U.S. drops terror charges against 5 at Guantanamo but still won't release them

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1235129,CST-NWS-gitmo22.article

WAR ON TERROR | He claims military withholds evidence

October 22, 2008

BY ANDREW O. SELSKY

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico---- The U.S. military abruptly dropped charges against five Guantanamo Bay detainees, including one who allegedly plotted to detonate a ''dirty bomb'' in the U.S., after a prosecutor accused the military of suppressing evidence that could have helped clear them.

But despite the decision, announced Tuesday, there are no plans to free the men. New trial teams are taking another look at the evidence, the military said, and after consulting with intelligence agencies will recommend whether to reinstate charges.

That means the administration of the next U.S. president will probably get to decide what to do with the cases, including that of Binyam Mohamed, accused of plotting with U.S. citizen Jose Padilla to set off a radioactive bomb and fill apartments with natural gas to blow up buildings.

Padilla was sentenced in Miami to more than 17 years in prison on charges of supporting terrorism after the ''dirty bomb'' allegations were discarded.

Lawyer Clive Stafford Smith has gone to U.S. and British civilian courts to obtain evidence that Mohamed, an Ethiopian who moved to Britain as a teenager, was tortured and falsely admitted to crimes to halt his agony.

[madokie]

1. This one paragraph is so telling

But despite the decision, announced Tuesday, there are no plans to free the men. New trial teams are taking another look at the evidence, the military said, and after consulting with intelligence agencies will recommend whether to reinstate charges.

I wish for bushco, all of them, a long and un-joyous life, nothing more nothing less.