Living large at Gitmo
"...raising concerns among security officials that the terrorism suspects could pass sensitive data to terrorists in the future, according to U.S. officials."
Uh, yeah.
Will the self-deception and dhimmi idiocy never end?
"Gitmo suspects allowed laptops while in custody," by Bill Gertz at the Washington Times, March 19 (thanks to all who sent this in):
The Pentagon allowed five captured al Qaeda members currently held at the Guantanamo Bay prison to use laptop computers in detention, raising concerns among security officials that the terrorism suspects could pass sensitive data to terrorists in the future, according to U.S. officials.The computers, without Internet access, were provided to Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other suspected 9/11 conspirators at the prison at the U.S. naval base in Cuba after approval by senior Pentagon officials in September 2008.
The battery-powered laptops were kept in the detainees' cell areas, and limitations on their use were imposed, defense officials said. The practice continued until January, when charges against the five were temporarily dropped after Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced the men would be tried in civilian court, not by military commission.
Mr. Holder then backed off plans to hold trials in federal court in New York City and said this week that a decision on where to conduct the trials is expected in the coming weeks.
In addition to Mohammed, the other al Qaeda members who were given computers were Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi.
The computer access was granted by Guantanamo authorities before an Oct. 6, 2008, ruling by Marine Corps Col. Ralph H. Kohlmann, a military judge, that formally granted the five terrorism suspect the right to use computers, said Col. Les Melnyk, a Pentagon spokesman....
I hoped they installed Arabic fonts, a dictionary and thesaurus, a qibla-finder, the hadiths from at least bukhari and muslim and a copy of ibn ishaq's biography.
We want a well-written, correctly punctuated defense.
I didn't mention the koran, as I know all detainees were furnished a koran, a pure koran, untouched by ungloved infidel hands. I know this. I am sure of it.
No internet access?
That is a Human Rights violation.
Absolutely incredible ! Does this set a legal precedent for any prisoner ( in civillian custody ), to file a lawsuit with the " right " to a government funded laptop computer, or access to a computer ?
If so, the ACLU should be filing lawsuits rather soon.
In any event, what are these terrorists going to use them for ? To play video games ?
I doubt it.
I see no problems in giving detainees access to PCs not connected to the internet. In this form the PC is just a replacement of a pencil. And access to writing materials for prisoners are guaranteed by law.
So don´t get hysterical.
I'm not sure that this is news.
I heard quite a while ago that they would get laptops including training how to use 'em.
But hey, what do you expect? You got a Muslim putz in the white house and AG Holders little moles turn the legal system into a mine field.
Your news is cooked and the overall population clueless or indoctrinated with PC.
Where are you going to, America?
Point taken.
No one's hysterical IPSO.
It's just that if I were ever in the hoosegow -- would someone give me a laptop to use?
How about if I perpetuated mass murder?
I wouldn't get a laptop obviously, because I'm not a muhammadan celebrity.
Could we get their email addresses? Heh.
To my knowledge the persons in question are suspects not yet convicted of any crime.
Suspects are entitled to the full protection by the law and should not suffer any restrictions not justified by the regard to security and order, except for the confinement itself.
In this case I think the suspects should be tried at a Military Tribunal because they are enemy combatants captured (POWs) suspected of war crimes or crimes against humanity in an ongoing and just war against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
In such a case their protection by the law is limited, but still legal according to the rules of war.
You guys have never heard of keystroke loggers have you?
How do you know that giving them a laptop without internet access is not another form of intelligence gathering?
Maybe the point here is that you start from the view that the US government could not do anything smart.
Marine Corps Col. Ralph H. Kohlmann, a military judge, that formally granted the five terrorism suspect 'the right' to use computers...
They have a 'right' to use computers, not just 'permission'?
Do all Federal prisoners have a 'right' to use computers, or just a select few?
this must be due to pressure from ACLU types, keystone cops alert.
Free laptops, tropical climate, and the menu looks nice, too:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161646,00.html
Throw in private accommodations and call it a bed and breakfast.
http://www.avraidire.eu/2010/03/why-the-bible-has-not-been-corrupted-by-jay-smith/
FASCINATING- JAY SMITH DESTROYS THE ARGUMENTS MUSLIMS OFTEN USE AGAINST THE BIBLE TO SAY IT'S CORRUPTED. GREAT VIDEO.
These computers, I've heard, are loaded only with copies of the Torah, the New Testament, and back issues of Jihad Watch. Some say they're more effective at breaking jihadis than waterboarding.
I thought that the PCs were reward for talking after being waterboarded. But you got a point. ;-)
Okay, perhaps they have a "right" to computers, but do they have to get 27" iMacs with all the trimmings?
Mr. Rogers, how you've changed!
Really, Robert, you're going to give the kiddies nightmares with that picture above.
http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/mister-rogers.jpg
HEY look at that picture. It looks like they have given them Keds sneakers. Do you remember Keds? Do these guys deserve these sneakers? I say NO!
On a serious note. I say whatever you do, you give our side an advantage. If that means loading a laptop PC with a corrupted koran so be it. When I say corrupted, I mean change the text so it tells them to not kill infidels for example. Stroke recording? Do it! I am even in favor of using truth drugs like Sodium Pentothal or whatever drug that will give use an advantage. Play one against the other to pump or confirm information. The sky is the limit.
Anything is justified just short of crossing the line.
They've been getting more than they deserve--3 halals and a cot--and you think it's "hysterical" to question it?
I'll question it because I'm a U.S. taxpayer. I'm with duh_ swami. What rights?
"When I say corrupted, I mean change the text so it tells them to not kill infidels for example."
That alone would exceed the trauma of the threat of being waterboarded. Imagine the howls of rage, the gnashing of teeth, and the rending of garments.
payingattention,
You've definitely got a point about the keystroke loggers. How beautiful would that be? :-)
These barbaric assholes get free laptops at our expense? I don't think so. I'm sure there is some other way for time to occupy themselves other than by keeping their typing finders in good shape. I also certainly would not trust them with pencils or any pointed objects, but think of how much more of a weapon a laptop could be for an assault on a prison guard. It may be true that they have not yet been convicted but the rights granted by the U.S. Constitution have already been so misconstrued that due process almost seems like a joke, sadly to say. In many of out hearts, these barbarians have already been hung or fried --- or a little of both.
Old news.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/br0nc0s/managed-mt/mt-search.cgi?search=Drewbenstein&IncludeBlogs=1&limit=20