WikiLeaks cables show US U-turn over ex-Guantánamo inmate

[seafan]

Another example of the ludicrous U. S. policy at Guantánamo.


Washington shown lavishing praise on Moazzam Begg over his campaign for Europe to take in other detainees

Ewen MacAskill at the Guardian reports:

November 30, 2010

The US has made a startling U-turn over the former British Guantánamo detainee Moazzam Begg, heaping praise on a man it accused only a few years ago of being a terrorist.

An American ambassador in Europe applauded in a leaked cable Begg's campaign to persuade European countries to take in remaining Guantánamo detainees.

Cynthia Stroum, ambassador to Luxembourg, acknowledges the irony of lavishing praise on Begg, who was alleged by the US to have been an instructor at an al-Qaida training camp in Afghanistan. In a cable labelled "To Hell and Back: Gitmo ex-detainee stumps in Luxembourg", Stroum wrote that Begg was "barnstorming" through Europe. In January this year, he met the Luxembourg government and spoke at a public meeting.

"Mr Begg is doing our work for us and his articulate, reasoned presentation makes for a convincing argument. It is ironic that after four years of imprisonment and alleged torture Moazzam Begg is delivering the same demarche to GOL (the government of Luxembourg) as we are: please consider accepting GTMO detainees for resettlement."

The cable is one of thousands offering insights into a massive US campaign led by the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, to coax reluctant countries around the world to take detainees. The cables show US diplomats resorting to flattery, pressure and financial inducements but still meeting with snubs, particularly from Europe.

.....

There are 174 detainees left in the Guantánamo camps, which were established in 2002 and held 775 at their peak. Of those remaining, the US has said it plans to hold about 60-80 with a view to putting some on trial and keeping others in indefinite detention. It is looking for homes for the remainder.

Barack Obama promised to close Guantánamo by January this year but was unable to fulfil the pledge.

.....

One day Moazzam Begg is thrown into Guantánamo, 'alleged by the US to have been an instructor at an al-Qaida training camp in Afghanistan', and on another day, he's praised by the U. S. political power centers as a disciple for our agenda who "is doing our work for us.".




The Bush Legacy rolls on, with new, meticulous caretakers.

[rainbow4321]

1. I just was looking for a post on this

Found it while cable browsing...



"Mr. Begg is doing our work for us"

Of course they throw in there about "irony" since he is still doing this after years of imprisonment and "alleged torture". Gotta throw that word alleged in there, of course!


Get over yourself, US, most likely he is doing this for his (former) fellow innocent prisoners and NOT the US.