Should the U.S. Shut Down Gitmo?

Abstract

This panel discussion, held on 27 June 2006 and sponsored by the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), featured James Yee, a 1990 West
Point graduate and Muslim chaplain assigned to Camp Delta (Guantanamo Bay) and attorney Gene Fidell of Feldesman, Tucker, Leifer, and Fidell, who
has worked on cases involving Guantanamo Bay inmates. The discussion
took place at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC.
After making opening remarks on illegal immigrants and terrorism,
Mohammad Nimer (research director, CAIR) introduced Chaplain Yee, who
had served at Camp Delta from November 2002 to September 2003. While
there, he experienced the detention center's living conditions and received
awards and recognition for his service. On 10 September 2003, however, he
was arrested and accused of espionage, aiding the enemy, mutiny, and sedition.
Eventually, he was locked up alongside enemy combatants Yasser
Hamdy and Jose Padilla in a naval brig in South Carolina. Later, all charges
were dropped, including unrelated charges regarding national security.
Yee explained his role as advocating for the free exercise of worship. He
advised the camp commander on religious aspects of prison operations and
listened to prisoners’ complaints and concerns, including authorized and
unescorted access to the cells. In addition, he observed detainee treatment
and made recommendations. He described two operations: detention operations
run by military police or guards (e.g., providing them with clothes) and
intelligence gathering, which included extracting information. Yee was
assigned to the former group, as the commanding general at the time, Major
General Geoffrey Miller, considered it unethical for the chaplain to be present
during intelligence gathering operations ...