Judge Grants Obama Request to Suspend Gitmo Trial

[tekisui]

Source: AP

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba – A judge on Wednesday quickly granted President Barack Obama's request to suspend the war crimes trial of a young Canadian in what may be the beginning of the end for the Bush administration's system of trying alleged terrorists.

The judge, Army Col. Patrick Parrish, issued a one-sentence written order for the 120-day continuance, without even holding a hearing on the question. Another judge was expected to rule later Wednesday on a similar motion to suspend the trial of five men charged in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Prosecutors submitted the motions just hours after Obama's inauguration at the direction of the president and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

U.S. military prosecutor Clay Trivett said all pending cases should be suspended because a review of the military commissions system may result in significant changes. Obama has said he will close Guantanamo and many expect he will scrap the special war crimes court and direct that cases be prosecuted in the U.S.

The 120-day suspension "has the practical effect of stopping the process, probably forever," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler, Omar Khadr's defense lawyer.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090121/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_guantanamo_sept11_trial

[Maven]

1. Excellent!

K/R

[Beetwasher]

2. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet !!!!!!!!!!!!

Halleluah!!!!!!!!!

[TTUBatfan2008]

3. Now what?

I really don't think there's a right answer to this thing. You can't just let them go free. Some of them are actual terrorists, including the guy who is believed to be the mastermind of 9/11. We've got to end the torture, but you can't just let all of these people go free. I'm glad he's taking 4 months to think it over and come up with some kind of plan.

[Spazito]

4. How about using the same legal system Clinton used to prosecute those who...

were responsible for the first attack on the Twin Towers in 1993? It worked fine then and it will work now. If there is CREDIBLE evidence against any of these 'detainees', charge them and then prove beyond a reasonable doubt they are guilty of the charges.

[tekisui]

5. He is taking the four months to try them in the correct courts.

Most will be tried in federal courts. If they are found innocent, they are returned home. Guilty, they are sentenced. Others will face war crimes trials in military courts, but they will be tried and dealt with legally.

Those who were tortured, cannot have information or confessions gained through torture allowed in court.

If I recall correctly, there are less than a hundred inmates still in Gitmo, maybe 50 or 60.

[TTUBatfan2008]

6. So I guess the difference...

between how they are currently being tried and how he wants to have them tried is the use of information obtained through torture? The current military trials were allowing the use of that information whereas Obama doesn't want to. This is a tough situation. I do want fair trials. I just hope the engagement of torture doesn't ruin our chance to bust some of these criminals. I'm pretty sure they have enough evidence on the so called 9/11 mastermind WITHOUT torturing him. He practically admitted his own guilt back when 9/11 happened. It would be great if Obama can get him convicted WITHOUT resorting to torture like the Bush administration.

[sampsonblk]

7. Good

Its a step in the right direction.