Snowden--American Hero- UPDATED

For some reason this video is not getting much attention in this country so I want to do my part.
also this from Juan Cole...people who should be jailed instead of Snowden.

FINAL TRIBUTE TO PETE SEEGER

REST IN PEACE PETE----

When will we ever learn?

THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES...

Today we celebrate the life of Pete Seeger.....

RIP Pete Seeger

HOPE DIES LAST....

Today the DC Circuit ordered the government to respond to the en banc petition I filed on Monday. Word on the street is that is a pretty fast turn around...As Studs Terkel was fond of saying.... Hope dies last..... Here is the Order: Docket Text: CLERK'S ORDER filed [1475512] Upon consideration of appellant’s petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc, it is ORDERED, on the court’s own motion, that within 15 days of the date of this order, appellees file a response to the petition for rehearing and petition for rehearing en banc not to exceed 15 pages. Absent further order of the court, no reply to the response will be accepted. [1474856-2] [1474856-3] [11-5102]

I was in DC over the weekend but unfortunately I was not able to participate in this amazing protest because I was busy preparing an en banc petition for my client at the "secure facility"-- the place where those of us who represent detainees must prepare our court papers. But take a look at this protest: Vowing to “Make Guantanamo History,” human rights advocates from around the country marked the beginning of the thirteenth year of torture and indefinite detention at the prison camp with a dramatic protest at the National Museum of American History. 150 activists occupied the atrium of the crowded museum for more than two hours, speaking out against torture and calling for Guantanamo to close. The activists hung banners, stood in stress positions in hoods and jumpsuits, spoke to the tourists, and with their bodies and voices revised the museum’s “Price of Freedom” exhibit to include twelve years of torture and indefinite detention as the bitter cost of the United States’ misguided pursuit of “national security.” If you are having trouble viewing this go to this website for the full story.

Enemy Combatant

Professor Peter Honigsberg looks at the origin of the term "enemy combatant" in this huffington post article. Seems appropriate to think about that "title" with the anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo coming up on saturday. IF YOU CAN PLEASE JOIN IN A DEMONSTRATION ON SATURDAY ASKING OUR GOVERNMENT TO FINALLY CLOSE THE PLACE. As for me, I will be in DC preparing to file my clients en banc petition with the DC Circuit Court. Seems an appropriate way to celebrate the beginning of the 13th year of my client being held without charge.

Lynn Stewart released....

In one of the saddest portrayals of our dysfunctional justice department civil rights attorney Lynn Stewart was convicted of aiding a terrorist and sentenced to something like 18 years in prison. Yesterday the justice department asked for a compassionate release since Lynn is dying of breast cancer. The judge signed it immediately and word on the street is that Lynn will be home today. Read more about Lynn's plight here. Welcome back Lynn.

THE 3 REMAINING UIGHERS ARE OFF TO SLOVAKIA....

They were "ordered" by the court to be released in 2008 and now they are finally released. Their transfer has nothing to do with the bill Obama signed a few days ago---this could and should have been done years and years ago. Carol Rosenberg has more on this sad chapter here. I am copying the government press release just because it is such an incongruous description of the misery we have provided these three men: Detainee Transfer Announced Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following: "The Department of Defense is announcing today the transfer of Yusef Abbas, Saidullah Khalik, and Hajiakbar Abdul Ghuper from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Slovakia. "These three are the last ethnic Uighur Chinese nationals to be transferred. They were subject to release from Guantanamo as a result of a court order issued on Oct. 7, 2008, by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and are voluntarily resettling in Slovakia. "As directed by the president's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of these cases. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, these individuals were designated for transfer by unanimous consent among all six agencies on the task force. "In accordance with statutory reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer these individuals. "The United States is grateful to the government of Slovakia for this humanitarian gesture and its willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the government of Slovakia to ensure the transfer took place in accordance with appropriate security and humane treatment measures. "This transfer and resettlement constitutes a significant milestone in our effort to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Secretary Hagel remains grateful to the Defense Department's Special Envoy Paul Lewis, and Department of State Special Envoy Cliff Sloan, for their and their respective teams' many efforts that facilitated this successful transfer. "Today, 155 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay."

We need to put the pressure on to Close Guantanamo NOW

January 11th is the anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo and it will mark the beginning of the 13th year of being held without charge for most of the remaining men. Please let your voices be heard loud and clear that it has to close and it has to close now.

well he signed it.....

Word is out that the president signed the "new and improved" National Defense Authorization Act which the president claims will allow him to release a bunch of the men at Guantanamo. You will note that not having the "new and improved Act" did not stop Obama from releasing 5 men over the last two months....sigh. Anyway you can read about it here.

Things you might have missed over the last week or so....

While we await the president's signature on the relaxing of transfers out of Guantanamo (he could have released most of the men without that provision but now he will have no excuse....) let me share some stories that surfaced over the last week or so: The first commander of Guantanamo called for its closing. You can read about it here. One of the men being "tried" in the military commission was kicked out of court for daring to mention the secret detention sites in other countries. Read it here. Prisoner Shaker Aamer discusses the censoring of books at Guantanamo. Read it here. Child soldier Omar Khadr continues his battles agaist the repressive Canadian government of Harper. read it here.

CHRISTMAS TIME IN Washington....