Iraqi Prisoner Tied to Hezbollah Faces U.S. Military Charges
The Obama administration has approved military commission charges against a Lebanese man accused of helping kill United States troops in Iraq, expanding the scope of the current tribunal system to include a defendant who is not accused of being part of the war with Al Qaeda.
The defendant, Ali Musa Daqduq, is accused of being a Hezbollah operative and was the last detainee held by American forces in Iraq. He was turned over to Iraqi custody in December before they withdrew. On Jan. 3, military prosecutors swore out an eight-page charge sheet for Mr. Daqduq, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, accusing him of murder, perfidy, terrorism and espionage, among other war crimes.
A military spokesman, Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale, confirmed the charges and said the government was “working with Iraq to effect Daqduq’s transfer to a U.S. military commission consistent with U.S. and Iraqi law.”
“We are seeking the fastest possible way to bring him to justice,” he said.
full: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/world/middleeast/us-approves-military-tribunal-case-for-detainee.html
Earlier NY Times report about Daqduq (also by Charlie Savage): "Detainee in Iraq Poses a Dilemma as U.S. Exit Nears"
