Chief Defense Counsel for Guantanimo Detainees, Colonel Dwight Sullivan, Speaks to ACLU-MD
By Skip Conover, Section News
Chief Defense Counsel at Guantanimo comments on the situation at Gauntanimo. He was not speaking for the Administration or the Department of Defense. What he talks about is truly shameful!
On March 18, 2007, Col. Dwight Sullivan, Chief Defense Counsel for Detainees at Guantanimo, was invited to speak after a screening of "The Road to Guantanimo," organized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and Enoch Pratt Central Library. The documentary covers the experiences of three detainees, who have been released after quite an ordeal.
Col. Sullivan's remarks are available for listening at The Words Matter Radio Network, in the "On Demand" stream. You will need to look down the list to the bottom item. Some of the key ideas discussed in this presentation were: Track 1: Guantanimo was selected because it is "beyond the law"--American law, that is. Track 2: The new system for military tribunals for detainees is described by Col. Sullivan as "The New Broken System." He points out that a detainee can potentially be sentenced to death based on hearsay evidence, coerced statements, with no independent corroboration. None of these would be allowed in other American courts. Also, this system applies only to foreigners, and not to American citizens. Why did the American Congress approve such a statute? Whisper who dares! Track 3: Gives examples, from the public record, of detainee abuse at Guantanimo. Track 4: Col. Sullivan asserts that treatment in this war is unlike treatment in previous American wars. I agree, based on my personal experiences. Track 5: Col. Sullivan describes "admissions" acquired under outrageous duress.
Track 6: Some detainees were captured and turned over to American forces because of bounties. Several, mostly Pakistanis and Saudis, have been approved for release, but have not yet been released. |