The Obama Administration’s Troubling Amnesia Regarding Germany
The Obama administration is reportedly still trying to convince Germany to accept Guantánamo detainees who have been cleared for release. An earlier attempt to get Germany to accept some or all of the famous Uighur detainees failed. This was presumably due to German reluctance to offend China, which wants the men repatriated to face terror charges. In the meantime, the German Interior Ministry has made clear that Germany will only accept detainees who have some “connection” to Germany.
Now the Obama administration has proposed two detainees who are supposed to have such a “connection.” According to a report in the German news magazine Focus, one of the two men is a Tunisian who entered Germany illegally in 1996 and applied for asylum under an assumed name. Focus reports that the man lived in Frankfurt and was known to the local police as a drug-dealer and petty criminal. Faced with expulsion, he left Germany for Pakistan in 1999. The man is supposed to have received weapons training at an al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan. The German news magazine Der Spiegel identifies him as Rafiq Bin Bashir al-Hami.
The second man is reportedly a Syrian national and he has an even more interesting résumé than the first. Focus reports that he appears in a 2001 al-Qaeda video, in which he presents himself as a candidate for “martyrdom.” Der Spiegel identifies the man as Abd Al Rahim Abdul Rassak Janko. Der Spiegel adds that the video in question was found in Afghanistan in the ruins of the house of al-Qaeda military chief Mohammed Atef and that Janko appears in the video “alongside” none other than Ramzi Binalshibh, one of the principal facilitators of the 9/11 attacks. Der Spiegel cites the information provided by American envoy Daniel Fried to German authorities as the source for its report.
In declassified hearings conducted at Guantánamo, Janko has admitted to having made such a video, but claims to have done so under duress. (For the hearing transcripts, see here, pp. 3620-3633; and here, pp. 23143-23158.) In the declassified portion of Janko’s Guantánamo files, there is no mention, however, of his having had contact with Binalshibh. Janko has also admitted to receiving arms training in an al-Qaeda camp.
It is not clear from the Focus and Spiegel reports what Janko’s connection to Germany is supposed to be. Apart from a statement by the detainee that he once visited the German Embassy (in the United Arab Emirates) to seek asylum, there is no mention of Germany in the declassified portion of Janko’s Guantánamo files. There is, however, a tantalizing allusion to claims that Janko once met with a not-further-identified “Western” intelligence agency. (See here, p. 572.)
Here, in any case, are some other persons with known connections to Germany:
Mohammed Atta
Hamburg cell member, 9/11 plot leader, 9/11 suicide pilot.
According to Germany’s leading daily Die Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (January 12, 2003), German domestic intelligence had Atta and other members of the Hamburg cell under observation beginning as early as 1999.
Ziad Jarrah
Hamburg cell member and 9/11 suicide pilot.
Marwan Al-Shehhi
Hamburg cell member and 9/11 suicide pilot.
Ramzi Binalshibh
Hamburg cell member and chief facilitator of the 9/11 attacks from German soil.
According to a 2003 Spanish indictment, German intelligence had Binalshibh under surveillance as late as July 2001, when he traveled from Hamburg to Tarragona in order to meet with Atta and make final preparations for the 9/11 attacks. (See Juzgado Central de Instruccion no.005, Madrid, Sumario (Proc. Ordinario) 0000035 /2001 E, p. 322.)
“What was the president thinking when he asked the Germans to take prisoners from Guantanamo?”
Four things:
1. That it would make him look good.
2. That it would increase his power.
3. That it would make him look good.
4. That it would increase his power.
“What was the president thinking when he asked the Germans to take prisoners from Guantanamo?”
It’s called desperation. President Hope&Change is about to be hoisted on his own Guantanamo petard.
Why waste the time money and effort, just leave Guantanamo open and admit that in reality that it is not possible due to national security. This would of course make him have to admit that he was wrong in making such a promise and then as president an executive order in the first place. His inexperience is showing to all the world, and now people are finally saying no to his demands, and it is a good thing!
1. Meryl,
Do you ever get the distinct feeling that DohBama wears mirrors INSIDE of his sunglasses?
Guantánamo was the weirdest ‘red herring’ out of ‘HIS’ campaign. Seriously, wtf, dude?
No worries though. I’m sure there will be some really ‘deep’ article about Doh-Boy consisting of ‘Boxers or Briefs’ and Doh will make some snarky [scripted] joke and there will be giggles/chuckles/clowns and lots of confetti. Then, there will be a cover of Michelle photo-shopped to the hilt with her ‘Aliens’ smile and ‘Proud to be an ‘merican now’ tight dress on, flexing her ‘guns’ [because she has a right to 'bare' arms, haaaaaaaardy-har-puke-har].
But, I repeat myself.
But, I repeat myself.
The masses in Europe are now turning on Obama because his economic policies are hurting recovery in Europe just about as much as thy are in the US.
And the effort to export detainees from Gitmo to Germany won’t help his credibility in Europe either.
Will Obama ever learn that his charismatic charm won’t get the job done anywhere outside of the US?
5. Chip:
“Will Obama ever learn that his charismatic charm won’t get the job done anywhere outside of the US?”
You make it sound as if ‘Bama has actually gotten the job IN the USA. HA! I beg to dif witchya.
-job DONE
I can type. Really. Honest.
Another reason not to ship any terrorists to Germany: A few months after the 1972 Munich terrorist attack during the Olympic Games, the Germans RELEASED the terrorists they had captured. Simply to kiss up to the islamic fascists and Arab dictators.
4. Delia
“1. Meryl,
Do you ever get the distinct feeling that DohBama wears mirrors INSIDE of his sunglasses?”
Yes. Probably with little tiny windshield wipers to keep his view of himself quite clear.
Along with that, his body language sure could provide a thesis for someone to get a doctorate in abnormal psychology. His arrogance makes my skin crawl.
Der ObamanFuhrer said they were safe now.
He has spread his noble words upon them and they were enlightened.
Just the mere blindingly brilliant thought emitted from the lips of the great one is enough to bring a peaceful euphoria to the minds of any formerly oppressed peoples, his apologies for all our horrible evils in the world bringing about true justice.
Remember he can lower the tides, change the temperature, and make the lion lay down with the lamb.
He is god-like in his grandeur worthy of leg-tingling obeisance and so much more.
Once the silly little people in Iran settle down and accept his ministrations, the first meeting between him and fellow community organizer Ahmedinajab will bring peace and love to all.
He’s gonna keep on trying. To keep Gtmo open is to admit BusHitler was right, along with keeping his policies on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Of course, he’s changed Bush’s policies vis-a-vis Israel and Iran. How’s that working out for you?
Don’t worry, dear American friends: Guantanamo will be closed, just as your great President promised! Rest assured that Germany will take a number of those prisoners (or maybe all of them?). After all, so I’ve heard, they are mostly just harmless people who just wanted to spend a nice holiday in Pakistan or Afghanistan, some of them most holy wanting to study the Holy Quran; after all, everybody has the RIGHT to do this!? So, Merkel will proudly take them, I fear; after all, this is just the German’s OBLIGATION, after Hitler and the Holocaust!
Okay, let’s pray very hard that Gtmo will not be closed and these nice peaceful people will be able to stay there!
“In the meantime, the German Interior Ministry has made clear that Germany will only accept detainees who have some “connection” to Germany.”
Sure there must be the odd member of the vast Husseini clan around?
Oh! I figured it out! Maybe he thinks Auschwitz is still open for business!
“Oh! I figured it out! Maybe he thinks Auschwitz is still open for business!
”
How VERY funny, smiley included!
Um, no, not funny at all.
Anyways, President Obama has no interest in what happens once the murderers are out of his hands. With the tame media hacks out there, as long as there is a possible out (as in “They had been transferred to German Custody”) he can always spin to to be someone else’s fault.
Actually it’s interesting that Germany is the origin of the September 11, 2001 attacks which precipitated the “war against Islamicist terrorism” and thus the “Islamicism conflict” and also against the Jews as well. In that sense the origins for both are Germany, not somewhere else and although certainly a difference in scale the use of religion as a means of use to invade other countries (Germany used the supposed “problematic Jews” as a “rationale” for why they should be invading other countries in Europe during World War Two)is the same, so there are many parallels.