Officer off Gitmo jury for agreeing with Obama

[IndianaGreen]

Source: MSNBC

Officer off Gitmo jury for agreeing with Obama

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — A veteran U.S. Army officer who agreed with President Barack Obama that the Guantanamo Bay prison should be closed was excluded from the jury in a U.S. military commission trial Wednesday after prosecutors objected that he had "pre-conceived" views that might jeopardize their case.

The move came as prosecutors and jurors selected a seven-person jury of military officers to hear the case of Omar Khadr, the so-called "child soldier" accused of hurling a hand grenade that killed an American soldier in a firefight in Afghanistan eight years ago.

Khadr, now 23, has spent a third of his life at Guantanamo. He is accused of murder and attempted murder in the first trial before the Obama administration’s revamped military commissions.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38667591/ns/us_news-security/

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More evidence that this "court" is no different from a North Korean military court.

Earlier thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x553051

[sandnsea]

1. Question

All other complaints aside for the moment, are you saying that whenever the prosecution dismisses a juror for a stupid reason or no reason, that automatically means there is no justice in that court?

[Iowa]

6. It wasn't for a "stupid reason" or "no reason"...

They excluded him because he believed that Guantanamo should be closed. They didn't want a juror who bought into the quaint notion of constitutional principles. If that doesn't constitute a kangaroo court, I don't know what does.

So yes.... I would agree that it is quite reasonable to believe that there is no justice in that court.

[sandnsea]

8. Every trial has jurors dismissed

Peremptory challenges are part of our justice system. There doesn't have to be any reason, or the reason can be potential bias of juror. There can be complaints from the jurors and a judge can do an interview and dismiss a juror, without explaining the reason why. Basaed on the juror dismissal alone, our entire justice system is a kangaroo court.

Did you forget the jury selection process in our court system?

[24601]

9. Kangaroo court when the defense also bounced someone? Because

they did as well. But you wouldn't know that if all you read is one-sided.

[truthisfreedom]

2. Appearance of impropriety could further tarnish the legitimacy of this trial.

People with no preconceived notions are probably the best choice for us to get through this thing.

[Snazzy]

3. "Appearance of impropriety" is a done deal once you admit torture confessions

Hmmm, I'd think we're firmly in the "impropriety" category.

Some other categories: evil, inhumane, war crimes, un-American.


(Edit: the seething rage caused by the fact of my country doing this shit causes me to type bad)

[davidthegnome]

5. Excellent point

Sadly, I have to agree with your categorization.

[Snazzy]

4. here's a private citizen with no preconceived notions for you

I hear he's available

[IndianaGreen]

7. So people that believe that there is nothing wrong with the Gitmo concentration camp are okay

but those that think the Constitution and international law should be adhered to are not okay?

[Posteritatis]

10. Gitmo trials are naught but impropriety

It goes without saying that they're rigged, and even if someone was miraculously found not guilty of whatever secret charges were arrayed against them, it's not like they'd be allowed to go free.