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Gitmo Cover-up?

February 09, 2007 1:26 PM

Gitmo_abuse_abc_nr_4 An investigation by the U.S. Southern Command into allegations of prisoner abuse at Guantanamo  Bay detention center has concluded that "insufficient evidence exists to substantiate the paralegal's allegations."

But Lieutenant Colonel Colby Vokey, the superior officer to the Marine sergeant who filed the allegations, called the investigation "outrageous." "I am aware that the investigators interviewed only the suspects and some witnesses but did not interview any detainees or potential victims," he told ABC News.  "Failure to interview those who may have been subjected to abuse is indicative of an incomplete investigation."

As first reported on "The Blotter" on ABCNews.com, Heather Cerveny (pictured), 23, a Marine Corps sergeant, who spent a week on the base last September working as a legal aide to  Lt. Col. Vokey, said she was "shocked" to hear several guards from different parts of the base openly speak of mistreating prisoners.

One said, "I took the detainee by the head and smashed his head into the cell door," she told ABC News in October after filing a sworn affidavit with the Pentagon Inspector General.  Another "was telling his buddy, 'Yeah, this one detainee, you know, really pissed me off, irritated me.  So I just, you know, punched him in the face.'"

The following investigation by SouthCom, which oversees military activities in the Caribbean and Latin America, looked into Cerveny's account and another filed by a civilian employee on the base that recounted a conversation between a female guard and a male interrogator on a training range.  After interviewing 20 suspects and witnesses and combing through "three JTF-Guantanamo records systems used to trace detainee-guard interaction," investigators determined, "The evidence did not support any of the allegations of mistreatment and harassment."

Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.

Amongst the recommendations issued by the investigating officer but ultimately rejected by the SouthCom commander following the investigation was "that disciplinary or other action be taken against Sergeant Cerveny," which Lt. Col Vokey says is the most "outrageous part of the investigation."

"The interview of her [Sgt. Cerveny] was ridiculous and oppressive," he said.  "The investigating officers, a colonel and a captain, walked straight into her office with the intent to accuse her of a crime before she even opened her mouth.  The colonel already had the form in his hand to read her her rights and accuse her, before the interview started."

Lt. Col. Vokey says this investigation sets a dangerous precedent for all officers who find themselves in a position to report suspected criminal activity.  "This was outrageous and sends a dangerous message to all our service members: you'd better not report anything that goes on at Guantanamo Bay, or you'll be threatened or charged with a crime."

Read the press release from United States Southern Command.

February 9, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (28)

User Comments

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wait a second, who gave any of you the right to label every single person in guantanemo a "terrorist"... you have been manipulated into labeling anyone you please as a "terrorist"... need i remind you that out of 775 detainees who have been brought to Guantanamo, approximately 340 have been released with NO CHARGES, leaving 435 detainees. Of those 435, 110 have been labeled as ready for release. Of the other 325, only "more than 70" will face trial. The rest can be detained for AS LONG AS THE GOVERNMENT PLEASES WITHOUT CHARGES. And now you have some of you shouting "yeah, beat the hell outta them" because you are too absorbed in your own world to even realize that's the same mindset that you claim to be fighting AGAINST. Need I remind you of a document long forgotten by most of your kind called the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, which states you are innocent until proven guilty. Hell, even Saddam got the dignity of a trial and you just want to beat the hell out of these people while most of them haven't even been charged with anything? You make me sick.

Posted by: Anonymous | Feb 11, 2007 4:37:47 AM

The US military seems to tell lies all the time. They cannot be trusted, can they?

Posted by: Kret | Feb 11, 2007 9:52:18 AM

When did we begin to trust politicians? Surely we all heard our parents and grandparents warnings about such things. Our biggest problem in this country is laziness! Its much easier to tow the party line, than to actually do a little reading ourselves. Thats why we're in this mess we're in now. ITS OUR FAULT!!! Yours and Mine! I could not be more embarrased of what our elected officials have done (or havent done)under the guise of security for Our Great Nation! I love my Country...Thats why I'm so ticked!

Posted by: Dont Believe The Hype | Feb 11, 2007 11:54:55 AM

All this happenings simply goes on to confirm that Bush is a Dictator in the Likes of Saddam.If abuses such as the going on in various detention camps around the world on behalf of the american government is being justified and cover up,it reminds one of the infamous Aushwitz where also prisoners have no right and debaucheries are covered up just like Guatanamo.

Posted by: kaine | Feb 12, 2007 4:14:43 AM

The comments of the obvious republican posters above prove that conservatives are far more like the communists than they are different. America has come to strongly resemble the USSR the last few years. From now on, I'll be calling it the USSA. The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are the contracts we were born into. If we truly believe in them, we need to copy and paste our Constitution/Bill of Rights from America to Iraq and every other country that America annexes. But that's not happening. It's very telling about so-called conservatives. They spit on and shame the American Way.

Posted by: dean berry | Feb 12, 2007 5:44:53 AM

Shane Wilson,

I salute you, for having the vision to see, what the blind are too terrified of believing.

I salute you, for having the courage to shout it out, whilst other cry and whine about the newest 'scandal'.

I salute you, for hearing the battle-shouts of those that want you dead.

I salute you, to have the senses to smell the lies and deceit around you. Yes I know the stench of their lies. It permeates the air all around.

At least there is still one American with the courage to fight those who wish us dead. Was it not for this, I would lose all hope.

One day the war will BEGIN, and the rest will say "Why didnt we do something?"

It's too late for Britain. They have been overrun by these extremists.

Believe it or not. WE ARE the worlds only hope. Like it. Or not.

Proudly. Standing Tall And Strong. With Love.

JelloBiafra

Posted by: JelloBiafra | Feb 12, 2007 10:13:05 AM

I tried to stay away from posting on this subject, but you folks need to read what you write and look into yourself and think is this what I really believe? I'm a Vietnam veteran, and what I am reading here is probably as bad as the veterans of nam went through when they came home. Now, I'm not saying things aren't as they are being portrayed, but not every military person is bad. If you think that, when the time comes, and it is, you; the ones who don't like the military do the defending and fighting, and dyiny for what is right or wrong depending on your belief or what someone else tells you.
The sad thing is alot of people think this war is all over oil. Read history, there has been more wars fought and more people killed in the name of religion than anything else. You americans are infidels and must be eradicated. You should look to the past to get a clear view of the future.
There is a loot of wrong in the world, if people keep feeding it to the world news, the enemies of our great country find weakness and exploit it.
Walk on a college campus and see a foreigner, who by the way is in this country on a visa and and paying half the cost of an american kid; walking on an american flag to make a statement. A right fought for by our military. Think! In my day it was said if you need help call a hippy. Who do we call today?

Posted by: sport | Feb 12, 2007 10:14:24 AM

The poster (was it Hill?) who posted all that rationalization regarding why we should be angry and thus is justified...I am willing to bet cut and pasted that posted from some web page...written by a neocon thinktankers...

But supposing he was intelligent enough to plaster such obvious propoganda...
the only thing I have to say to the likes of him: please don't procreate.

Posted by: numina | Feb 12, 2007 10:47:42 PM

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