CIA Files Found In Guantanamo Prison Cells – OpEd

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Classified U.S. government information was found in the cells of high-value detainees at the Guantanamo Bay military prison that houses the world’s most dangerous terrorists, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The alarming revelation comes just days after lawyers for an al-Qaeda operative—USS Cole bomber Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri—jailed at the facility tried convincing a military judge that monitoring detainees’ mail violates attorney-client privilege.

Representatives from the non-profit, public-interest group Judicial Watch covered the pretrial hearing at the U.S. Naval station in Cuba last week.

Ironically, a large portion of the two-day proceeding involved security measures put in place to ensure that contraband does not make it into the facility that houses 171 prisoners. Attorneys for al-Nashiri argued at length to convince the military tribunal judge hearing the case, Army Colonel James Pohl, that al-Nashiri’s mail not be monitored.

The admiral (David Woods) who runs the prison took the stand to explain that detainees’ legal mail is promptly marked after being identified and not read to preserve attorney-client privilege.

This was not satisfactory to al-Nashiri’s extensive legal team or the left-wing civil rights groups that attended the hearing in a top security courtroom built to try terrorists. Most mainstream media outlets were also critical of the screening process, which military officials say is necessary to intercept contraband before it gets in the hands of the prisoners.

Supporting the argument is this week’s announcement that an agent with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been criminally charged for repeatedly leaking classified information, including the identities of covert agency operatives involved in the capture and interrogation of terrorists, a story covered by the Law Enforcement Examiner.

Some of the materials were actually seized from the cells of Guantanamo detainees, according to the DOJ.

The disgraced CIA officer (John Kiriakou) divulged the classified information to journalists who, in turn, disclosed it to an investigator working for the taxpayer-funded defense team of an incarcerated terrorist. Authorities subsequently found some of the files, including photographs of certain government employees and contractors, in the cells of high-value detainees at the military prison.

Special thanks to Judicial Watch’s director of public affairs, Jill Farrell, for her continued help and valuable information.

Jim Kouri

Jim Kouri, CPP, formerly Fifth Vice-President, is currently a Board Member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, an editor for ConservativeBase.com, and he's a columnist for Examiner.com. In addition, he's a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com). Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.

3 thoughts on “CIA Files Found In Guantanamo Prison Cells – OpEd

  • January 28, 2012 at 9:59 pm
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    So Guatonamo has only 171 prisoners who have made all the world of difference to everyone. It must make it inconceivable to calculate the impact of terrorism in terms of all the money that is spent globally in terms of the hungry and destitute who attract no attention of this so called sane and civilised world.

    I am not sure if Lord Bacon said it or not but Lord Macaulay did quote him saying, “World’s three quarters of problems are created by few people of high intelligence with low desires.”

    How true the saying is? God bless

    Reply
  • January 29, 2012 at 2:17 am
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    Out of the hundreds of prisoners rounded up and taken to Gtmo, a tiny handful has ever been prosecuted for anything and those cases where all ludicrous, the least so being a guy who is serving life for making an Al Qaeda recruitment video.

    The only trial that made any sense was the one done in civilian court. At least the person was charged with actual terrorism.

    Years and years have been spent preparing for the big act, the trial of a few people suspected of having something to do with 9/11, all of them probably tortured for information.

    Why didn’t Obama put an end to this ludicrous system, and try people in proper courts if they have any evidence. By all means keep people detained if they pose a clear threat. Release the people who have been cleared for release under two Administrations, and in some cases the courts besides. Put them under strict security surveillance. Take them into the US if there’s a problem in their home country. Stop keeping people in prison because of what other people did or because of what the conceivably might do. The Pentagon “recidivism” reports were proven phony when they released data with them. So, they stopped releasing data, just numbers.

    Give some thought to the American Constitution and centuries of a fine tradition. Put an end to this shameful system, this complicit media silence or obedience, this endless fear and craven or cowardly politicians and politicians making votes off this horror.

    Reply
  • January 29, 2012 at 2:20 am
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    Corrections: Were instead of where. (first sentence)

    They instead of the. (second last sentence, second last para.)

    Reply

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