Watching the Shadows

Gitmo complies with Geneva Conventions: Pentagon report

A report prepared for the Pentagon by US Navy Admiral Patrick Walsh under order of President Obama concluded that the Guantánamo Bay detention center meets the requirements of the Geneva Conventions.

Watching the Shadows

Obama: no rights for Afghan detainees

Embracing a key argument of the Bush White House, the Obama administration told a federal judge that US military detainees in Afghanistan have no legal right to challenge their imprisonment.

Greater Middle East

Terror in Egypt —as jihadi bigwig recants

As a terror attack shakes Cairo, a founder of Egypt’s Islamist movement, Sayyid Imam “Dr. Fadl” al-Sharif, has released a prison memoir harshly critical of al-Qaeda and its emulators.

Iran

Iran: labor leaders flogged, arrested

Judicial authorities in Iran carried out lashing sentences against labor leaders Shiva Kheirabadi and Sosuan Razani for their participation in May Day events last year, while several more unionists were arrested.

The Andes

Ecuador expels US diplomats

Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa expelled two US diplomats on charges of trying to handpick officials of the National Police. Ecuadoran press accounts charge CIA involvement.

Iraq

Trial of Iraq’s shoe-throwing journalist postponed

The trial of Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist accused of throwing his shoes at George Bush, has been postponed so the court can determine if Bush’s visit was “official” and respond to the defense.