Comments on: Torture in Afghanistan and Guantánamo: Shaker Aamer’s Lawyers Speak http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/02/12/torture-in-afghanistan-and-guantanamo-shaker-aamers-lawyers-speak/ Investigative journalist, author, filmmaker and Guantanamo expert Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:40:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Andy Worthington http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/02/12/torture-in-afghanistan-and-guantanamo-shaker-aamers-lawyers-speak/comment-page-1/#comment-66957 Andy Worthington Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:39:42 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=7102#comment-66957 Good question! I'm hoping that we're going to hear more about this story in the not too distant future. Good question! I’m hoping that we’re going to hear more about this story in the not too distant future.

]]> By: arcticredriver http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/02/12/torture-in-afghanistan-and-guantanamo-shaker-aamers-lawyers-speak/comment-page-1/#comment-66956 arcticredriver Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:34:40 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=7102#comment-66956 When we learned that the CIA had its own secret camp in Guantanamo earlier this year I wondered whether the facility Hickman called "Camp No" may have been the abandoned CIA site. I've wondered whether it was recycled again to serve as "Camp 7/Camp Platinum". When we learned that the CIA had its own secret camp in Guantanamo earlier this year I wondered whether the facility Hickman called “Camp No” may
have been the abandoned CIA site. I’ve wondered whether it was recycled again to serve as “Camp 7/Camp Platinum”.

]]> By: Sanpete http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/02/12/torture-in-afghanistan-and-guantanamo-shaker-aamers-lawyers-speak/comment-page-1/#comment-54748 Sanpete Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:35:41 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=7102#comment-54748 Yeah, I've seen it. (See the FAQ link I gave above for some responses.) Yeah, I’ve seen it. (See the FAQ link I gave above for some responses.)

]]> By: eawicga http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/02/12/torture-in-afghanistan-and-guantanamo-shaker-aamers-lawyers-speak/comment-page-1/#comment-54731 eawicga Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:17:58 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=7102#comment-54731 Sanpete - have you seen this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHupKGP3iX8&feature=player_embedded# Sanpete – have you seen this video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHupKGP3iX8&feature=player_embedded#

]]> By: Sanpete http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2010/02/12/torture-in-afghanistan-and-guantanamo-shaker-aamers-lawyers-speak/comment-page-1/#comment-54713 Sanpete Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:27:26 +0000 http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/?p=7102#comment-54713 You undermine your credibility and usefulness to your cause by uncritically accepting and promoting the misleading and false claims of Denbeaux and Horton concerning the three 2006 Guantanamo suicides. Denbeaux's work on this has become increasingly sloppy; most of the issues he raises are answered in the investigative documents that have been made public, others have been answered by a Pentagon statement to Harper's. Horton's witnesses didn't see anything that implies any wrongdoing, even if their memories are correct, which is doubtful in some respects. The mainstream media have refused to report on the Horton story for good reason--there's no good foundation for it. They need witnesses who actually saw something or who will recant their earlier sworn testimony. Dozens of witnesses gave testimony contradicting Horton's theory. "Horton drew on accounts given by several US military personnel stationed in the guard towers that night, who were able to see into the cell block where the men reportedly hanged themselves, and who all stated that they saw no one hanging" Not so. They had no way to see in the cell blocks and have made no claims to have been able to. For more info on the Horton-Denbeaux death-by-torture-cover-up theory, see the FAQ at this link, which has what appears to be a response from one of Denbeaux's co-authors (Sean Camoni). http://fray.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/3644875.aspx?ArticleID=2243294 As for Shaker Aamer's story about being tortured the same night the others hung themselves, you elsewhere quote his own lawyer saying he is suffering from paranoia and psychosis. http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/03/11/forgotten-in-guantanamo-british-resident-shaker-aamer/ "As it is, frankly, beyond rational dispute that, whatever occurred on the night on June 9. 2006, the official story is fatally flawed, and an independent investigation should be opened" I disagree. The investigation wasn't very good in some respects, probably because it was obvious what had happened, but there's no good ground for a new investigation. Horton and Denbeaux have produced a lot of smoke with no fire. I wish you well in your work, and in keeping it fact-based. You undermine your credibility and usefulness to your cause by uncritically accepting and promoting the misleading and false claims of Denbeaux and Horton concerning the three 2006 Guantanamo suicides. Denbeaux’s work on this has become increasingly sloppy; most of the issues he raises are answered in the investigative documents that have been made public, others have been answered by a Pentagon statement to Harper’s. Horton’s witnesses didn’t see anything that implies any wrongdoing, even if their memories are correct, which is doubtful in some respects. The mainstream media have refused to report on the Horton story for good reason–there’s no good foundation for it. They need witnesses who actually saw something or who will recant their earlier sworn testimony. Dozens of witnesses gave testimony contradicting Horton’s theory.

“Horton drew on accounts given by several US military personnel stationed in the guard towers that night, who were able to see into the cell block where the men reportedly hanged themselves, and who all stated that they saw no one hanging”

Not so. They had no way to see in the cell blocks and have made no claims to have been able to. For more info on the Horton-Denbeaux death-by-torture-cover-up theory, see the FAQ at this link, which has what appears to be a response from one of Denbeaux’s co-authors (Sean Camoni).

http://fray.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/3644875.aspx?ArticleID=2243294

As for Shaker Aamer’s story about being tortured the same night the others hung themselves, you elsewhere quote his own lawyer saying he is suffering from paranoia and psychosis.

http://www.andyworthington.co.uk/2009/03/11/forgotten-in-guantanamo-british-resident-shaker-aamer/

“As it is, frankly, beyond rational dispute that, whatever occurred on the night on June 9. 2006, the official story is fatally flawed, and an independent investigation should be opened”

I disagree. The investigation wasn’t very good in some respects, probably because it was obvious what had happened, but there’s no good ground for a new investigation. Horton and Denbeaux have produced a lot of smoke with no fire.

I wish you well in your work, and in keeping it fact-based.

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