[Praxius]

UPDATE:

CTV.ca | U.S. on 'dangerous path' with Khadr: lawyer

Defence team still up in the air as Khadr arraigned at U.S. base

Khadr to appear before U.S. military court in Cuba

U.S. NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO -- Lieutenant-commander William Kuebler has never met Omar Khadr and, when asked, admits he is "not up to speed at all" on the facts of the Pentagon's case against the 20-year-old Canadian. But when Khadr appears here this morning to face murder and terrorism charges, Kuebler will be the only lawyer authorized to speak to the court on his behalf. "I am brand new to the case. If he wants me to be his lawyer, I would need some amount of time to conduct a full investigation and prepare for trial," Kuebler said in an interview.

What?! so this idiot they got to represent him hasn't even met him, know anything about his case, nothing??

He may not need to worry. As the first order of business at today's long-awaited arraignment before a U.S. war crimes tribunal, Khadr is expected to reject Kuebler and request he be represented by two Canadian lawyers who will also be appearing with him in court for the first time. Dennis Edney and Nate Whitling, two Edmonton-based lawyers, were recently approved as Khadr's "foreign attorney consultants" following a long battle with the Pentagon over security clearances to this maximum-security military base. But because rules for the military commissions prevent foreign lawyers from being the lead attorneys in war crimes trials, Khadr may very well end up defending himself on charges that could result in a life sentence. "I have been detailed to the case, and I cannot say right now whether Omar will accept me as his lawyer or not accept me as his lawyer," Kuebler said. "If I am not his lawyer, then it's going to be up to Mr. Khadr what he wants to do." Kuebler was thrust into the chaotic legal environment surrounding Khadr's case last week when the alleged al-Qaida member fired his lead American military lawyer, Lt.-Col. Colby Vokey, and two U.S. civilian lawyers who were preparing his defence. Although Khadr has repeatedly indicated he does not want American lawyers, the military has ordered Kuebler to appear anyway - even if only to sit silently in a chair by the Canadian's side. "It's critical to ensure that someone who knows the military commissions is assigned so they can zealously represent the individual," said John Bellinger, the U.S. State Department's senior legal adviser. It's understandable Khadr may be uncomfortable with American military lawyers, Bellinger said, and that's why tribunal rules also allow U.S. civilian lawyers and foreign lawyers to provide legal advice. "The system is set up so that any accused, including Mr. Khadr, will have the most extensive and robust assistance that they can have."

Yes, I'm sure he will. :rolleyes:

Khadr, who has been held at Guantanamo since almost five years, is accused of throwing a grenade that killed U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Speer during a battle between American forces and al-Qaida near Khost, Afghanistan on July 27, 2002. He faces additional charges of attempted murder, spying, conspiracy and providing material aid to terrorists. No trial date has yet been set, but it's possible Khadr may enter a plea at today's hearing.

Here's a silly question.... how do you prove someone threw a grenade? Considdering they blow up and I hardly doubt you're gonna find a fingerprint.

Khadr's lawyers contend the U.S. is violating Geneva Conventions protecting juvenile combatants by putting him on trial. Khadr was 15 at the time of the alleged crimes. But senior U.S. officials argue the Geneva Convention "contemplates" that combatants detained under the age of 18 can be tried. "Clearly, he was young when he committed these offenses. That is unfortunate," said Bellinger. "On the other hand, he did make certain choices. He killed an American soldier who now has a wife and children who are growing up without a father."

Oh.... so there you have it.... once again.... already deemed guilty.... the poor soldier had a family..... well so did this kid.... even if he actually did throw a grenade and killed a soldier.... there is nothing there that sounds terrorist to me, or anything that would be a war crime.... he killed a soldier during a battle (That is if he was actually there in the first place)

That's what war is about..... killing and being killed..... this just bleeds of looking for someone to put the blame on.

The possibility Khadr will be denied the lawyers of his choice underscores how the legal odds are stacked against detainees, say human rights groups attending today's arraignment. "We have an entirely new court system and entirely new rules and no established precedent," said Jennifer Daskal, U.S. program advocacy director for Human Rights Watch. "It's something that is virtually impossible for even the most seasoned attorney to navigate, let alone an unrepresented individual."

And yet it still goes on......

After almost five years at Guantanamo, Khadr has appeared before a military judge on only two occasions, in 2006. Earlier charges against him were quashed when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a prior version of the war crimes tribunals violated international law. The prolonged detention has left him emotionally scarred, his lawyers contend. He has suffered complications from injuries to his eyes suffered during the 2002 battle, said Edney, who visited Khadr for several hours two weeks ago at Guantanamo. "He couldn't see properly. He said his one eye didn't work," Edney said. American officials contend Khadr has access to excellent medical care - the same afforded American soldiers at Guantanamo - and that conditions at Guantanamo are no worse than any maximum-security prison in the U.S.

Oh wow..... and I heard those are ever so lovely.... what with the human rights groups fighting the conditions of those as well.

"I mean, this is a fact of life, that it is not a comfortable situation for anybody who has been accused of a crime... (they don't) have a comfortable and happy lifestyle," Bellinger said. "These are conditions that certainly are humane and in compliance with international standards. Whether Mr. Khadr is happy about it is a different situation."

I'm sure the tune would be different if they got to experience the other aspect of being a prisoner there...... do you hear other people in "Normal" prisons and jails complaining about the above? Not really..... so how they hell can they go on and ignore this?