Hamdan found guilty, faces life in prison.
Hamdan found guilty, faces life in prison.
A military jury has “reached a verdict at the first Guantanamo war crimes trial.” Salim Hamdan, who was Osama bin Laden’s former driver, has been found guilty on one of the two charges against him. MSNBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reports:
MIKLASZEWSKI: Officials at Guantanamo Bay tell us that Salim Hamdan has in fact been convicted of one of the two charges leveled against him and that is material support of terrorism. As you recall, we had discussed earlier, that when he was taken into custody, he actually had two shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles in his possession when taken into custody. The other charge of conspiracy, they found him not guilty. Apparently, one can only guess, that the jurors in fact believe that he may not have been involved actively in any al Qaeda operations and planning, but certainly in terms of providing material support for terrorism, they felt that he was guilty of those charges.
Watch Miklaszewski’s report here:
Hamdan faces life in prison. Yesterday, the Pentagon said that “even if he were acquitted,” Hamdan would “still be considered an enemy combatant and therefore would continue to be subject to continued detention.”
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Since Bin Laden has been dead for years, this is the closest thing to “closure” the U.S. can get – nailing the limo driver.
BO-RING.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:41 amWell, if they move him to Texas, he’ll be executed, regardless.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:44 am“Hamdan found guilty, sentenced to life in prison.”
– - The US Justice Dept. & Military vs. the limo driver. Big surprise.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:45 amI expect the Chinese to eventually arrest some poor rickshaw jockey on the same type of charge.
“…certainly in terms of providing material support for terrorism…”
All of bushco is guilty of the same offense. Can we look forward to their conviction? Let George WTF and Dick(and not because his front name is Richard) be the first!!!
August 6th, 2008 at 10:47 amsave a few bunk-beds hamdan, you’ll have company soon enough.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:49 amCan’t wait till they convict a player next : al-Zawahiri’s gardener ………….
August 6th, 2008 at 10:50 amIt’s a miracle! Reports just in: The statue of “Liberty Enthroned” over the Supreme Court building’s entrance is projectile vomiting!
August 6th, 2008 at 10:50 amHey! We got Osama bin Laden’s chauffeur!
THAT makes those 5000 dead U.S. soldiers (Iraq & Afgh combined) all worth it then! :(
August 6th, 2008 at 10:51 amYesterday, the Pentagon said that “even if he were acquitted,” Hamdan would “still be considered an enemy combatant and therefore would continue to be subject to continued detention.”
So, under the bush regime…
Found Guilty=JAIL
Found Not Guilty=JAIL
Saves time for the prosecution…
August 6th, 2008 at 10:51 amThe laws that make us all human and equal under god have been perverted by amoral sociopaths that can only feel secure in themselves when they have incarcerated all of their imagined boogey men.
They have redefined the mentality of being a control freak.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:53 amLet’s see…7 years next month since 9/11 & the ‘first’ one is done.
Gee, at this rate, 78 of them will still be awaiting trial AFTER Bush, Cheney & Rove are jailed.
Nice.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:55 amThemis Says:
——————————————————————————–
1 down.
79 to go.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Took how long for that “one” jackass ?
7 years to nab and convict a friggin’ limo driver ?
They gonna’ get Bin Laden’s butcher next ?
August 6th, 2008 at 10:55 amWhoa….he was found guilty?!?! What a shocker….
Good thing we got these trials going so we can get all these convictions in time for the elections. After a mere 6-7 years of detention. Same deal for the gas prices. Who here doesn’t expect to see a steady decrease in the price of gas until November?
August 6th, 2008 at 10:56 am6. MCMetal Says:
Can’t wait till they convict a player next : al-Zawahiri’s gardener
I hear they’re also hot on the trail of a Kebab-takeout delivery guy…
August 6th, 2008 at 10:58 amAn even scarier thought is the fact that this case will probably be used as a legal precedent in the future.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:58 amNow there’s a nice warm thought.
Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
500 billion dollars and the lives of 5000+ troops….for 1.
For 1 limo driver.
But they have all their kangaroos dancing in line on queue…
August 6th, 2008 at 10:59 am>79 to go.
will the war on terror be over then?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/06/hamdan.trial/index.html
“The panel of six U.S. military officers began deliberating charges in the terror trial Monday, according to a Pentagon spokesman.”
Funny. Tried by a group of people whose job it is to kill you.
Very fair. In fact I think we should use this model in our civilian courts and allow juries to be composed only of law enforcement officers. Funny, how when these supposed “terrorists” are given trials with civilian juries they almost always walk on most charges, or get deadlocked. For refence, google: holy land foundation trial .
“During the trial, a U.S. soldier who was present when Hamdan was captured originally said Hamdan was driving a car that had SA-7 surface-to-air missiles intended for al Qaeda. But on cross-examination, the soldier, identified only as Maj. Smith, said he could not be sure Hamdan was the driver of one of the three vehicles carrying the missiles.”
Beyond a reasonable doubt is SO pre-9-11.
Bin Ladens urologist is next, watch out. We will make no distinction between the terorists, and those who help them ur1nate.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:01 amChimp and Co are hot on the trail of Bin Laden’s mechanic
August 6th, 2008 at 11:01 amExactly. The saddest part of all this is that BUSHCO and their enablers, Faux News and the deluded 30% of the population, don’t realize the long term damage of the legal decisions made today.
Look up the history of the military tribunal system in America, and the pathetic case that was used as precedent for THESE tribunals, the NAZI saboteur tribunals in WW2.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:04 am> An even scarier thought is the fact that this
> case will probably be used as a legal
> precedent in the future.
Bingo. Use the scumbags as “test cases” to try and get apellate precedent on your side, then start doing it to everyday political dissidents. Today its the guy driving Bin Lad2ns donkey cart, a decade from now its people like Cindy Sheehan. Mark my word, if we dont do our part to get these scum out of office and put them in jail, the republic is doomed. Can you imagine mccain, who will pander to the viscious, angry right his entire term in office just to get re-elected? scaaaary..
August 6th, 2008 at 11:05 am>the NAZI saboteur tribunals in WW2.
interesting enough, the whole “not in uniform” argument that reich wingers use to justify denying these guys the status of prisoners of war could well be used someday against our own special forces, who often engage in military action while not in uniform. If theres any justice in the world, someday karma will turn our own “logic” against us.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:08 amWho is George W. Bush’s driver?
I wonder if he’s a bit concerned…?
August 6th, 2008 at 11:09 amTwo things you don’t want to be in the ‘War on Terror’:
The #2 guy in al Qaeda
and
The guy standing next to the #1 guy
August 6th, 2008 at 11:10 amThemis Says:
1 down.
79 to go.
Bush’s driver,
August 6th, 2008 at 11:12 amCheney’s driver,
Wolfowitz’s driver,
Perle’s driver,
Feith’s driver…
The verdict doesn’t matter. It’s already been said that Hamdan will spend the rest of his life in prison.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:12 amAs you recall, we had discussed earlier, that when he was taken into custody, he actually had two shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles in his possession when taken into custody.
Of course he also had 4 AK-47’s, 1000 rounds of ammunition, 6 bazookas, 30 land mines, a tank, several women and a jet. All in the trunk of bin Laden’s car. Yeah, and Dr. Ivins killed himself.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:14 amThemis Says:
1 down.
79 to go.
Let’s see… that means when we finally can say Mission Accomplished (and mean it) that would be, roughly, 316 trillion dollars, 550 years and 395,000 dead.
That’s great math, Themis
August 6th, 2008 at 11:15 amSince the proceedings have been almost completely closed to the public, we will never know if this guy is guilty or not!
Who needs the rule of law!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:18 amMIKLASZEWSKI: As you recall, we had discussed earlier, that when he was taken into custody, he actually had two shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles in his possession when taken into custody.
And no Anthrax ?????????????????
How could that be ???????????
August 6th, 2008 at 11:23 amMilitary Justice is to justice what military music is to music.
Can you say ‘Kangaroo Court’?
August 6th, 2008 at 11:23 amDon’t worry!! McLame has located Bin Laden’s tire gauge and will now invade the Wal-Mart Tire centers.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:25 amThe conviction was for “Providing material assistance” which is one of the flimsiest charges imaginable. He was employed by bin Laden prior to the 9/11 attacks as a driver and errand runner. He left bin Laden in November 2001 and took his wife to Pakistan.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:33 amThe charges that he ferried weapons are pretty flimsy too, since every donkey cart or goat herder carries an AK47 in Afghanistan.
Hamdan was the low hanging fruit they want to convict on a weak charge to establish the credibility of the tribunals. They know that 95% of the U.S. population isn’t going to lift a finger to learn more about the validity of the case, or the methodology of the trial.
A red letter day for American jurisprudence.
raynman Says:
Let’s see… that means when we finally can say Mission Accomplished (and mean it) that would be, roughly, 316 trillion dollars, 550 years and 395,000 dead.
Well, if you consider all the iraqi civilians killed so far, I’d safely say they’re well over 395,000 dead already.
All that’s missing now is the money and the time.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:36 amWas the empty cab weeping in the audience?
August 6th, 2008 at 11:41 amP enis Says:
——————————————————————————–
1 stroke.
79 to go.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:42 amYeah, throw this low level grunt in prison for life, that’ll keep us safe. But don’t even bother prosecuting Bush for violating our civil rights or the telecoms that helped him.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 6th, 2008 at 11:45 amI am reminded of the adage:
Military Justice is to Justice
as
Military Music is to Music
Hey, there, Amerika, how are you?
August 6th, 2008 at 11:52 amGotta wonder if Bush’s limo driver will be tried with him at Den Hague??
August 6th, 2008 at 11:53 amThis just in!
Bin Laden’s manicurist captured by US Special Forces in Jalalabad! She’s being charged with providing immaterial assistance to turrists.
Administration officials are denying rumors that CIA interrogators pulled her finger nails out during questioning.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:00 pmtheres no trials like show trials
August 6th, 2008 at 12:01 pmThe man was railroaded. I just read that the surface to air missiles Hamdan were supposedly delivering are in all likelihood not even valid evidence. Hamdan was captured by Afghani forces after leaving his car at a checkpoint. In the course of the trial, Hamdan’s military defense lawyer, showed a classified military cable in which Afghanistan-based forces reported to higher-ups that two missiles had been found in a vehicle seized at the same checkpoint that day but from Arab suspects who had fought back and been killed.
So what to charge Hamdan with? Damn the evidence chain, throw those missiles onto his charges, its not like anyone is ever going to hear about it anyway.
The reason they don’t want these cases brought before a regular trial….weak, WEAK cases, with no allowable, credible evidence.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:04 pmAnd it only took six years!
At this rate, we can expect to close the books on this episode in… let’s see… four, carry the five… four hundred and seventy-four years! Maybe by then we will have drilled the OCS and become oil independent!
August 6th, 2008 at 12:14 pmVocabulary word of the day!
Specious: Having a false look of truth or genuineness
August 6th, 2008 at 12:33 pmAnd the bonus vocabulary word of the day is:
Travesty:
An absurd or grotesque misrepresentation
August 6th, 2008 at 12:38 pmZed Lefflin Says:
This guy will be just fine.
Tell that to his wife who will probably never see him again.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:55 pmZed Lefflin Says:
The stupidity runs deep with this one.
VERY deep indeed.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:10 pmMoving from the caves of Afghanistan
As I’ve already pointed out, you’re an idiot.
Who needs a limo driver if they’re living in a cave?
Anyone who thinks OBL was living in a cave is clearly as stupid as the Shrub.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:12 pmZed Lefflin Says:
August 6th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
You’re an ass.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pm“After seven years and numerous court challenges including two Supreme Court rulings, the Bush administration finally stumbled its way to its first conviction in a military commission for a crime that is routinely handled in federal courts. Is this is the best they can do?”
They needed the military jury.
Cheers,
August 6th, 2008 at 1:28 pmKangaroo court = kangaroo verdict. This was a foregone conclusion…
August 6th, 2008 at 2:09 pmSo, are we gonna have to keep Gitmo open til this guy dies? Or, where else will he be serving his life sentence? If they bring him to the US, he’ll have a right to Habeas Corpus (according to the last Supreme Court decision on the subject).
August 6th, 2008 at 3:18 pmOr, maybe he can die young? Suicide, anyone?
DvlsAdvocat said: “Hamdan was the low hanging fruit they want to convict on a weak charge to establish the credibility of the tribunals.”
That is the best summary of this case I have ever read. Thanks for putting those words together.
And the right is now partying “like it’s 1999″ over the conviction of a chauffeur. That is all we have to show for 7+ years of fighting the “war on terror”? A chauffeur?
I have no sympathy for Al Qaeda, period. Yet, what does it say to the world when the closest we can come to bin Laden himself is a man who happened to drive for him?
The question that every American should be demanding from the President, the Vice President and every member of the GOP contingent in Congress: WHERE IN THE HELL IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?
August 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pmWow, we convicted this guy of doing his job. Being a driver. NICE.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:50 pmThemis Says:
1 down.
79 to go.
We are holding 79 limo drivers at Guantanamo. Who would have thunk it. We have to do something about all those dangerous limo drivers.
God I wish Themis would be pulled out of his bed in the middle of the night, sent to some foreign country to be renditioned and tortured, then sent to Guantanamo to spend the rest of his life in detention. And we don’t even have to accuse him of a crime. Now wouldn’t that be great!
August 6th, 2008 at 3:54 pm#Who Misspoke Today? Says:
The verdict doesn’t matter. It’s already been said that Hamdan will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Not if Obama is President. I’m fairly sure that he will bring some sense of fairness to these people. If he doesn’t, I will be highly disappointed in him.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:00 pmDieNowForPeace Says:
Zed Lefflin Says:
The stupidity runs deep with this one.
VERY deep indeed.
It’s not just stupidity. It’s soulless evil. People like this almost make me believe in vengeance because they need to be punished for the evil they have brought into this world.
May god have mercy on the souls of the people who participated in this Kangaroo court. I wonder if they will have a hard time sleeping at night.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:08 pmAs this was a secret trial held on a person held in hostile conditions (and very probably torture) for 7 years and the judge, jury and executioner are all the same, how long will it take for the stink to waft away ?
No matter how fair the result may or may not have been, this did not show a procedural justice which taints everything else it touches.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:19 pmAn obvious scapegoat. That’s all that really needs to be said. Bush and his cronies needed a rhetorical feather in their cap after the Supreme Court ruling reafirming habeous corpus and this is what they came up with. An obvious diversion from OSAMA BIN LADEN. This is a military court – not the federal court that Hamden wanted – not to mention very shakey evidence so an appeal is sure to be coming.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:24 pmI ovviously don’t know a lot of details concerning this case, but I do know several things for sure. There is absolutely no way that I trust the following . . .
1. the Military
2. George Bush and anyone who for works or supports him
3. the Military
4. George Bush and anyone who works for, or supports him
Did I mention that I don’t trust the miltary and George Bush, and anyone who works for or supports him?
August 6th, 2008 at 5:18 pmjpopphan Says:
——————————————————————————–
The question that every American should be demanding from the President, the Vice President and every member of the GOP contingent in Congress: WHERE IN THE HELL IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?
August 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
They’ll probably find him Nov. 1.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:15 amOsama Bin Laden is a terrorist no doubt.
But 911 was an inside job. No question about that.
Anthrax was an Inside job – not just Ivins by the way.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am