous he-men. They Just Can't Wait for the chance to come to the mainland and Tiger Team us when we're political captives. Bravery in Action!

[atreides1]

16. Not Tigers

If I remember right, Tigers work alone not in packs.

Now, Hyenas and Jackals maybe but definitely not Tigers.

[TaffyMoon]

3. Someone Stop the Madness

These show trials must end.

[The Stranger]

4. Every interrogator there will be arrested and tried -- if it takes us 50 years.

The wheels of justice may turn slowly . . .

[countmyvote4real]

5. The * regime has been a disgusting blight on our democracy.

And it will remain as shameful as it is until justice prevails. Half-black POTUS doesn't change any of this. Prosecutions change this. Obama is on record as open to investigation.

[Supersedeas]

20. on American values in general

[LiberalFighter]

6. Alberto Gonzales?

[Supersedeas]

19. a compliant and complicit media??

[AndyTiedye]

7. Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice?

[Solly Mack]

8. and the US government still pretends it is just so innocent

just so above it all....



"cast the Guantanamo Bay legal proceedings in a less than flattering light"

Snort...yeah, I suppose criminal behavior is less than flattering

[EFerrari]

9. War criminals.

:nuke:

[nvme]

11. knowing what we know of Our intelligence agencies

Wouldn't it be likely that not only notes were written but videotapes existed as well? This would be particularly true if the detainee started to talk. Its never the crime but the cover-up that gets ya.

[barbtries]

12. doesn't this point to consciousness of guilt?

is that a legal term? i swear to gawd the top ten tiers of the bush admin should be in prison. somehow someway there has got to be accountability for this egregious abuse of power.

[Judi Lynn]

13. If only this kid could go home! Only 15 years old when seized and imprisoned.

An undated photo of Omar
Khadr, who has now spent a
quarter of his life detained at
Guantanamo Bay prison camp.
(Reuters)
Hope someone comes to his/her senses who can help before it is REALLY much too late.

[bluesmail]

14. Sadism from War Criminals n/t

[happygoluckytoyou]

15. dont worry BUSH 2004 voters....i'm sure god will forgive you even if mr khadr cannot...

your bloodied hands are clean
those nightmares should go away soon
hooray for the u s of a
did somebody say mcdonalds
i'm going to disneyland

[annabanana]

17. HEY NBC CBS ABC. . . . . .Getcher RED HOT NEWS HERE

only used by the rest of the damn world

[Supersedeas]

18. where the hell is the U.S. Media????