Rumsfeld: Ex-Detainee Back As Terrorist
Tue Mar 9, 4:56 PM ET
WASHINGTON - A terrorist suspect formerly held at the Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has reverted to terror, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday.
Rumsfeld said he didn't recall specifics about the suspect, and defense officials later said they were unsure if they could release any.
"I've been told by senior people in this department, that of the people that have been released, we know of at least one who's gone back to being a terrorist," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon (news - web sites).
Of more than 600 people originally held at Guantanamo, 105 are no longer there. Eighty-eight have been freed, and 17 have been turned over to their native countries.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=693&e=10&u=/ap/20040309/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/guantanamo_detaineeInteresting... Here's the link to the transcript:
http://www.dod.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040309-secdef0523.htmlThere are two parts where this comes up. Rumsfeld was talking about the released prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, why they were released, and why it took two years.
Rumsfeld-
"Of the 105 some have been transferred -- I don't know, these five and I guess 12 others were transferred into the custody of the governments that they carry passports for, and the others were just let go; they were on their own recognizance. We do know already, I believe -- at least, let me put it this way: I've been told by senior people in this department that of the people that have been released we know of at least one who has gone back to being a terrorist. So life isn't perfect. (Laughs.) In other words, you can make mistakes in evaluating these people. Let's hope that none of these do." (quoting from transcript)
Later, he was asked to clarify.
<snip>
Pam?
Q: You mentioned earlier about a terrorist who had gone back to being a terrorist. Could you tell us what country he's from, what organization, and what activities constitute being a terrorist?
SEC. RUMSFELD: I can't. I can't.
Q: Could you at least describe the activities?
SEC. RUMSFELD: I can't --
Q: Because I think we're going to go back and report this, but I'd like to have a little bit more information.
SEC. RUMSFELD: I can't give you any more information because I don't -- I've forgotten. I was told one day that this happened. And why don't you talk to Larry about it and see if we know whether it's public or not. But it has happened.
Q: But he's not one of the 12 that was returned to those countries to be held, he's one of the ones who was set free --
SEC. RUMSFELD: I don't even know that. I know he was in the total of the 100-plus, 105 or whatever it is. Whether he was in the 12 or the 88, I don't know.
<snip>
Comment: This appears to be another case of planting a story in the media, without any real evidence, for the purpose of building a case for why the Bush Administration is continuing to hold people in Guantanamo Bay. "I've forgotten?" I thought the phrase was, "I don't recall." Maybe Rumsfeld thought it needed an update from the Reagan years.
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