Al-Jazeera reporter imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay to sue George Bush

[Snazzy]

Source: UK Guardian


Al-Jazeera reporter imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay to sue George Bush

Sami al-Haj – freed in May after over six years – to launch legal action along with other prisoners against former US president

Gwladys Fouché in Oslo
guardian.co.uk, Friday 17 July 2009 07.25 BST

An al-Jazeera reporter who was imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay plans to launch a joint legal action with other detainees against former US president George Bush and other administration officials, for the illegal detention and torture he and others suffered at the hands of US authorities.

The case will be initiated by the Guantánamo Justice Centre, a new organisation open to former prisoners at the US base, which will set up its international headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, later this month.

...

Al-Haj, who is back at work for the Arabic satellite channel in Qatar, is in frequent contact with Guantánamo detainees, both past and present.

"Torture is continuing in Guantánamo ," al-Haj said. "Obama needs to close Guantánamo immediately."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/17/guantanamo-bay-al-jazeera

[chill_wind]

1. Wow. Poor George. Freeps unreccing this like crazy, or what? K&R.

[BeGoodDoGood]

15. Just Imagine...

Having to root for an Al Jazeera reporter over the former president of the United States.

[BlueMTexpat]

28. Al Jazeera's reporting, especially in English, beats any of the US

M$M hands down ... which is probably why this man was put into Guantanamo in the first place. Because he was trying to report the truth.

We're not just talking about any "former" President of the United States, but of THE one whose administration, deliberately and with malice aforethought, totally disregarded any Rule of Law that did not suit their own nefarious and self-serving purposes.

[No Elephants]

39. I hear similar things about Al Jazeera rom people who have satellite TV.

[irislake]

40. I'm surprised he got out alive.

This should be good.

[pocoloco]

44. They have killed other reporters!

Bombed stations!

[Douglas Carpenter]

53. I absolutely agree. Al Jazeera English is by far the most balanced 24 hour news network - by far!

Watch Live - Now

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[Raster]

51. I have NO PROBLEM rooting for an Al Jazeera reporter that was held ILLEGALLY over the

allegedly "former president of the United States" that initiated the ILLEGAL and IMMORAL war and held prisoners in a manner completely against the Geneva Accords. No fucking problem at all. And quite frankly, I hope the Al Jazeera reporter wins his lawsuit and wins big.

George W. Bush*: NEVER lawfully elected, only illegally SELECTED!:kick:

[SalviaBlue]

55. Just Imagine indeed.

Our former president is a piece of shit criminal. I imagine him rotting in jail for his crimes along with all of his accomplices.

[chill_wind]

34. Seriously, this was in negative numbers last night

when it first appeared.

:shrug:

[grantcart]

36. Is there anyway to see the breakdown of rec and unrecs?

This thread should come close to the 'gold standard' of DU as possible.

[fascisthunter]

56. the Mods can see who recs and who unrecs

[Demeter]

2. Good For Them. Like to See George Sweat

Then we'll know if there's any justice left in this wreck of a country.

[nonsequitur]

63. ditto on that one.

[EFerrari]

3. Go Sami! Kick his ass!

I'm SO happy to hear this. They almost killed this man about three times.

[Norrin Radd]

4. kr

[ClayZ]

5. K and R

[Xipe Totec]

6. K&R

[clixtox]

7. We tortured this journalist, you and me! This dispicable crime...

and untold thousands more, are/were done "in our name".

Sorta makes us appear to be horrid, inhumane enablers.

Which "we" are!

Somehow a K & R just doesn't seem to be enough!

Some genuine outrage and resolve to end this episode and do what can be done to lesson the possibility for a recurrence by us or anybody.

Only justice and compensation for all of the victims and severe punishment for the perpetrators and their chain of command, all the way to the top!

This is mandatory and the only path to a more civilized future.

[derby378]

17. Sorry, but this is so much masochistic BS

I agree with the severe punishment for the torturers and their enablers, but I didn't torture any of these people. I didn't vote for the schmucks who said it was okay to torture them. None of this was done "in my name." I wouldn't allow it.

[DavidDvorkin]

18. Agreed.

[MUAD_DIB]

19. Damn strait! I never voted for the fraud *, and I never believed

in his fucked up invasion of Iraq - let alone condoning torture!

[orleans]

52. but the problem is that that fuckhead "represented" this country

and you know/understand how that goes.

[MUAD_DIB]

84. He was a SCOTUS pick. He never represented me!

[jhrobbins]

49. As a German American, this reminds me hearing about German

relatives that were excoriated about the things that happened in Europe, just under their noses and they and millions of other Germans would say - either truthfully or not -' I didn't know anything about ___________ (fill in the blank with Auschwitz, Bergin Belsen, Sobibor, Buchenwald, Dachau, Ravensbruck, Treblinka and others I don't know the names of), and how many of these Germans do we say to, 'You should have known and you are complicit'. Seems sorta like the same thing, huh?

Not so easy now, is it?

[derby378]

57. How so?

I daresay the White Rose Society often brought up arguments akin to "Not in our name" during the Third Reich, which naturally brought official persecution and suppression of the movement from Hitler's goons. Same thing here.

[rhett o rick]

69. So you feel you did everything in your power to stop the horrible things YOUR government did?

Honestly? If so, you are no better than the right wing nut job enablers.

[jhrobbins]

85. That is sorta the definition of a resistance. It just rings a little hollow to me, that's all

It's not me I didn't do anyhting, don't blame me , I was just doing my job, minding my business. I'm sorry that 12 million people were killed in gas chambers, but it wasn't me that dropped the Zyclon b in. Come on. If we had the Americans that we have now, back in 1776, we would be celebrating the Queen's birthday coming up.

[rhett o rick]

68. So you take no responsibility for what your government did? You did all you could to prevent it?

What exactly did you do? Write an email or two? Yes, that absolves you from guilt.

You and I and every single American are equality guilty of the atrocities that occurred via our government. The fact that you didn't vote for bush, isn't near enough.

Rationalization is the key to happiness. I guess you're happy. I sure the hell am not.

[derby378]

73. Don't be so melodramatic...

What are you suggesting I should have done?

Your snarkiness cannot undo the fact that you and you alone are responsible for your convictions and values. I'm sure you don't blame American schoolchildren for not doing all they could to prevent Bush's atrocities, right?

Just take a step back from the self-flagellation procession to take stock of your own heart, please. What would you have done to stop the horrors of the Bush administration?

[rhett o rick]

83. More power to you if you are comfortable with yourself.

Rationalization is the key to happiness.

Personally, I feel that I did not do all I could to stop the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi children.

[derby378]

86. Again, what WOULD you have done?

I'm sure a lot of progressives were tempted by the John Wilkes Booth route, but we tend to have too much respect for the rule of law to seriously consider such a drastic act.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

27. no, dammit! And enough with the unflattering "bleeding heart liberal" charicature

There's no mea culpa here...

I'm no more responsible for the Criminal Cabal's activities than non-complicit Russians under Stalin were responsible for his totalitarian regime.

That's what tyrants are about--- doing what they want and suppressing dissenters.

The "bleeding heart liberal" charicature not only makes us look like dorks, but is disempowering to anyone who embraces it. How can you do anything assertive or productive if you're busy wringing your hands and sobbing about how bad you are?

[crim son]

60. I agree with you.

100%

[TommyO]

62. No, we didn't!

Most of us here didn't vote for Bush, and we spoke out against him and his crimes at every opportunity. Do not blame us for his crimes.

[orbitalman]

8. GOOD! I wish them success... and

I hope this action sends George to his own poorhouse; the one of his own making.

[Soylent Brice]

9. K&R

[Mira]

10. K&R

[fasttense]

11. Seems we have our own murdering, torturous Pinochet in George W. the bush.

"The legal action may be modeled on an action against General Augusto Pinochet, who was arrested in the UK in 1998 at the request of a Spanish prosecutor for the alleged murders of Spanish citizens in Chile under his dictatorship.

Al-Haj said: "I spoke to my lawyer, who advises me to do this in Europe. The courts do not have the power to bring by force, but at least they can't visit European countries. If they do, would catch them and send them to court."

[L. Coyote]

21. Apple falls near tree

George Bush Sr. May Face Charges: Conspiring to Kidnap and Murder Political Activists
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2459135

I hope some day true history will be possible in the USA.

[NoSheep]

29. Just went to the thread you linked to

wow. Somehow I missed that one way back then. I have such a hard time keeping my head from popping right off...just exploding... when I think about the horrible things that family has done and what they've been able to get by with...

[babylonsister]

12. Where can we donate for this worthy cause? Or write to offer our

best to Sami?

One way or the other, I hope karma ensnares the blivet.

[KaryninMiami]

42. Great idea- maybe we can start collecting funds for a fabulous international legal team

combining the best minds from around the world. If we can't get them tried here, then let's do it over there. Globally has far more each anyway- I'm all for it. Perhaps we can get Amnesty International, PFAW and a few other powerful progressive activist groups behind this.

[BunkerHill24]

75. I would love to donate to his legal fund....count me in

K&R

[akbacchus_BC]

78. BSister, that was my first thought, where do I donate for this worthy

cause? Reading the entire article, they are also setting up a London-based system for this. I sure hope they have good lawyers who could nail Bush and his cohorts to war crimes. PBO has too much to deal with right now and he sure could use the help from other sources.

I am not a prayerful person but this time I pray that justice is done!

[bulloney]

13. Probably part of the reason why Cheney wanted to torture them to death. Dead men can't sue.

[N.Y. to Paris]

14. To the Cleaners......

I hope they take his thoroughly lame and wretched ass to the cleaners. The only thing he knows is death and money.

[derby378]

16. Torture in Guantánamo? Impossible!

Obama banned torture, remember? First thing he did when he set foot in the Oval Office.

Yeah, I know. I'm mad, too. Torture is still legal, Guantánamo is still open, and those responsible for all this have not been brought to justice. Yet.

[L. Coyote]

20. K & R. Were will this suit be filed? Bush USAs are still in office!!

When will Obama clean up the DoJ?

[cap]

22. the DOJ and the Inspector General have been corrupted

that's why Obama has to move slowly. The very mechanism to clean up the joint has been defiled.

[L. Coyote]

23. They could have requested resignations of all Bush political appointees on day one.

Just as Bush did of all Clinton appointees. And then acting USAs take over, career professionals.

They could do this today, with one letter, in a few minutes.

[bahrbearian]

24. Your right, like Chimpy said

"When I move into the WH I'm going to give it a good clean scrubbing."

[BlueMTexpat]

67. The big problem is that many career professionals were forced out

and replaced by rabid RW neocons or fundies; it wasn't just the political appointees. Remember Ms Goodling at Justice and others there who basically determined who was hired and fired, those who were hired were not necessarily qualified in any balanced sense so long as they met the political litmus test ... there were people like her throughout all the executive agencies. IMO, there should be a commission to vet any person who was hired in the Federal Government from 2001-2008 because *'s administration thoroughly tainted the Civil Service, and the Foreign Service as well.
This was a quiet but very thorough takeover. It was the beginning of Cheney's 1000 Year Reich.

[EFerrari]

64. I don't think it will be filed in this country. World Court?

[katandmoon]

25. How quickly will OBAMA'S DOJ move to have this lawsuit thrown out?

[redqueen]

26. "Obama's" DOJ has no say in it.

:eyes:

[Stellar]

30. This whole thread is making my day

Thanks for posting!

[chill_wind]

70. Welcome to DU.

[Jack Rabbit]

31. K/R

Sue them into bankruptcy.

[FarrenH]

32. "against former US president Gwladys Fouché in Oslo"?

I did not know of that former US president.

[coffeenap]

33. So, is Cheney's plan to make Bush take the fall?

I think it has been his plan since before he became VP.

[Dystopian]

35. KandR

I hope I live long enough to see justice served.


peace~

[LaPera]

37. Can you fucking imagine being thrown in jail, no trial, by criminals like Bush/Cheney simply because

these republicans imperialist assholes don't like what you write and/or report...especially if it's the truth....They arrest you, label you a terroist with no proof (except they don't like that you write the truth) ship you off overseas to a foreign land (a U.S prison) where they torture people, no communication with the outside world, friends or family, simply because you write & report for a legitimate world news organization Al-Jazeera that the republican criminals don't want anyone to hear or read?

This is what the greedy hateful lying imperialistic sick, warmongering corporate republican fascist do if you get in their way of profits...either that or bring down your plane, "force" suicide, throw you in prision with no rights or just gun you down.

These greedy fucking republicans would rather gun you down, republicans despise our laws & Constitution get in the way of their stealing & imperialism). But the republicans steal our treasury, the republicans do the corporations dirty work (insurance corporations for one) and then they sexual hypocrites point fingers and lie, lie, lie that they care about the American workers as the corporation Walmart does...they see us all as peasants who should have no rights just work and die if you get sick and put reporters of color behind bars forever with no rights, without recognizing habeas corpus...they believe the old white male Christian deserves to rule the world...just watch the Supreme court hearings this past week...

Stupid ignorant fucking southern crackers!

Republicans are all lying greedy hateful sick motherfuckers...because if your a republican your republican ideology & agenda dictates it...

You can't cop-out and say there are good republicans. Because all "right-wingers, righties, GOP conservatives" all vote republican, and republican ideology is corporations over people, people should expect no help from the government, even though it's OUR tax dollars.

UNLESS your a corporation or wealthy (then they send out the military to help you steal around the world) imperialism, tax cuts for the rich, subsidies & bailouts for the incompetent, gouching corporations, while stealing our tax dollars for themselves, denying health care for all and offering only hate, hate & more hate...starting wars to steal more resources, corporations making billions off war machines, weapons and our soldiers dying, killing, maimed. While the greedy selfish republicans couldn't care less about helping the vets who make it through it all, telling all the sheep who'll listen that governments should not be there for handouts for the people, after soldiers & workers have used up their usefulness and the corporations have received our tax dollars to "help" them but not the people....Just listen to the republicans racist boss, pigman Limbaugh and hear him say it loud & clear everyday.

Sorry about the rant off subject, But I just woke up, thinking about all the lying selfish republican pigs and the absolute idiots who vote for the republicans who are con by them, Fox news & talk radio when it's really all about corporate profits, more & more & more and fuck everything else!

[Raster]

61. Rant on, my Brother, for you ARE NOT ALONE!

:toast:

[Enthusiast]

76. Don't forget the rest of the MSM

enablers. CNN and C-Span were nearly unwatchable today. Our side has no chance without a share of the media.

[Politicalboi]

38. Don't forget Cheney too

[No Elephants]

41. Recommended. Inconvenient Truth: They will sue the United State as well.

[Romulox]

46. The President cannot be held civilly liable for events relating to his official duties.

edit: In the US, I mean. The Swiss can make up whatever pretend jurisdiction they like, with the implied knowledge that there is no basis in law for such an assertion of jurisdiction.

[debunkthelies]

43. K&R

:applause:

[Xenotime]

45. This is great! Go after *!! We all support you!

[Vidar]

47. K&R

[Divine Discontent]

48. well Sami, based on who held you captive - you're more than likely innocent!

so I wish you well, wherever you are!

GEORGIE PORGIE --- your day in court will come, hopefully!

[choie]

50. oh how I wish I was an international rights lawyer...

would I volunteer in a heartbeat!!

[valerief]

54. K&R

[RedCloud]

58. K & R. Get that Prescott Bush offspring!

[mayahbird]

59. Good

Good for him Hope he wins the suit!

[knixphan]

65. K&R!

[pleah]

66. K&R

[Mari333]

71. could, like, the whole world sue him? nt

[harun]

72. I think the whole world wants to.

[akbacchus_BC]

79. Mari, that would be awesome and I bet he could get nailed from at

least one prisoner who was tortured!

[Mnemosyne]

74. Happy to be the 200th rec! n/t

[EFerrari]

77. This thread makes me so happy to be at DU.

:loveya:

:kick:

[akbacchus_BC]

80. +1

[chknltl]

81. If only this could be part of the 2009/10 Geneva Conventions

Well a pre-investigative part, one where the information gathered could bring about a need for a Nurnburg Style Tribunal in Switzerland. This trial would not have to have anyone but the BFEE lawyers in attendance if they even bothered to be there that is.

Even if nobody goes to jail, the 2009/10 Geneva Conventions could serve the basis of what signatory nations of this era deem war-crimes. Then signatory nations could possibly be called to task to take actions, economic or militarily if needs-be to halt FUTURE rogue governments from performing as the bfee has.

Furthermore something like this could fuel a worldwide barrage of economic sanctions against the US if we refused to be a signatory nation, AND if it were proven that our government under the leadership of the bush administration had authorized actual war-crimes which broke the original Geneva Conventions.

Well thats my musings after reading this. Flame away or not, I hope we DUers can at least agree that the world is justified in looking into the actions of the bfee. Regardless of weather we can or are unable to look into those war-crimes, the citizens of this world deserve the ability to air out their grievances in some sort of international tribunal. That tribunal needs worldwide media attention imo, to include at the very least, the attention of any liberal/progressive media we have here in the US. I would donate $$ to that before I would donate to pretty much anything else.

[FormerOstrich]

82. Good!

Furthermore, I think the citizens (or DU citizens anyway) of the US should sue Bush, Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, and numerous other POS neo-conservatives. Let's start recouping part of the monetary they have robbed us have because it will be a very long time before we can recover from the shame of it all.

[chucker47]

87. poor Al Jazeera reporter

This is funny. I guess GWB was down there at Gitmo torturing this man, giving orders to others to do the same. Another ridiculous outcome of the misrepresentations made about our treatment of prisoners at Gitmo.