Evidence in Terror Cases Said to Be in Chaos

[cal04]

Source: Washington Post

Military Officials Reject Ex-Prosecutor's Charges

A former military prosecutor said in a declaration filed in federal court yesterday that the system of handling evidence against detainees at Guantanamo Bay was so chaotic that it was impossible to prepare a fair and successful prosecution.

Darrel Vandeveld, a former lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, filed the declaration in support of a petition seeking the release of Mohammed Jawad, an Afghan who has been held at the military prison for six years. Jawad was a juvenile when he was detained in Kabul in 2002 after a grenade attack that severely wounded two U.S. Special Forces soldiers and their interpreter.

Vandeveld, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the lead prosecutor against Jawad until he asked to be relieved of his duties last year, citing a crisis of conscience. He said the case has been riddled with problems, including alleged physical and psychological abuse of Jawad by Afghan police and the U.S. military, as well as reliance on evidence that was later found to be missing, false or unreliable.

Vandeveld said in a phone interview that the "complete lack of organization" affected nearly all cases at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The evidence is often so disorganized, he said, "it was like a stash of documents found in a village in a raid and just put on a plane to the U.S. Not even rudimentary organization by date or name."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

[okiru109]

1. they prolly only documented the confessions in of the TORTURE interigations

and that ain't good anymore with the evil doers on their way out

[seemslikeadream]

3. This is no joke

sorry I didn't mean to say that to you. It is just a general statement from georgie

[okiru109]

14. you know they are sweating it...

i hope the dems have all their ducks lined up

[Fearless]

2. What? There was evidence?

[stillcool]

6. George Bush is looking under his desk...

[Fearless]

7. Oh, I thought he was looking for Lincoln's gold.

[Journeyman]

4. Yet another reason why "habeas corpus" serves both the defense *and* the prosecution. . .

[Pirate Smile]

5. This is one of the complete disasters that Bush is dropping in Obama's lap. A complete and total

FUBAR/Cluster F#$k for any court to deal with in responsible way.

"Vandeveld said in a phone interview that the "complete lack of organization" affected nearly all cases at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The evidence is often so disorganized, he said, "it was like a stash of documents found in a village in a raid and just put on a plane to the U.S. Not even rudimentary organization by date or name."

....
He said the evidence was scattered throughout databases, in desk drawers, in vaguely labeled containers or "simply piled on the tops of desks" of departed prosecutors.

"I further discovered that most physical evidence that had been collected had either disappeared" or had been stored in unknown locations, he said."

[aquart]

9. No physical evidence?????

Am I the only one who sees a false arrest lawsuit?

[sce56]

11. The term "Kangaroo Court" sure seems to apply here n/t

[Politicalboi]

8. They should either let them go

Or have Bush/Cheney pay for their legal costs with "Our" their own money.

[PSPS]

10. This is because they never expected there to be any real "prosecutions"

The idea, which was successful to a disgusting degree, was to simply hold them for the duration of their lives. Of course, many had their lives shortened considerably when we tortured them to death. But I'm sure they taped it so bush could watch it with his hand pumping his dick.

[bottomtheweaver]

12. Oops, nobody is supposed to go there.

Looks like somebody goofed at the ministry of propaganda, I mean the DHS.

[slipslidingaway]

13. K&R n/t

[okiru109]

15. K&R

The neoCONs better be shaking in their boots in anticipation of the inevitable shit-storm gathering on the horizon and headed their way.

[SpiralHawk]

16. republicon fail freaks...pathetic

just pathetic...can't do anything properly...