Lawyers denied access to Gitmo detainee amid ethics investigation

Lawyers for Canadian detainee Omar Khadr were blocked from attending a scheduled Feb. 24 meeting with Khadr at Guantánamo Bay. Officials have launched an investigation into the ethics of the defense team, and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Bill Kuebler, a military lawyer for Khadr, e-mailed media outlets to state that the investigation was prompted by his own criticism of lead defense counsel Air Force Col. Peter Masciola. Kuebler accused Masciola of having a disqualifying conflict of interest after Masciola allegedly implied that Khadr should face an additional civil trial, contradicting the position of the defense team that Khadr should be returned to Canada.

Deputy defense lawyer Michael Berrigan denied that any such conflict of interest exists, and the entire defense team declined to discuss the specifics of the investigation. Officials confirmed that an investigation is underway but did not give further details. Also Feb. 24, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon announced that Canada will not seek Khadr's return and will await the outcome of the US proceedings before making further decisions regarding Khadr.

Military commission proceedings against Khadr are currently suspended until May at the behest of President Obama. Earlier this month, Khadr's defense team presented a plan to return him to Canada, a proposal supported by opposition members of the Canadian House of Commons. Khadr has admitted to throwing a hand grenade that killed a US soldier in Afghanistan, and was charged in April 2007 with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism, and spying. (Jurist, Feb. 25)

See our last post on Guantánamo Bay.

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Omar Khadr lawyers' latest round of troubles

It doesn't matter. Because Omar Khadr isn't ever coming back to Canada, no matter what his lawyers do or think:
http://fakirsca.blogspot.com/2009/02/life-and-times-of-omar-khadr.html
Marnie Tunay
Fakirs Canada
FakirsCA

Omar Khadr

I am from vancouver,canada and i wanted to say that it will be the people of canada who will get Omar Khadr back to canada.The canadian gov. is completly useless.They are part of the problem.I got faith in the working class of canada and we will eventually get Omar Khadr out of Guantanamo.Omar Khadr should get compensated from the canadian gov. for the way they have mishandled this case.Guantanamo prison is a clear case of crimes against humanity.The canadian gov. is an acomplice to these crimes.

Stan Squires