Hamdan sentenced to 5.5 years in prison, though he may still be detained indefinitely.
Hamdan sentenced to 5.5 years in prison, though he may still be detained indefinitely.
Yesterday, Salim Ahmed Hamdan was found guilty of material support for terrorism, after being held in U.S. custody for seven years. Today, the military court at Guantanamo sentenced him to five and a half years in prison; the prosecution had asked for a minimum 30-year sentence. The Guardian notes, however, that Hamdan will not necessarily be free in five years:
No matter what penalty Hamdan had received, he is subject to possible indefinite detention by the US military.
The AP adds:
The judge, Navy Capt. Keith Allred, said he did not know what would happen to Hamdan once his sentence is complete, but said he would likely be eligible for the same administrative review process as other prisoners.
Last month, Attorney General Michael Mukasey argued the U.S. should be able to imprison detainees “for the duration of the conflict” with “al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated organizations.”
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Neoclowns cant afford to have the alleged perps spilling the beans while the fox is still in the hen-house.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:26 pmHis sentence is complete — he’s been imprisoned for 7 years.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pmLast month, Attorney General Michael Mukasey argued the U.S. should be able to imprison detainees “for the duration of the conflict” with “al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated organizations.”
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So, in other words, they should be able to grab up whoever they want and hold them forever? Why was the USSR considered to be so evil?
I think it is interesting that we can’t close Guantanamo Bay and release a couple hundered prisoners (most of which weren’t caught by US forces), but we released 10,000 prisoners in Iraq last week and no one cared.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:28 pmwhat? no credit for time served?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:31 pmif he serves his sentence, he won’t be just another prisoner. he’ll be someone that “did the crime and served his time”. Typically such people are . . . released. Why hold the “trial” if you’re going to keep them locked up forever (there will always be an AQ, Taliban or just some “terrorist” who wants to blow up things in the US for their own particular purposes) anyway. Can these people not think through the logical consequences of their idiotic actions? Bush ranch going to the next holding cell. I hear he’s looking to buy in Dallas now that he doesn’t have to pretend to be a cowboy anymore.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:33 pmWhen waiting imprisoned to be tried takes longer than the sentence handed down, justice has been raped.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:34 pmI don’t think that the supporters of these policies are going to see the folly of their logic until they themselves are subject to the precedent that they set.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:35 pm5 1/2 years for driving?
I feel bad for the poor jerk.
How many years in Prison did Hitler’s driver recieve?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:35 pmWell thank goodness Mr. Hamdan’s reign of automotive terror has been brought to an end. The roads of the Federally-Administrative Tribal Areas are much safer now that this serial internal combustionist has been brought to justice.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:36 pmBush needs to talk to the Chinese, Burmese, Russians, North Koreans, Cubans, etc about how to handle this situations such. It’s obvious they didn’t think this through. But then thinking has never been one of his strong suits.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:36 pmhmmmm, imprisoned and tortured for 7 years already,now sentenced for another 5.5 years imprisonment & torture, and upon completion of his sentence, imprisoned & tortured for life.
Bushco justice
August 7th, 2008 at 4:37 pmI’m surprised the NRA didn’t try to defend this guy for having a rocket launcher in his car…
/snark
August 7th, 2008 at 4:37 pmThe extra time tacked on-perpetual limbo-is for the foolish violation of “driving while non-white.” (Plus the added charge of “Necessary Scapegoat.”)
When will they learn?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:38 pmNow watch, how the Pentagon will force the Judge and Jury into early retirement, just like they did with Charles Swift.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:38 pmSo when are the Feds gonna round up all the chauffeurs for guys like Ken Lay, et al? Since being the driver of a criminal automatically makes you a criminal, they should all be looking to leave the country.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pmThemis Says:
So much for your theory that this was a kangaroo court with hand picked judge and jurors that would do the bidding of the Administration. That is a very light sentence considering what he could have gotten.
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Regardless of his sentence he is being held indefinitely. That is about as harsh as you can get aside from the death penalty (and I would prefer the death penalty to a life sentence). This si a slippery slope. Wait until soeone gets charged with bombing an abortion clinic and has to wait seven years for a trial, then get a life sentence. Or maybe they get charged with being the hairstylist for someone who bombed an abortion clinic …
August 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pmI wonder what kind of sentence Bush’s driver should anticipate…?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pmThat is a very light sentence considering what he could have gotten.
Aww, now you’re going to cry, again????
August 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pmOn second thought, buchco probably punished Hamdan for daring to survive the “enhanced interrogation” process and forcing the inconvenience and cost of a show trial.
Bush is looking out for taxpayers…
August 7th, 2008 at 4:41 pmThemis,
If we find the guy that delivered pizza for Tim McVeigh, or the landscaper for David Koresh, what should their sentence be? What if we find the maid that worked for Ted Bundy, or Charles Manson’s tattoo artist?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pmThe troll says very blithely, “so much for your theory that this was a kangaroo court…”
Yeah, let’s discuss that when he’s released after serving his sentence, okay, Cupcake?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:48 pmSomeone help me here. He had in his car two antiaircraft missiles? That were to be used against planes dropping bombs on his men in his country? Doesn’t exactly sound like the crime of the century to me. Not exactly the equivalant of Adolph Eichman—as our country is making out. And even if someone is found innocent at a Gitmo trial, they are not released?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:48 pmChris L Says:
I don’t think that the supporters of these policies are going to see the folly of their logic until they themselves are subject to the precedent that they set.
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That indeed would be one of the potential ramifications of all this insanity, huh?
What’s good for the goose… is good for the GOOP!
August 7th, 2008 at 4:49 pmTotally OT, but I always like to mention that Eisenhower had sex with HIS driver.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:50 pmWE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT WAR WITH EURASIA, WE WILL ALWAYS BE AT WAR WITH EURASIA.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:51 pmWHEN YOUR SENTENCE IS COMPLETED, YOU WILL BE DETAINED FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. YOU MIGHT AS WELL LAY BACK AND ENJOY IT.
Keith, did she also not have ground to air missiles in her lime?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:52 pmOr limo, geez, as the case may be…
August 7th, 2008 at 4:52 pmWingnuts: nothin’ but a bunch of mental midgets suffering from Napoleon complex.
You need help, but I’d rather you wallow in your cowering little corner of fear.
Sometimes we hate, but it’s usually in the direction of feckless, cowardly pukes like YOU.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:52 pmYou cannot be Cerious, missiles in a lime? Who said it was a “she”?
August 7th, 2008 at 4:54 pm“…argued the U.S. should be able to imprison detainees ‘for the duration of the conflict’ with…associated organizations.”
Hey Guys, this could be what we have been waiting for! We can lock up George WTF, The Dick, and the rest of bushco for as long as there is a GOP.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:54 pmShe was a limey, hence the confusion.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:55 pmWow, even James Bond didn’t have missles in the lime… Someone better go talk to Q and tell him to get busy.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:58 pmKeith says;….and even if someone is found innocent at a Gitmo trial, they are not released?
Nope.
August 7th, 2008 at 4:59 pmThey’ll hold him on “immigration charges” for another 5 years. He wasn’t kidnapped with valid papers.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:13 pmChris L Says:
Themis,
If we find the guy that delivered pizza for Tim McVeigh, or the landscaper for David Koresh, what should their sentence be? What if we find the maid that worked for Ted Bundy, or Charles Manson’s tattoo artist?
Why stop there, lets prosecute anyone in a 6 degrees of separation from bin Lauden, instead of Kevin Bacon.
Lets see, GW Bush is great (kissing) friends with the royal Saudi family, which the bin Laudens are members of, so there are 3 degrees of separation from GW Bush AND GHW Bush, so under this logic, both should be tried as material supporters of terrorism.
Fun game =)
August 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pmAttorney General Michael Mukasey argued the U.S. should be able to imprison detainees “for the duration of the conflict” with “al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated organizations.”
thus ensuring the duration of the conflict…
August 7th, 2008 at 5:17 pmSo basically Hamdans sentence is x + 5,5 years where x is duration of a war against an abstract phenomenon as defined by the regime who holds him captive?
August 7th, 2008 at 5:26 pmWell this certainly will send a strong message to OBL’s paperboy…
August 7th, 2008 at 5:39 pmWith any luck, the U.S. will be a lawful nation, again, once Mr. Hamdan’s sentence is served. But I still can’t get over the lack of outrage directed at Bushco for announcing they intend to defy the rulings of ANY court.
I’m really getting sick of asking, “WTF did they do now”, every effing day!
August 7th, 2008 at 5:53 pmWell, for what it is worth, he’s getting credit for time served, so his sentence will be done in a few months. Note here.
But yeah, he can still be held indefinitely for as long as the US Government wants. So he’ll be a free man, locked up in jail.
Wow, great going there re-defining “freedom”.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm“Mr. Hamdan, you’ve served your time. As a result you’re free to stay here and continue the forced feedings. You’re free from the hard work of chewing.”
August 7th, 2008 at 9:07 pmPity OBL’s manicurist, eh?
August 8th, 2008 at 12:20 am.
I can hear it now…
“But, but, but… they’ll get lawyers and seek justice.”
Oh, Cheney already argued this point because, as we all know, like the child molesting parent, they too will hold the child at home for fear of authorities being alerted.
.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:43 am.
Holding people indefinitely, beyond their time served(if properly convicted) is antithetical to American Rule of Law. This can happen to anyone these people in the US Government seek to silence.
Today, it is mainly foreigners with a US citizen thrown in to remind us all of our place. Who will it be next time… a few foreigners sprinkled in to make us think that it isn’t us, our way of life, our FREEDOMS that they truly hate. Why else would the Highest Officials of our Nation and Justice system seek such perversions?
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August 8th, 2008 at 1:48 amYou weren’t tipped off by international kidnapping, torture and loss of Habeas Corpus - putting civil liberties in the trash ? How about bald-faced lying to Congress and the people while leaning on intel to produce bogus ‘assessments’ to ‘justify ‘pre-emptive war’ ( with air strikes ) against an emotion ?
August 8th, 2008 at 10:47 amHey, if they let him out in 5 months, he could be Cheney’s driver!
August 8th, 2008 at 12:02 pm