The latest feature at Watching America.com is a piece translated from French in Le Temps of Switzerland, Five Inmates of Guantanamo Sentenced in Paris
The French have sentenced five out of six inmates for “criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise”
These convictions are significant as, according to the New York Times, a month ago only ten inmates had been charged with any crime, and only one convicted. These numbers compare with the number of detainees said by the Pentagon to have resumed hostile activities against the United States after release – at least 30.
What makes this Swiss article particularly interesting is that it appears that not only the American intelligence services – but also the French – are taking advantage of the huge legal loophole that is Guantanamo. The lack of legality has been exploited in ways that have caused inmates to incriminate themselves – if only to leave the camp.
French agents visited the detainees in Cuba by pretending to be diplomats from the embassy.”They came to see us three times between January 2002 and January 2004, says Mourad Benchellali, one of the five convicted (see below). They told us they would bring us to France if we answered their questions. “I started to wonder when they showed me a album-photos of supposed terrorists that was the same as that used by the Americans.”
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.