Political justice

Former prosecutor testifies on political pressure at Guantánamo
By William Glaberson, Published: April 29, 2008
International Herald Tribune
GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba: The former chief prosecutor here has taken the witness stand on behalf of a prisoner and testified that top Pentagon officials put pressure on him about what cases to prosecute and what evidence to use.

The officer, Colonel Morris Davis of the air force, testified Monday that Pentagon officials had interfered with his work for political reasons. He said the officials had told him that charges against well-known prisoners "could have real strategic political value" and that there could be no acquittals.
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Testifying about his assertions for the first time, Davis said a senior Pentagon official who oversaw the military commissions, Brigadier General Thomas Hartmann of the air force reserve, had reversed a decision made by Davis and insisted that prosecutors proceed with evidence derived through waterboarding of prisoners and other aggressive interrogation methods.

Called to the stand by a navy defense lawyer and testifying before a military judge, Davis, in uniform, said Hartmann directed him last year to push war crimes cases at Guantánamo quickly. He said the general had been trying to give the system legitimacy before a new president took office. He testified that Hartmann had referred to the long difficulties for the Pentagon in operating the military commissions and said, "If we don't get some cases going before the election, this thing's going to implode."

When the Soviets did this, we called 'em show trials. It was widely recognized that they represented political theater, not the administration of justice. We rightly condemned the dirty Commies for these travesties.

At this point, I cannot see the point of continuing to hold any of the detainees at Guantanamo. Try them? No matter how scrupulously fair the trials might be from this point forward, W has so tainted the process that no guilty verdict can possibly be recognized by the international community.

There is simply no basis in law for holding these men any longer. Release 'em. Even the "baddest of the bad". We have no other honorable choice. Apologize to our allies for losing our moral bearings.

No, I do not expect this while W remains in office. But our next president has a choice.

Stop the madness.