V-22 Osprey Shows Serious Problems

More problems for V-22 Osprey.

Congress Limits The President’s Ability To Close Guantanamo Bay

First, the title of this post is a bit misleading.  President Obama never made a promise to close Guantanamo Bay (GTMO).  He only ordered that the detention facility, holding those captured in the GWOT be closed by January 2010.  That being said, the recent bill signed into law by the president, H.R. 2346: Supplemental Appropriations [...]

Supreme Court Will Not Take Action On Uighur Case Until Next Term

The Supreme Court will not hear Kiyemba, et al. v. Obama, et al. until next term, October at the earliest.
Because the Court took no formal action on Kiyemba Monday, there was no explanation.  It is possible to speculate on the reasons.
Among them could be that the Court did not want to be seen to be [...]

Osprey Gets Gun Turret

From Aviation Week,
The U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 squadron preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in the third or fourth quarter of this year is now flight testing a turreted gun to beef-up the aircraft’s fire-power.
The Bell/Boeing MV-22 unit is likely to be deployed to Camp Bastion in the Helmand region as part of the U.S.’s [...]

Uighurs Back To Supreme Court

The case of Jamal Kiyemba v. Obama, was decided on 7 April 2009 by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  The court held that no court had the power to order the Uighurs to be released to live in the United States. 
The case will be heard by [...]

Guantanamo Bay: Majority Of American Oppose Closing Terrorist Detention Center

In a recent poll Americans say Guantanamo Bay should not be closed by a 2-1 margin.

President Obama On Guantanamo Detainees And Military Commissions

President Obama gives speech outlining the way forward on Guantanamo Bay and military commissions.

Guantanamo Bay Detainees Not Going To Supermax Prison In Colorado

Detainees from Guantanamo Bay will not be moved to Supermax federal prison in Colorado.

Army Captain Pleads Guilty To Stealing Military Equipment In Iraq

From the Eastern District of Virginia,
Elbert Westley George III, 36, a U.S. Army captain who was stationed in Iraq, pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to steal U.S. government equipment and sell it to a local Iraqi businessman, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and Acting U.S. Attorney [...]

Guantanamo Bay Detainees May Be Held Indefinitely

From WSJ,
The Obama administration is weighing plans to detain some terror suspects on U.S. soil — indefinitely and without trial — as part of a plan to retool military commission trials that were conducted for prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The proposal being floated with members of Congress is another indication of President Barack Obama’s [...]

Guantanamo Bay May Close But Those Held There May Not Come To The United States, So Says The Senate

President Obama will announce the continued use of military commissions for detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. But the Senate will not approve any funding that would transfer any of the detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United States.

President Obama Will Continue To Use Military Commissions For Detainees Held At Guantanamo Bay

President Obama to announce that he will continue to use military commissions to try detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

No Prosecutions For Drafters Of Torture Memos

From the NYT,
WASHINGTON — An internal Justice Department inquiry into the conduct of Bush administration lawyers who wrote secret memorandums authorizing brutal interrogations has concluded that the authors committed serious lapses of judgment but should not be criminally prosecuted, according to government officials briefed on a draft of the findings.

Dreadnaught prediction: no prosecutions.
yojoe out

Why We Used Waterboarding: Former CIA Director General Michael Hayden

In a recently-released memo it was revealed that the United States used waterboarding on Abu Zubaydah 83 times and Kahalid Shaikh Mohammed 183 times.  Now former CIA Director General Michael Hayden, USAF, explains why,
Most of the people who oppose these techniques want to be able to say, “‘I don’t want my nation doing this, which [...]

Waterboarding Of Abu Zubaydah And Khalid Shaikh Mohammed

CIA torture memo reveals that Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded 83 times and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times.

Haditha Update: Marines Seek To Revive Charges Against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani

Marine Corps looks to reinstate criminal charges against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani for his role in the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq.

Haditha Update: Wuterich’s Lawsuit Against Murtha Dismissed By Appellate Court

Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich’s lawsuit against Congressman John Murtha, regarding statements the congressman made about the deaths of civilians in Haditha, Iraq, has been dismissed.

Blackwater Air To Asked To Leave Iraq

Blackwater to leave Iraq.

Haditha Update: Military Judge Reviews 60 Minutes Tape in Wuterich Case

Military judge rules that CBS does not have to turnover tapes of an interview with SSgt Frank Wuterich. The interview was about his involvement in the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha Iraq.

Drones Continue To Dominate GWOT In 2008

From Danger Room,
Forget the extra troops. The big “surge” in Afghanistan and Iraq has been the astronomical increase in the robotic planes ahead. In 2008, 71 Predator robo-craft flew 138,404 combat hours — a 94 percent increase from the year before, according to an Air Force presentation obtained by National Security Drone’s Frank Naif.

Say [...]

President Obama Executive Order Ensuring Lawful Interrogations Allows CIA To Operate Short Term Black Sites

Recent Executive Order allows the CIA to continue to operate “black sites” on a temporary basis.