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| Another Gitmo Translator Busted |
| 2003-09-30 |
| A physician working as a translator at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba was arrested Tuesday, authorities said, in the latest of a series of apprehensions that have raised questions about security at the center for terror suspects. Dennis Murphy, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the arrest came at Boston’s Logan International Airport. A senior law enforcement official, discussing the case on grounds of anonymity, identified the suspect as Ahmed Mehalba. This source said that Mehalba had stopped in Boston Monday after arriving on a flight from Cairo. Wonder if he was in Egypt on "vacation", or he just changed planes there. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement noticed documents that appeared to have come from the prison camp and that they suspected of being classified. The FBI was called in to interview Mehalba, who denied the documents were his, the official said. I’m thinking that whoever is in charge of INFOSEC at Gitmo will soon be picking up trash at McMurdo Station. After the interview, the FBI arrested Mehalba on charges of making false statements. He was being held in Boston and further charges are possible, said the official, who declined to describe the nature of the documents in Mehalba’s possession. "I can say no more." Army Lt. Col. Pamela Hart, a spokeswoman for the base, said last Friday that military authorities strengthened security at Guantanamo Bay in the wake of the arrests. She said that officials were making certain that restrictions on handling documents, making phone calls and sending e-mails are being followed. Something about a horse and a barn come to mind. |
| Posted by:Steve and Frank G |
| #12 ...he responded that the CDs were just music and videos,.... Downloading off the Internet? Throw the Book at him! |
| Posted by: john 2003-9-30 4:13:40 PM |
| #11 f the Office of Homeland Security was doing its job--would he have arrived at Boston's Logan Airport on a flight from Cairo? Sounds like the damage is already done. No thanks to PC sensitivities about "profiling". |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-9-30 1:36:24 PM |
| #10 More details on FoxNews: The suspect, identified as Ahmed Mehalba, was initially pulled aside by homeland security agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who did a routine search and found military identification. He was routed for a second inspection. During that second inspection, agents found several CDs. When they asked Mehalba about them, he responded that the CDs were just music and videos, an official told Fox News. But one of them was labeled in reference to detainee information, an official said. Other documents in Mehalba's possession contained information about the prison camps. Some of them were labeled "secret," officials said. Because Mehalba appeared to have classified information about detainees at Gitmo, other authorities, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security and the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force responded and arrested Mehalba, DHS said in a statement. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts authorized the arrest. Mehalba, who DHS officials said acted nervously when questioned, denied the documents were his, authorities said. Mehalba, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Egyptian descent, was stopped in Boston on Monday after arriving on a flight from Cairo, Egypt, via Milan, Italy. Mehalba is being charged with making false statements to government agents. The FBI is getting a warrant to search the computer found in his possession. He is being held in custody; an initial court appearance was scheduled for 2:30 EST Tuesday in Boston. The FBI is now getting warrant to search his computer. More charges are pending. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ricciuti in Boston refused to discuss the case. He would not say whether making false statements was the only charge against Mehalba or whether additional charges would be filed. Documents outlining Mehalba's arrest were sealed by Swartwood on Tuesday morning. Defense Department officials described Mehalba as a civilian contractor who provided translation services, but it was unclear if he had fulfilled his contract or was still working at the camp. Another amateur spy, openly carrying documents marked "secret" and a CD with a label referencing detainees. How stupid can you get? |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-9-30 1:24:15 PM |
| #9 If the Office of Homeland Security was doing its job--would he have arrived at Boston's Logan Airport on a flight from Cairo? Sounds like the damage is already done. |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-9-30 11:51:32 AM |
| #8 This is not looking good for the Muslims here in the US. " You can trust us, we're not like the terrorists! That? Oh, that's just a.....glow in the dark box! Yeah..... " |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-9-30 11:40:44 AM |
| #7 Sounds to me like somebody ran some known crypto-goblins through Gitmo under pretty heavy surveillance, maybe to see who they got friendly with?... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-9-30 11:03:49 AM |
| #6 "Ummm... Somebody musta left 'em here..." |
| Posted by: Fred 2003-9-30 10:57:14 AM |
| #5 The FBI was called in to interview Mehalba, who denied the documents were his, the official said. "Those are not mine, and I have no idea how those documents got into my bag." |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-9-30 10:35:33 AM |
| #4 A few more details: A civilian translator who worked at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp has been arrested, suspected of taking classified information from the camp where hundreds of suspects in the war on terror are being held. The latest arrest occurred Monday, when Ahmed Mehalba arrived at Boston's Logan Airport on a flight from Cairo. Homeland security, customs and border inspection agents decided to conduct a random search of Mehalba. According to senior government officials, after the request for a search, Mehalba began to act nervously. Officials said they discovered he was carrying CD-ROMs and other documents that appeared to contain classified information about the prison camp. Mehalba denied the documents were his, but this morning law enforcement and military officials are scrambling to figure out how far the security breaches at Guantanamo may go. The old "It's not my stuff" routine wears thin after a while. Sounds like Homeland Security was on the ball this time. Unless they were tipped off to check our pal Ahmed. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-9-30 10:00:59 AM |
| #3 Bwahahahah! The conspiracy of Steve's cannot prevail! well, at least ....er...this time |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-9-30 9:41:11 AM |
| #2 I suggest that we train the detainees some basics in international sign laguage. It looks like there will be few translators left when this all shakes out. |
| Posted by: Superhose 2003-9-30 9:40:49 AM |
| #1 Damm, beat me by that much. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-9-30 9:38:32 AM |