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First video of Guantanamo interrogation released
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by mchawk | July 15, 2008 at 03:09 am
1614 views | 68 Recommendations | 28 comments
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The first interrogation footage to be released from Guantanamo Bay: video of a weeping Canadian teenager being interviewed over the killing of a US soldier.
This seven hour video is our first real glimpse into a closed-world.
The footage, shown in a Channel 4 bulletin
In the video, a Canadian Security Intelligence Services agent is shown grilling Khadr, 15, about events leading up to his capture as an enemy combatant. Khadr, a Canadian citizen, is accused of throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. soldier during a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan.
The video shows Khadr weeping, his face buried in his hands.
At one point, Khadr tells them he was tortured while at the U.S. military detention center at the Bagram air base in Afghanistan, where he was first detained after his arrest in 2002. He raises his orange shirt to show the wounds he sustained.
The video provides insight into the effects of prolonged interrogation and detention on the Guantanamo prisoner. The seven-hour video, taken over four days of interviews, was originally marked "Secret/No Foreign."
More detail on the prisoner from an article in the Independent last month:
Omar Khadr, a Canadian national, was 15 at the time of his alleged crimes. His defence team said his age should see him treated as a victim and rehabilitated, rather than prosecuted as a war criminal. He has had no access to education while at Guantanamo, where he has spent more than a quarter of his life.
Human rights organisations have voiced concerns over Mr Khadr's treatment since his arrival at Guantanamo nearly six years ago. Despite his age at the time, Mr Khadr was never treated as a juvenile inmate. He went into the adult camp, rather than Camp Iguana, a camp for minors. His case has also prompted an official protest from the UN's Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy.
Mr Khadr was detained by US soldiers after a firefight at a compound in a small village near Khost, eastern Afghanistan, in July 2002. He is accused of throwing a grenade that killed US Delta Force soldier, Christopher Speer.
After being shot at least twice through the chest and all but blinded in his left eye, Mr Khadr was taken to a US prison at Bagram, air base, where he was interrogated. He was sent to Guantanamo Bay in October 2002 and faces charges of murder, attempted murder, spying, conspiracy and providing material aid for terrorism.
Mr Khadr suffers from a number of ailments, mostly stemming from the injuries he suffered during the battle before his capture. His defence team, the only people with regular access to Mr Khadr, says spending his adolescent years in Guantanamo without access to education has also taken a toll on his educational development and mental health. Access to his family has been irregular.
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mchawk
Maidenhead, United Kingdom
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (28)
at 03:42 on July 15th, 2008
If one of the Editors would like to flag this as "Needs More News" - this is just off the wire - details are limited. I'll add more as they come
at 04:31 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff. I saw the video as well, and Canadians were asked if Canada should bring Kadhr home. This was met with a resounding majority saying NO! Let the US due process do it's job. Kadhr's family still in Canada still maintain tie with al Qaeda, so it is not like the family has learned anything, regardless of Lefty Politicians who state bring "Welcome Back Kadhr Home". I for one agree with the majority of Canadians and say leave him there. A sixteen year old, though a young adult, still knows right from wrong. To whine about coming home to Imperialist, Capiltalist Kuffar,Canada, speaks of his hypocrisy in looking for freedom in a country which he and his family were hell bent in killing, if not now, later.
at 04:34 on July 15th, 2008
Hi Barry - thanks for the flag - and thank you the Canadian insight.
This is a story the press will play emotively. On one hand, there's human rights violations. On the other hand, there are dead servicemen. My vote is usually with the men and women who are willing to serve - nomatter what my opinions on the war might be.
at 19:52 on July 15th, 2008
Not to promote my story, but when some read about the background of this terrorist family, perhaps it will change their tune.I strongly agree the boy should be set free and the Mother should take his place.
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/canada-mommie-dearest-khadr-family-anticipate-viewing-video-guantanamo-son
at 04:39 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 19:48 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Keep in mind though, that he is Canadian and he is a child under canadian law!
All there is against him are allegations no prove! Further a Soldier that dies in combat is not the same than a Civilian that is being killed by a Soldier or a Civilian reacting in self defence or out of fear!
A Child being under the influence of his father can not even if guilty be held accountable!
at 07:21 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff. It's an horrific story! But only one of many!
Gerry
at 07:43 on July 15th, 2008
Mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:55 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 08:10 on July 15th, 2008
What human rights violations, give me an example.
at 08:16 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, thanks for sharing this story. As the video very clearly demonstrates, Canada is far from being able to pass the buck on Guantanamo, Afghanistan and the war on terror -- and Omar Khadr's case offers an important insight into the world of detention and interrogation. Very interesting.
at 08:27 on July 15th, 2008
Who says? What should we do Mr. Moonbat if you catch an enemy that killed a soldier on the battle field? Arrest him, what? Read him his rights? Why does this killer have any due process? Are we at war or is this just some cop and robbers operation?
at 08:37 on July 15th, 2008
There are the Rules of War to consider - sadly, these were drafted after WW1 and many of them are just crazy - like not being able to stab someone with a dirty bayonet, in case their wound gets infected - like that's really what you're worrying about in the heat of battle.
There's also The Geneva Convention to consider. Sadly, Gitmo operates outside of this, thanks to a variety of legal loopholes to do with its location. As I understand it, if you declare yourself to be a combatant, then the enemy who captures you is bound by law to treat you as a POW and treat you according to the Convention. Needless to say, it gets broken all the time by pretty much every country hat goes to war.
Although "due process" isn't always applicable, the Convention at least gives us something to aspire to.
at 08:51 on July 15th, 2008
It is funny how we are expected, and rightfully so, to adhear to the rules of the Geneva Convention yet the Muslim Extremists could give two craps about a right or a law. Fighting someone who could care less about killing innocent women and children is a difficult task and considering the circumstances we as a country can only do so much, why are we as a society the ones under the microscope when it comes to possible violations when the war the Islmo Facists fight is itself direct assult on the Geneva Convention's intentions. America is not the problem and those who say they are confused and derranged.
at 09:25 on July 15th, 2008
CV - I completely agree with your first point - we're not on a level playing field.
One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. All war is murder. Neither of these are comfortable truths. Perhaps there is no moral authority in war and we're just kidding ourselves that there is. This has less to do with taking sides (East/West, Christian/Islam, Left/Right) and more about doing the right thing.
But if we - and by "we" I mean the West as a whole - if we do not hold ourselves to a higher standard, even one that is unattainable high, then who are heroes and who are the villains?
at 17:06 on July 15th, 2008
Incredibly well put. Thank you.
at 08:48 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff.This is a really important news item because it involves all Canadians and Americans whether we speak up or not. By the UN definition Khadr was a child soldier. Do we condone torture and setting up prison camps in foreign countries to circumvent the rule of law? If we do, then how can we retain the moral high ground? Consider the child soldiers in Africa. They admit to atrocities and yet the lucky ones come here as refugees. However reprehensible his parents actions are, Khadr, still a child at 15, should not be held responsible for them. We have to remember as well that the truth about what happened in Afganistan that day has been muddied.
at 14:46 on July 15th, 2008
Barbara, Khadr is now 19 years old, soon to be twenty.
at 09:17 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff. Of course they are going to release an interiration, "can I get you some water, are you comfortable? "
All spin and I am a republican
at 09:40 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I like this story. It's good stuff.
It's an awful video - I could barely watch it - very upsetting.
at 14:51 on July 15th, 2008
I agree, of course upsetting Amy, as the video was taken when he was all of 15. As I said before as a Dad, my heart ached, but as a former soldier, the fact is we are to adhere to the Geneva Convention, Khadr is lucky he was not a Canadian soldier over there and captured by Al Qaeda, cause we all know they never adhere to the Geneva Convention, and execute you so horribly, you are still alive as they watch you bleed from your throat. Now who is barbaric? At least he is alive, and may soon realise freedom, a freedom into his mothers arms, a mother who sent him there to be a child soldier. Now you tell me, isn't being released to a abusive parent who would glorify your death killing others, more upsetting?
at 14:54 on July 15th, 2008
Good point - I never thought of that.
at 15:15 on July 15th, 2008
Hence why when I see a report of OH POOR ME, !!! I check the background behind it, usually I find the story, such as this media story, never, ever tells the whole story, Hence why sometimes people take exception to my Opinion pieces such as my Mommie Dearest story, because let's face it, Facts are not something most want to believe.
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/canada-mommie-dearest-khadr-family-anticipate-viewing-video-guantanamo-son#comment-127076
at 17:04 on July 15th, 2008
mchawk, I have been following Guantanamo Bay and thank you for getting this story out! The fact is, no human being can be denied their rights, yet US authorities flagrantly and repeatedly participate in illegal detention, torture and denial of human rights at Guantanamo Bay under the Bush Administration. Further, and with respect, not only have numerous servicemen died as a result of the propaganda of 9/11 to further efforts of war under the guise of 'terrorism', hundreds of thousands of innocents have died as well.
You may want to drop by my channel -- I posted 2 stories about Guantanamo Bay that may interest you. Thanks again!
at 17:03 on July 17th, 2008
For the people who love torture...you should be aware that the methods were taken from the Chinese manual on how to force false confessions from victims.
And don't we lose ground on the argument that we are the more humane combatant in this war?
I can give you examples.
South America, we overthrew how many governments? Columbia, Nicaragua....
Middle East: Iranian elected president was overthrown to install the Shah. Israel and U.S. funded Hamas to combat the PLO. Iraq, U.N. sanctions led to the death of over half a million Iraqis. Use of depleted uranium shells led to Gulf War syndrome.
And stop using that aid and comfort crap. It is such a joke. I know numerous veterans and soldiers that feel the same way. And a DOD poll among top generals was evenly split on torture. So are you calling half of the U.S. military's generals cowards?
at 17:07 on July 17th, 2008
Barry Artiste, are you talking about deaths we directly caused, or by proxy with sanctions and implanted dictators. I can give you a few sources, such as World Health Organization, CIA studies, and United Nations reports.
at 17:12 on July 17th, 2008
What was the kids crime, fighting U.S. forces? We are at war morons, what do you think they are going to do. He was a combatant, therefore he should be treated as such and given such rights. I am a soldier, and served in both areas, and would never deny the rights of combatants. What do you think happens at war, people shoot and try to kill each other.
And I would love for you to throw your appeaser, liberal crap at me. I have medals on my chest that show that I served my country in numerous wars and campaigns. I may not believe in our cause, but I believe that we will one day became honorable and fair again. That day is Jan 21, 2009.
at 17:33 on July 17th, 2008
This is the most summarized story I have found.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/world/middleeast/04ACLU.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSISL26086420080717?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060322/ai_n16145955
http://globalpolicy.igc.org/security/issues/iraq/occupation/report/7atrocities.htm
I will be waiting for your retractions, Barry.