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2004 G'tmo Manual Restricted Chaplains

Check out Dan Matthews and Julian Assange's Wikileaks analysis of the difference between the 2003 and 2004 Guantanamo Bay manuals. Matthews and Assange note that the 2004 manual restricts detainees' access to prison chaplains -- most likely in response to the case of James Yee, an Army chaplain then suspected of espionage for al-Qaeda and since cleared of all charges. The result of the Yee Affair was, apparently, a transformation of religious-comfort services into a potential intelligence-collection operation:

In March 2003, the chaplain could access detainee areas unaccompanied, and could “speak freely with detainees”, but by March 2004, the chaplain is “assigned an escort” to visit detainee holding areas – potentially a form of surveillance. And the chaplain can “speak with detainees” - but apparently not so freely as before.

Furthermore, in other parts of the manual, the chaplain is again disempowered – from making announcements on the PA system (sections 16-3 and 16-5), from providing religious items (section 16-13). And guards are no longer encouraged to seek the chaplain's advice on religious matters (section 16-14).

Matthews and Assange also note how the manual expresses hostility for the International Committee of the Red Cross:

Edits to the manual suggest that further hurdles may have been placed in the way of the Red Cross. Sction 17-2 stipulates that the Red Cross “is restricted from all buildings without prior approval... except the Detention Clinic and the Detention Hospital.” Then, the Red Cross is required to be aware of “scheduled guard feeding times” and adjust their schedule accordingly.

The Red Cross is prohibited from passing mail between detainees in both manuals. The 2003 manual stipulates in chapter 13 that “At no time should [Red Cross] reps pass any mail between detainees”.

By 2004, the military saw fit to make the stipulation, if nothing else, louder: “AT NO TIME should ICRC reps pass any mail between detainees.”


Comments (9)

Saint Augustine wrote on December 4, 2007 3:23 PM:

I wonder why they didn't insist that detainees attend meetings to listen to evangelicals preaching hellfire and brimstone for hours on end...then the detainees would probably beg to be waterboarded.

TheraP wrote on December 4, 2007 3:32 PM:

This is what an abuser does: Isolate your victim. Prevent contact with anyone. Convince them their whole worth depends upon you. Then proceed to break them down to nothing. Tell them you are the only one who would put up with "such a nothing."

Makes me sick! This is being done in our name. We are dragged through the mud of shame these criminals have CONcocted.

Anonymous wrote on December 4, 2007 4:31 PM:

At least we know what to expect when GWB and the rest of them come for us.

dreggas wrote on December 4, 2007 5:31 PM:

Who wants to bet that the entire reason why guards were prevented from seeking religiouss advice was because one asked whether or not torture was justified in their own religion?

fedhallofshame_com wrote on December 4, 2007 5:47 PM:

Yet another government absurdity to add to the books. Chaplains restricted from offering solace. What exactly is their job again?

Anonymous wrote on December 4, 2007 5:59 PM:

The issue isn't Yee, but Geneva: Did, despite the "Geneav review" did the US not grant full access to religious leaders, as required under Geneva?

Anonymous wrote on December 4, 2007 6:11 PM:

Documented policy which violated Geneva. Impeachment is "off" the table. . . This is evidence the GOP-WH was not able to destroy. What's Congress waiting for: "More" evidence of war crimes?

Alguien wrote on December 4, 2007 6:12 PM:

What scares me more than anything is that one of the top tier GOP candidates,
that squeaky clean, Holier than Thou Mormon flip-flopper called Mitt Romney, said that if elected president, he would EXPAND Guantanamo!
Undecided GOP Primary voters, take note!

anon wrote on December 4, 2007 6:18 PM:

...Undecided GOP Primary voters, take note!...

Be careful what you wish for...

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