09-15-2004, 07:12
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#1
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Administrators
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 2,264
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A taste of his own...
...for up to the next 10 years.
Quote:
Americans Accused of Torture Sentenced
By STEPHEN GRAHAM, Associated Press Writer
KABUL, Afghanistan - Three Americans accused of torturing Afghans in a private jail were found guilty Wednesday in a Kabul court after a trial denounced by the defense as failing to meet basic international standards of fairness.
The three-judge panel sentenced accused ringleader Jonathan Idema, a former soldier with a past fraud conviction, and his right-hand man, Brent Bennett, to 10 years in jail. New York journalist Edward Caraballo received an eight-year term. Four Afghan accomplices were also convicted and sentenced to terms ranging from one to five years.
Presiding Judge Abdul Baset Bakhtyari issued the unanimous verdict after a 7 1/2-hour session in which the defense argued that the war-battered Afghan justice system did not guarantee basic rights.
The judge had indicated he might give the defense more time to make its case but apparently changed his mind after letting lawyers for the men show several videotapes they said attested to their innocence.
Idema, who attended each hearing wearing sunglasses and khaki fatigues bearing a U.S. flag, denounced the decision as a throwback to the times of the hard-line Taliban movement.
"It's the same sick Taliban judges, the same sick sense of justice," Idema said as he was led, handcuffed, out of the courtroom.
"I knew that the American government wasn't going to help me," he added.
He said he planned to appeal.
The men were arrested July 5 after Afghan security forces raided a house in downtown Kabul and discovered eight Afghans who said they had been tortured as part of the Americans' freelance hunt for terrorists.
Wednesday's proceedings were the most orderly yet in a trial mired by chaotic procedures, dismal translation and constant outbursts from Idema. Scant evidence was produced, and there was little cross-examination.
The Americans had faced up to 20 years in jail on charges of kidnapping, torture, theft and illegal entry into Afghanistan (news - web sites). In announcing his verdict, Bakhtyari did not outline precisely what charges the men were found guilty of.
The defense drew heavily on video shot by Caraballo, a journalist who says he was making a documentary on America's war on terrorism.
Video shown in court shows the group being greeted at Kabul Airport by the airport director and the city police chief — evidence the defense said showed that they did not come to Afghanistan illegally but instead had official support for their mission.
The three said their entry was arranged personally by Afghanistan's ambassador to India, a senior member of the Northern Alliance who has known Idema for several years, although they acknowledged not having official visas.
"It's ridiculous to claim they entered illegally under these circumstances," defense lawyer Robert Fogelnest said.
Fogelnest also argued that the Afghan legal system was so badly devastated by more than two decades of war that it wasn't fit to carry out the trial.
This entire proceeding "doesn't meet international standards and should be halted," he said, but was quickly cut off by Bakhtyari, who insisted he stick to discussing the charges against his clients.
"Come to the point, if you have any arguments," the judge said.
Idema, of Fayetteville, N.C., claims to have unearthed a plot to bomb the main American military base north of Kabul and assassinate Afghan leaders. In an interview with The Associated Press, he also claimed to be hot on the trail of Osama bin Laden (news - web sites).
The U.S. military in Afghanistan has admitted receiving a prisoner from Idema and holding him for about two months. NATO forces also cooperated briefly with the three, sending explosives experts to assist in three armed arrest raids in the Afghan capital.
But Idema has since been denounced by the alliance and the American military as an impostor, and disowned by Afghan leaders and the Defense Department, where he claims to have high-level contacts.
Several of the group's former prisoners have told the court they were beaten, burned with scalding water and deprived of food and sleep.
Idema says the prisoners were subjected to "standard interrogation techniques" — but no abuse.
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Dan is offline
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09-15-2004, 07:42
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#2
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: In the land of the little people
Posts: 761
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There is a nice picture of his ass being led away im handcuffs. I hope he watched "Midnight Express." 
Think the US will let him rot over there or will they work out some deal to get him sent to a US prison?
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brewmonkey is offline
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09-15-2004, 08:30
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#3
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Gun Pilot
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Iowa and New Mexico
Posts: 2,143
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by brewmonkey
Think the US will let him rot over there or will they work out some deal to get him sent to a US prison?
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My vote would be to leave him there.
Terry
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E7-CW3-direct commission VN
B model gunship pilot 65-66 Soc Trang, Cobra Pilot 68-69-70 Can Tho Life member 101st Airborne Association
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CPTAUSRET is offline
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09-15-2004, 08:43
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Currently FT. Bragg
Posts: 622
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In the book Task Force Dagger(Robin Moore) he talks about this guy. Idema claims to be a former QP. is this true?? or just a false claim on his part.
__________________
There is only one tactical principal which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wounds, death and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.
Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.
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Jgood is offline
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09-15-2004, 08:47
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#5
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Gun Pilot
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Iowa and New Mexico
Posts: 2,143
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jgood
In the book Task Force Dagger(Robin Moore) he talks about this guy. Idema claims to be a former QP. is this true?? or just a false claim on his part.
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I will leave your answer to those on this site with first hand knowledge, but Idema is full of it, and he duped Robin Moore.
Tery
__________________
E7-CW3-direct commission VN
B model gunship pilot 65-66 Soc Trang, Cobra Pilot 68-69-70 Can Tho Life member 101st Airborne Association
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CPTAUSRET is offline
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09-15-2004, 09:01
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#6
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Area Commander
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Buckingham, Pa.
Posts: 1,746
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jgood
In the book Task Force Dagger(Robin Moore) he talks about this guy. Idema claims to be a former QP. is this true?? or just a false claim on his part.
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My understanding is that he was a QP for a period during the 80's but that none of his former teamates have anything nice to say about the guy and that his exploits in the Moore book are nothing more than a flight of fancy.
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rubberneck is offline
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09-15-2004, 09:26
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: LA
Posts: 1,653
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Idema went to the Q course, he was never a Quiet Professional.
__________________
Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
Still want to quit?
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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09-15-2004, 10:09
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#8
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 438
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In all the pictures from the sentencing Idema looks like he's mugging for the cameras. His young buddy looks like he's going to be the pleasure-boy of the week in the prison.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...s__body_ap.jpg
__________________
They only the victory win
Who have fought the good fight and have vanquished the demon that tempts us within;
Who have held to their faith unseduced by the prize that the world holds on high;
Who have dared for a high cause to suffer, resist, fight—if need be, to die.
Last edited by Jimbo; 09-15-2004 at 10:11.
Reason: add pics
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Jimbo is offline
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09-15-2004, 13:08
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: OCONUS...again
Posts: 4,702
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Jimbo
Just from that pic...we have not heard the last of him.
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“It is better to have sheep led by a lion than lions led by a sheep.”
-DE OPPRESSO LIBER-
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Guy is offline
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09-15-2004, 13:43
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#10
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 438
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__________________
They only the victory win
Who have fought the good fight and have vanquished the demon that tempts us within;
Who have held to their faith unseduced by the prize that the world holds on high;
Who have dared for a high cause to suffer, resist, fight—if need be, to die.
Last edited by Jimbo; 09-15-2004 at 13:44.
Reason: photos
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Jimbo is offline
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09-15-2004, 17:35
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,804
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"He'll be Back!"
I bet he does not complete a year in confinement there.
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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09-15-2004, 19:02
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,045
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Reaper
"He'll be Back!"
I bet he does not complete a year in confinement there.
TR
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I heard a rumor that the "A" team was going to bust him out.
I pity the fool
__________________
"Are you listening or just waiting to talk?"
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
"Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
Optimus Prime
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Kyobanim is offline
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09-16-2004, 20:43
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Fayetteville NC
Posts: 3,533
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The Edema
Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Reaper
"He'll be Back!"
I bet he does not complete a year in confinement there.
TR
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I'll take that bet Reaper, he has pissed in too many peoples' wheaties. Piss on him and his law suits and his so called "credibility".
Only fools believe that man, and no he was NEVER a "quiet professional", hell he was never a professional for cripes sake. Only a little loud mouthed bitch.
He does have good lies though.
__________________
Hold Hard guys
Rick B.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is knowing it is great on a hamburger but not so great sticking one up your ass.
Author - Richard.
Experience is what you get right after you need it.
Author unknown. 
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longrange1947 is offline
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09-16-2004, 23:58
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#14
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Guerrilla Chief
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Vancouver (Not BC), Washington (Not DC)
Posts: 505
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kyobanim
I heard a rumor that the "A" team was going to bust him out.
I pity the fool
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Sigh... there was actually someone about a month ago on SOCNET who was talking about doing just this. Funny and sad at the same time... like watching a clown quit the circus, take off his red wig and make-up, and then get hit by a car while leaving the tent.
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Bravo1-3 is offline
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09-17-2004, 06:57
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#15
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: OCONUS...again
Posts: 4,702
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Something ain't right...
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jimbo
I suspect you are right, Guy.
More of the clown posing for the camera:
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In court wearing shades...how come no one took his shades?
__________________
“It is better to have sheep led by a lion than lions led by a sheep.”
-DE OPPRESSO LIBER-
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Guy is offline
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