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October 13, 2006
Red Cross Visits Top Terror Suspects At Gitmo
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- For the first time, the International Committee of the Red Cross met this week with 14 suspected al Qaeda operatives held at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including the reputed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, said sources with direct knowledge of the visit.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of planning the 2001 attacks and former No. 3 leader of al Qaeda, and Ramzi Binalshibh, an alleged would-be September 11 hijacker, were among the 14 prisoners to meet with Red Cross officials.
The detainees were transferred to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay from secret CIA prisons around the world. President Bush acknowledged the use of CIA prisons outside U.S. borders for the first time September 6.
Bush said then that the 14 detainees would be transferred to Guantanamo and a military tribunal would hear their cases.
International Committee of the Red Cross members had planned to meet with each of the suspects privately and relay messages to their families, Red Cross spokesman Simon Schorno said last month. The military censors all messages to and from the prisoners.
The visit is a way for detainees to share concerns about their detentions and conditions and any claims of ill treatment, Schorno said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross will use the visits to become better informed about Guantanamo's conditions and will share that information with authorities if necessary, he added.
Human rights groups and other critics repeatedly have called for the United States to close the prison at Guantanamo, alleging such violations as torture and religious discrimination.
In addition, a report last month by Amnesty International alleged that Pakistan abducted hundreds of people for the purpose of fetching "rewards" and transferring them to Guantanamo Bay or detention centers elsewhere. (Full story)
On Thursday, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett called detentions of terrorist suspects at Guantanamo "unacceptable" and "ineffective" as she released Britain's annual report on human rights around the world, according to The Associated Press. (Full story)
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday it transferred 16 detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Afghanistan and one detainee to Morocco. The transfers were recommended after several review processes, the agency said.
About 335 detainees have been transferred from Guantanamo into the custody of other countries, leaving some 440 prisoners in Cuba.
About 110 detainees who are eligible for transfer or release remain at Guantanamo, according to defense officials.
Wild Thing's comment......
A-hem.... "suspects" ??????.....what???? "relay messages to their families"........ shaking my head, eyes rolling, blood boiling here.
The International Red Cross is just another anti-US, terrorist loving organization.
The first to show up on 9-11 was the Salvation Army NOT the Red Cross. The first to show has always been the Salvation Army!! Go jump in the lake International Red Cross.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 13, 2006 01:47 AM
Comments
I will not give to the Red Cross. When I was young, some of my family in Pennsylvania lost everything they had in a flood. The Red Cross provided them with food, clothes and some broken down furniture, then sent them a bill.
I never have and never will pass a Salvation Army kettle without giving, even if it's my last dollar. The scope of their charity work goes far beyond what most people know, it's a wonderful organization.
Posted by: gregor at October 13, 2006 07:23 AM
"The visit is a way for detainees to share concerns about their detentions and conditions and any claims of ill treatment, Schorno said".
Has anyone ever heard of any prisoner in any jail that wasn't mistreated? Ask any convict if their treated right and they will say NO, especially if they're being asked by the news media.
Posted by: BobF at October 13, 2006 09:05 AM
Gregor, oh my gosh they sent a bill? That is unforgivable!!!!
Gregor thank you for sharing about that. People need to know how awful the Red Cross is.
I agree with you too about the Salvation Army, I always stop and give them something and thank them.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 13, 2006 11:29 AM
Bob exactly you are so right!! What a bunch of baloney, giving them credibility to listen to their complaints etc. sheesh!
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 13, 2006 11:31 AM
About the time my local Red Cross chapter does something good and newsworthy, the main American Red Cross does something that chaffs my rear. It makes it very difficult for me to support the Red Cross. I want to support them, but there are so many charities, I just double up on something else instead of giving to the ARC. An animal rescue group or one of many medical research groups hopefully puts more of my donation toward a non aggravating use.
Posted by: TomR at October 13, 2006 12:17 PM
I think it's hilarious how we're to blame for everthing. I'd like to meet these idiots that work for the Red Cross and have the audacity to report the things that they do.
Now we get in trouble when they're overweight, what's next?
Posted by: Mr. Tastic at October 13, 2006 05:23 PM
Your readers are intertwining the American Red Cross with the International Red Cross. These are 2 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT organizations.
Posted by: Greta at October 13, 2006 05:42 PM
Tom I know what you mean me too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 13, 2006 06:17 PM
Mr.Tastic, I agree. I think the Red Cross better start to clean up their own act before they start to get involved in things like this.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 13, 2006 06:19 PM
Greta yes they are but they both are horrible.
The Red Cross as you know has been in many scandals of how bad they are, how they do not use the money donated, money missing etc.
Greta I realize you want it to be a good thing, but it just isn't any more.
The Salvation is so much better and honest too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 13, 2006 06:22 PM
