Ahmad Al Halabi
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Al Halabi is an American Muslim Airman
who served in the U.S. Air Force. He was assigned an interpreter at the military detainment camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
. Ahmad was accused and detained based on espionage related charges. All espionage charges were later dismissed. Al-Halabi pled guilty to possessing and transporting classified information, violating a general regulation, and lying to investigators. In September 2004, he was sentenced at Travis AFB, California to a bad conduct discharge, 295 days confinement (essentially time served), and reduction to E-1 rank.
Al Halabi served with James Yee
while at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
At his trial, Al Halabi acknowledged taking documents, but only as souvenirs, or "war trophies." Halabi retains:
In a controversial move, military investigators raided the offices of a military defense counsel at Vandenberg AFB California
, and seized a computer, looking for further evidence of his guilt. This was because he had apparently accessed a "hidden" web page during a break in his Article 32 hearing, but later discovered that it was not hidden, it just did not have the proper links.
Military Prosecutors later acknowledged that of the 200 documents under consideration, all but three were unclassified. U.S. Southern Command determined the documents were classified in February 2004, but the Department of Defense
later determined all but three (which were stapled together) were actually unclassifed.
Major Kim London, one of Halabi's three Defense Counsel said:
Lt Col Bryan Wheeler, lead prosecutor for the U.S. Air Force, disagreed pointing out that Halabi's crimes were "serious."http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=1691
The case received much media attention, including front page coverage by The New York Times
, The Washington Post
, the San Francisco Chronicle
, and the Los Angeles Times
. The case was also featured on CBS 60 Minutes
and National Public Radio's "All Things Considered.
The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his conviction and sentence on April 11, 2007 (see link below). His appeal to the United States Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces was denied in September 2007.
Airman
An airman is a member of the air component of a nation's armed service. In the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force , it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank...
who served in the U.S. Air Force. He was assigned an interpreter at the military detainment camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Ahmad was accused and detained based on espionage related charges. All espionage charges were later dismissed. Al-Halabi pled guilty to possessing and transporting classified information, violating a general regulation, and lying to investigators. In September 2004, he was sentenced at Travis AFB, California to a bad conduct discharge, 295 days confinement (essentially time served), and reduction to E-1 rank.
Al Halabi served with James Yee
James Yee
James J. Yee is an American former United States Army chaplain with the rank of captain...
while at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
At his trial, Al Halabi acknowledged taking documents, but only as souvenirs, or "war trophies." Halabi retains:
- "Senior Airman Ahmad Al Halabi still has homework from high school, 8-year-old utility bills and the business cards from the Air Force recruiters who got him to join four years ago."
In a controversial move, military investigators raided the offices of a military defense counsel at Vandenberg AFB California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and seized a computer, looking for further evidence of his guilt. This was because he had apparently accessed a "hidden" web page during a break in his Article 32 hearing, but later discovered that it was not hidden, it just did not have the proper links.
Military Prosecutors later acknowledged that of the 200 documents under consideration, all but three were unclassified. U.S. Southern Command determined the documents were classified in February 2004, but the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
later determined all but three (which were stapled together) were actually unclassifed.
Major Kim London, one of Halabi's three Defense Counsel said:
- “The government oversold, overcharged and overreacted in this case and now they’re trying to save face, It was suspicion, not evidence, that made people jump to conclusions, The fact is, he was stereotyped.”
Lt Col Bryan Wheeler, lead prosecutor for the U.S. Air Force, disagreed pointing out that Halabi's crimes were "serious."http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=1691
The case received much media attention, including front page coverage by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
, and the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. The case was also featured on CBS 60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
and National Public Radio's "All Things Considered.
The Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his conviction and sentence on April 11, 2007 (see link below). His appeal to the United States Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces was denied in September 2007.
See also
- James YeeJames YeeJames J. Yee is an American former United States Army chaplain with the rank of captain...
- Jack FarrJack FarrColonel Jack Farr was a reserve officer, specializing in military intelligence, who was posted to Camp Delta at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba....
- Ahmed F. MehalbaAhmed F. MehalbaAhmed Fathy Mehalba was a DOD civilian translator/ interrogator who was convicted of lying to government agents and removing classified documents from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.-Childhood and emigration to United States:...
External links
- Guantanamo Spy Cases Evaporate: Chaplain and Arabic Translator Are Now Facing Only Lesser Charges, Washington Post, January 25, 2004
- Airman's spying charges dropped, USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, September 22, 2004 - Airman says he did 'a dumb thing' but was no spy, USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, September 23, 2004 - Al Halabi spy charges dropped: Documents were ‘war trophies,’ airman says, Air Force TimesAir Force TimesAir Force Times is a weekly newspaper serving active, reserve and retired United States Air Force and Air National Guard personnel and their families, providing news, information and analysis as well as community and lifestyle features, educational supplements, and resource guides.Air Force Times...
, October 4, 2004 - [Muslim American Society News Release, September 23, 2004]http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=1691"U.S. Drops Espionage Charges Against Syrian-American Airman,"
- Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals decision, April 11, 2007
- http://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/journal/2007Jrnl/2007Sep.htm Denial of appeal, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces