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| Fifth Column |
| Airman at Gitmo Charged With Espionage |
| 2003-09-23 |
| An Air Force airman who worked at the U.S. prison camp for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base has been charged with espionage and aiding the enemy, a military spokesman said Tuesday. Senior Airman Ahmad I. al-Halabi worked as an Arabic language translator at the prison camp for Al Qaeda and Taliban suspects, spokesman Maj. Michael Shavers said. The Air Force enlisted man knew the Muslim chaplain at the prison arrested earlier this month, but it’s unclear if the two arrests are linked, Shavers said. Being very careful, our spokesman. Al-Halabi is being held at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, Shavers said. Earlier Tuesday, senior military officials told Fox News that a member of the Navy was also in custody, under suspicion of espionage and possible improper communications with the camp’s detainees. The Navy member’s role at the camp has not been disclosed. Any bets on if he is muslim as well? Fox News has learned al-Halabi and the Navy member both were detained roughly two weeks before Islamic military chaplain James Yee was arrested. Detained very quietly. Yee’s connection to these two is not clear at this time, though officials do say that the two were being surveyed for some time before Yee came to their attention. Pentagon officials said Yee and al-Halabi knew each other but said it was not clear if the arrests were connected. "I can say no more, at this time." Yee, 35, was arrested Sept. 10 in Jacksonville, Fla., after getting off a flight from Guantanamo Bay and is being held at the consolidated Naval Brig in Charleston, SC. A senior law enforcement official said authorities confiscated classified documents Yee was carrying. But determining what Yee’s intentions were may be difficult, according to one senior official. The official told Fox News that he was having a difficult time assessing the meaning of the articles said to be in the chaplain’s possession when he was arrested. Really? Yee was detained in part because he carried classified information without having something called a "courier card" in his possession. Such mistakes are not uncommon, the official said. Yee also possessed a laptop equipped with a modem, and modems are strictly forbidden at the base. The official pointed out that nearly every laptop now sold is equipped with a dialup modem. Who is this guy, Yee’s defense attorney? Better turn this over to the not-so-friendly people in the FBI. A Pentagon official told Fox News that classified information was also found on the laptop of the Air Force member now in custody. But the official said slip-ups like this -- which he described as "sloppy computer security" -- are somewhat common. BULLSHIT!!!! It’s not sloppy if you have classified information and you are not supposed to!! Sounds like they are trying to cover up the fact that muslim active duty military members are helping the terrorists. They don’t want to go down that road. If these facts are true, then I have no faith that they can investigate this in house. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #10 No Freedom Fighter, you're wrong. What's truly disturbing is that thousands of people had to die on September 11th for anyone in our country to even ADMIT that there was a war on--one that violent Islamofacists had overtly acknowledged for decades. Screw the violent f*cks rotting in Gitmo--they get better treatment there than "infidels" get at the hands of the Islamofacists. "Crime against humanity"? How can you even utter such a phrase when it comes to those who have many times over pledged the destruction of not only "hardliners" (such as you probably see us) but also people like yourself (what, you think your self-deceived "reasonableness" makes you any less of an "infidel"??? They would kill you just as quickly as they would one of us). |
| Posted by: Flaming Sword 2003-9-24 7:12:11 PM |
| #9 I am far more alarmed by the violent retoric of this page than I am of so called "spys" at Guantanamo Bay. We are not at "war". President Bush has declared the "war" over. We are trying to build the peace. You aren't helping. The "detainees" have been held for months with no information about who they are because the US has declared them not to be "prisoners of war". Their families have no idea what has become of them - we don't really know who is alive or dead. If they were your sons wouldn't you want to know? Wouldn't you do anything to find out? As for Old Patriot, he doesn't know what he is talking about. In the Government these days, almost everything is classified. So, if someone has any information on his machine, he'll be introuble. Apparently you people don't believe in freedom, except for yourselves? On Saturday, I'll pick up my uncle's POW medal, he can't make it - he's dead. The camp in Cuba isn't unlike the one where he died. Even under the Japanese he was allowed to write home, let his family know he was alive. But not at the Bay. The Camp is a crime against humanity and those who try to let us know what is going on there are criminals. Didn't you always wonder how the Nazi's got away with death camps in Germany with neighbors all around - Now you know how they did it. Shame on all of you. |
| Posted by: Freedom Fighter 2003-9-24 11:29:56 AM |
| #8 I've worked with classified information most of my Air Force career. Classified data was NEVER mixed with unclassified material, and NEVER allowed on personal equipment. Just having it on his hard drive is enough to justify a charge of compromising classified material. We usually send such people to Leavenworth, Kansas, and have them make gravel from larger rocks. I'm beginning to believe, however, that building a prison block in Fairbanks exclusively for Muslim inmates might be more appropriate. To make them feel at home, we'll even allow them their customary tents and camels - and their one pair of summer cotton pants, short-sleeve cotton shirt, and sandals. I'm sure the camels would survive... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-9-23 7:40:01 PM |
| #7 I have seen few cases where it was feasible to hang a traitor, becuase it is almost always valuable to know what information has leaked. There is always a deal. This may be the exception. One of these guys should be expendab;e as an example. There is a story, probably an urban legend in Norfolk about a Turkish ship that tried to execute a petty thief that embarassed Turkey in Va Beach. The base commander laid down the law -- no executions were allowed at NOB. So the Turkish captain sailed out over the 5 mile limit and returned with the sailor swinging from the yardarm. One of these guys should get the same treatment. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-23 5:52:12 PM |
| #6 Well, they ain't gonna hang these guys. That's a given. But, gosh, how about they get life at Gitmo. Be kinda appropriate. And the Imam could carry on with his good works bringing comfort and ministering to the flock. (They already know the rules). |
| Posted by: Michael 2003-9-23 4:39:31 PM |
| #5 escape plans, hmmm? may need to switch to Rabbis to assist the prisoners with their religious needs heh heh |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-9-23 4:21:39 PM |
| #4 The implications here are too obvious to even mention. Unfortunatley we are unlikely to take the needed action. |
| Posted by: SPQR 2755 2003-9-23 4:16:14 PM |
| #3 Amen Steve! You DO NOT have access to classified information unless you have a 'need to know.' It's called compartment of information. That way IF there is a leak you list of suspects is smaller. Other than being a translator, I am not sure what Achmed would be doing (assigned duty). At the trial he will claim some religious law that forces him to help brother Muslims. Tie this guys balls to a F-16 just before takeoff! |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-9-23 4:10:22 PM |
| #2 Second: Odds are that these guys are not members of the Knights of Columbus. This Political Correctness is going to kill us. I hope that these arrests and revelations are going to tighten things up. No telling how much damage has been done. There should be the Quoran available to the prisoners as a manner of principle, but no chaplains. Treat the prisoners humanely, but remember that they are sworn to Jihad and to destroying us. We are detaining killers, not trying to rehabilitate criminals. These guys are wired to kill. Reasoning together in this situation, is, regretably, not an option. (*wipes away tear*) /sarcasm off |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-9-23 4:03:09 PM |
| #1 first! Bwahahaha |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-9-23 3:44:54 PM |