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Illegal Briefs

It is a difficult task to represent prisoners in Guantanamo. I spoke with a lawyer who took regular trips down there, representing a couple of prisoners free of charge. There is nothing private about his meetings with his clients, which are monitored at all times and recorded. He needed to get a security clearance to see summaries of some documents that were to be used as evidence, which required a lengthy background check. He couldn't talk about much else, since he was under an order not to talk about stuff that happened there. Needless to say, there are many obstacles to doing an adequate job.

Clive Stafford Smith is one of those lawyers getting hassled by the government, reports the Brit newspaper, The Independent.

"Your client Shaker Aamer, detainee ISN 239, was recently discovered to be wearing Under Armor briefs and a Speedo bathing suit. Neither item was issued to the detainee by JTF-Guantanamo personnel, nor did they enter the camp through regular mail," wrote a lawyer representing the military. The government is investigating Smith and another lawyer for smuggling contraband.

Writing back to the military's lawyer, Mr. Smith stated: "I hope you understand my frustration at yet another unfounded accusation against lawyers who are simply trying to do their job – a job that involves legal briefs, not the other sort."

And what about the Speedo swimming trunks, Mr. Smith?

"I cannot imagine who would want to give my client Speedos or why. Mr Aamer is hardly in a position to go swimming, since the only available water is the toilet in his cell."

And why isn't the U.S. conducting proper trials of these prisoners, the vast majority of whom have never been charged with a crime, or releasing them after five years of holding them in prison at taxpayer expense?

Posted by Bill at September 14, 2007 11:23 AM