BBC: 'Freelance' US fighter identified (secret Afghanistan prison)

[UpInArms]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3876601.stm

Three foreigners arrested in Kabul this week were on a freelance counter-terrorism mission, the Afghan government says.

They include at least one US national, Jonathan K Idema, a purported former US special services soldier who says he helped fight the Taleban in 2001.

The men were detained for illegally holding Afghans in a private prison.

<snip>

"The public should be aware that Idema does not represent the American government and we do not employ him," a US statement said.

Security sources have told the BBC that the US military circulated warning notices about Mr Idema some time ago, describing him as armed and dangerous and accusing him of interfering with military operations in Afghanistan.

...more...

[iconoclastic cat]

1. Yeah, right. "He's not one of ours!"

How do these kind of people get into our army, right, Rummy?

Dildo.

Does anyone believe this bunch when they disavow knowledge about their own cadre of criminals?

[jukes]

2. only freeps

n/f/n

[nodictators]

3. Isn't Idema an "Illegal Combatant"?

According to Rummy's directives, shouldn't he be captured, stripped naked, waterboarded, interrogated, and imprisoned?

[riverwalker]

4. "prisoners hanging from their feet"

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3179670

"Afghan forces arrested three Americans on a freelance counter-terrorism mission after bursting into a private jail that the trio were allegedly running and finding prisoners hanging from their feet, officials said.
The US military, facing a widening investigation into prisoner abuse, quickly distanced itself from the three, who had been posing as American agents before their detention on Monday in Kabul.
Afghan officials also dismissed claims by the apparent ringleader, a purported former Green Beret called Jonathan K. Idema, that he was a “special adviser” to their security forces."

<snip>"Idema, described in media reports as an ex-special forces operative better known as “Jack,” first appeared in Afghanistan in late 2001, when US and allied Afghan forces routed the Taliban.
He featured prominently in a top-selling book called “The Hunt for Bin Laden,” which says he fought for 10 months with the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.
One police official said Idema’s group appeared to be behind the disappearance of a man in west Kabul three weeks ago.
Jalali said all eight prisoners found on Monday were released. It was not clear how long they had been held." <snip>

[daleo]

5. Who was their paymaster?

These guys weren't hanging around a dangerous war zone for free. Apocalypse Now was a movie.

If they weren't being paid by the CIA or U.S. military, then it must be drug related (which could still be CIA).

[Blackaxe]

6. "Freelance" counter-terrorism?

They're probably just out-and-out crooks trying to take advantage of an unstable country.

[seemslikeadream]

7. This is a dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x673846