Obama to Let Bagram Prisoners Challenge Detention

Representatives would amass evidence, witnesses for detainees

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2009 8:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – The White House plans to give some 600 detainees at a US-run prison in Kabul greater power to dispute their custody, the New York Times reports. After an expected rubber stamp from Congress, the Obama administration will send representatives to Bagram Air Base to amass evidence and witnesses for detainees. Some have been there for 6 years and, unlike Guantanamo Bay prisoners, have had few legal rights.

President Obama is making the move as part of an effort to separate his policies from more severe Bush-era tactics, and respect a federal judge's ruling that some Bagram detainees deserve the chance to challenge their incarceration. Pentagon officials say it would also help separate extremists from more moderate prisoners. But human rights groups, well aware of Bagram's deadly reputation, say the policy is all talk unless people follow through and detainees take advantage of their newfound rights.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Abdullah Hermat, 38, from Mazar, was in Guantanamo Bay prison for 7 years, and is seen here in February 4, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

Padshah, 38, formally known as Sayed Amir, from Jalalabad was in Guantanamo Bay prison for 5 years, and is pictured here on January 31, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama points to a member of Congress while arriving to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress at the U.S. Capitol September 9, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I think the procedures are just words on pieces of paper unless someone is there to ensure they’re being followed and the detainee has the ability to understand them and avail themselves of them. - Tina Foster, the executive director of the International Justice Network

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Man in Mugshot Explains Why He Has Half a Head (HuffPost)

Another Sign Rihanna and Chris Brown Might Get Back Together? (Celebuzz)

These Exes Were Spotted Making Out … and That's a Bad Thing (Bleacher Report)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 6 comments

armywife

Sep 13, 2009 11:54 AM CDT

Ur, you are dead right, man. iraq wasnt a country of terrorists until we went in there, treating them like shit and turning them into terrorists. i dont know why it's so hard for some people to see that.

WallyEFunk

Sep 13, 2009 6:48 AM CDT

Might be a stupid question.But always wondered are there American born citizens in there? how can they just suspend the Maranda rights. Can they do that to any American citizen?

Doctor-Zaius

Sep 13, 2009 4:21 AM CDT

UU, I chose not to answer him directly because I didn't feel like calling him the POS he obviously is. You did a good job tearing him a new asshole. Sadly someone with their head that far up their ass will not get it anyway. Thanks for putting your ass in front of bullets for the sake of the country I live in. I may not agree with the reasons we went to Iraq but I appreciate your service. Thank you.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

E-Cigarette Explodes in Man's Mouth

New York Times (Source Grid »)

Politics • Crime & Courts • World

Afghanistan • Barack Obama • Bagram Air Force Base • US military • Kabul • prisoner • detainees

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Hamid Karzai is in Pakistan today to discuss negotiations

(NEWSER) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Pakistan today, one day after telling the Wall Street Journal that his country has entered into three-way peace talks with the Taliban and the US. Karzai is in Pakistan to discuss the negotiations and request that country's help; Islamabad's cooperation is necessary, since Taliban fighters have reportedly been receiving support from Pakistan, the New York Times notes. The recent talks signal a breakthrough, considering the Taliban has up until now insisted it would not negotiate with Karzai's "puppet regime." More»

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

(NEWSER) - The United States may be wrapping up its combat operations in Afghanistan a year early, but the fight against insurgents and terrorists will continue in the form of US special forces, who are expected to stay in the country well after 2014, reports the New York Times . According to the Pentagon's plan, which has not yet been greenlighted by President Obama, conventional forces would be the first to withdraw from Afghanistan, but thousands of special forces would continue, or perhaps grow, especially Green Berets. More»

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

(NEWSER) - At some point next year, the US will no longer be fighting a war in Afghanistan for the first time in a decade. "Hopefully by mid to the latter part of 2013 we’ll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training, advise, and assist role,” defense chief Leon Panetta told reporters today. That applies to NATO troops as well, and it's the first time the Obama administration has put a date on it, reports the New York Times and Washington Post . More»

Hatred Fueling Afghan Army Attacks on Allied Troops

Mutual contempt behind most attacks on NATO troops from within: report

(NEWSER) - Even before today's attack on French troops , the number of deadly attacks on US and other coalition troops by Afghan soldiers was steadily rising. And while the military continues to describe the attacks as isolated incidents, a classified report obtained by the New York Times tells a very different story. "Lethal altercations are clearly not rare or isolated; they reflect a rapidly growing systemic homicide threat, a magnitude of which may be unprecedented between 'allies' in modern military history," states the report, which blames mutual dislike, not Taliban infiltrators, for most of the killings. More»

Marines in Urination Video ID'd

Hillary Clinton calls incident possible war crime

(NEWSER) - Investigators have identified the four Marines shown in a video apparently urinating on Taliban corpses, and they could be charged today, CBS News reports. The military has interviewed at least two of the men on the matter as officials scramble to address its fallout. "Anyone, anyone found to have participated or know about it, having engaged in such conduct, must be held fully accountable," said Hillary Clinton yesterday, calling the incident a potential war crime. All four were members of a sniper team in a unit that lost seven members in action last summer in Afghanistan. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Obama to Let Bagram Prisoners Challenge Detention