State Department cable reporting on a meeting between an Ambassador and the representative of the wives and family members of detainees’ held at Guantanamo. A letter was passed to the Ambassador and a request to visit the detainees to check on their health and condition. This cable contains talking points to address the status of these citizens being held at Guantanamo. The cable goes on to state; 1) The U.S. government cannot address specific questions about specific detainees at this time; 2) all detainees are being treated humanely and in accordance with the Geneva Conventions; and 3) all detainees are being give appropriate food, adequate toiletry items and access to health and sanitary facilities. Detainees will be sent home at the end of the hostilities.
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PT06692
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RELEASED IN PART
PAGE 01 ,E184772 240209ZE
STATE ORIGIN SWCI-00 B7(A), B7(C), B3, CIA
CA-01ECG-00E
COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00. DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
EB-00EFAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00E
INFO LOG-00 AID-00 A-00ECCO-00ECIAE-00
EUR-00ETEDE-00
INR-00ECAC-00EM-00
INSE-00 JUSE-00 L-00EVCE-00E
AC-01ERA-00E
NRCE-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OCS-03EPM-00
PRS-00• ACE-00ESCT-00ESS-00E
P-00ESSO-00ETEST-00
TRSE-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 PMB-00ESAS-00
DSCC-00 G-00E
/005R
184772
SOURCE: DISKETTE.022981
DRAFTED BY: S/WCI:RMILLER -- 09/24/02 (202) 647-5093
APPROVED BY:
B7(A), B7(C)
DOD/OGC:EDAVIDSON DOJ:MINCONTRO L/NESA:LIDOLAN NSC/LEGAL:JSCHARFEN CIA/CTC: I I B3 DOD/SOLIC:RHYAMS P:AGORDON EUR/NB:KFIZPATRICK
PIS/CT:DSCOTT B7(A), B7(C)
DESIRED DISTRIBUTION:
S/WCI, L, P, S/CT,
EBC1C0 240210Z /15 O 240105Z SEP 02 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSYIE(IMMEDIATE B7(A), B7(C) INFO JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0000 USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
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184772 240209Z
UNCLAS STATE 184772
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER, KAWC, PINR, I I
B7(A), B7(C)
SUBJECT: DISPOSITION/CONDITION OF' DETAINEE
AT GUANTANAMO BAY.
REF: C) STATE 20095
[NOD'S]
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 1
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REVIEW AUTHORITY: SHARON E AHMAD DATE/CASE ID: 06 DEC 2004 200303827 UNCLASSIFIED DOS-002102
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 2
UNCLASSIFIED
Current Handling: n/a
Document Number: 2002STATE184772 Channel: n/a
1.
(U) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE -- SEE PARAGRAPH 3.
2.
(SBU) REF A DESCRIBES RECENT MEETING BETWEEN AMBASSADOR AND
B7(A), B7(C)
EFFORT TO RE-EXAMINE THE. STATUS OF THE
EDETAINEE, I I AT GUANTANAMO AND TO
EIIN ANE
E
EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS. BOTH IE
I AND FAMILY MEMBERS PEEL THEY ARE ENTITLED TO
MORE INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES, THE TIMEFRAME,
AND THE FORUM OF THE LEGAL PROCESS. FAMILY MEMBERS ALSO SEEK TO
VERIFY THAT THEIE'DETAINEE HAS RECEIVED LETTERS SENT BY HIS
FATHER, AND WOULD LIKEE
ASSURANCES AS TO HIS CURRENT STATE OF
HEALTH. FINALLY, THE!EI
POULD LIKE USG PERMISSION TO SEND AIE
REPRESENTATIVE TO GUANTANAMO TO CHECK ON DETAINEE CONDITION.
3. (SBU/REL) GUIDANCE FOR POST'S USE IN RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES
FROM)E
NDFAMILY MEMBERS:
-- USG APPRECIATES THE GOVERNMENT OF FIRM SUPPORT FOR THE
I
E
UNITED STATES' AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S WAR ON TERRORISM,
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PAGE 03ESTATE 184772 240209Z
I THIS INCIDENT
HIGHLIGHTS THE THREAT THAT CONTINUES INTERNATIONALLY AND POINTS
TO THE IMPORTANCE OF PROACTIVE, PREVENTATIVE ACTION.
-- THE WAR AGAINST AL QAIDA AND ITS SUPPORTERS IS VERY MUCH
ONGOING. WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST ENEMY COMBATANTS WHO ARE
PLANNING AND CONDUCTING OPERATIONS DAILY AGAINST US.
-- INDIVIDUALS DETAINED IN GUANTANAMO ARE ENEMY COMBATANTS
CAPTURED IN CONNECTION WITH THAT ON-GOING ARMED CONFLICT
INVOLVING ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, ITS CITIZENS AND
CITIZENS OF NUMEROUS OTHER NATIONS. ENEMY COMBATANTS CONTINUE TO
POSE A SERIOUS SECURITY THREAT TO UNITED STATES AND COALITION
PARTNERS. THEY ARE BEING HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF
ARMED CONFLICT, WHICH PERMITS THE UNITED STATES TO HOLD ENEMY
COMBATANTS AT LEAST FOR THE DURATION OF HOSTILITIES.
-- TO DATE, NO DETAINEE AT GUANTANAMO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A
CRIME. NO DECISION AS TO THE APPROPRIATE FORUM FOR ANY CRIMINAL
PROCEEDING HAS BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME.
-- I SHOULD EMPHASIZE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL LAW OF ARMED
CONFLICT PERMITS THE USG TO DETAIN ENEMY COMBATANTS REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE BROUGHT. THE ACT OF DETAINING ENEMY
COMBATANTS IS NOT AN ACT OF PUNISHMENT. RATHER, IT IS INTENDED
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DOS-002103
UNCLASSIFIED
Ccirrent Class: UNCLASSIFIEUNCLASSIFIED Page: 3
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Document Number: 2002STATE184772 Channel: n/a
TO PREVENT ENEMY COMBATANTS FROM CONTINUING TO FIGHT AGAINST US.
-- THERE IS NO INTERNATIONAL LAW THAT REQUIRES A DETAINING POWER
TO BRING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST ENEMY COMBATANTS OR PUT THEM ON
TRIAL.E
NOR IS THERE ANY LAW REQUIRING THE DETAINING POWER TO
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184772 240209Z
RELEASE ENEMY COMBATANTS AND SEND THEM HOME PRIOR TO THE END OF
HOSTILITIES.
PAGE 04ESTATEE
-- AS LONG AS HOSTILITIES CONTINUE, THE USG MUST-AS A MATTER OF
NATIONAL SECURITY, MILITARY NECESSITY, AND COMMON SENSE-CONTINUE
TO DETAIN ENEMY COMBATANTS WHO COULD REJOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST US
IF PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY.
-- THE UNITED STATES IS TREATING ALL ENEMY COMBATANTS HUMANELY
AND IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE THIRD
GENEVA CONVENTION OF 1949. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS ARE AT GUANTANAMO AND MEET WITH ENEMY
COMBATANTS INDIVIDUALLY AND PRIVATELY.
-- ALL ENEMY COMBATANTS ARE PROVIDED THREE MEALS A DAY THAT MEET
MUSLIM DIETARY LAWS (IF DESIRED), AS WELL AS MEDICAL CARE, •
CLOTHING, SHELTER, SHOWERS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORSHIP.
-- AS FOR COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, DETAINEES ARE
ALLOWED TO CORRESPOND BY MAIL WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, SUBJECT TO
SCREENING FOR SECURITY AND OPERATIONAL PURPOSES. NOT ALL
DETAINEES HAVE BEEN SENT MAIL, AND NOT ALL ELECT TO WRITE LETTERS
HOME. THE USG CANNOT CONFIRM OR DENY RECEIPT OF MAIL BY SPECIFIC
DETAINEES.
--WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON A DIPLOMATIC NOTE FROM YOUR
EMBASSY FORMALLY REQUESTING ANOTHER VISIT TO GUANTANAMO. AS YOU
MAY RECALL, GOVERNMENT REQUESTS TO VISIT THE US NAVAL BASE
GUANTANAMO WILL BE GRANTED ONLY POR LAW ENFORCEMENT OR
INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION PURPOSES, SUBJECT TO THE SAME PROCEDURES
AND CONDITIONS THAT APPLIED FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT'S VISIT FEBRUARY.
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PAGE 05ESTATEE
184772 240209Z
VISITS FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, INCLUDING VISITS OF A CONSULAR
NATURE, ARE NOT PERMITTED AT GUANTANAMO. WE ARE PREPARED TO HELP
COORDINATE A REQUEST WITH ON THAT BASIS WITH THE APPROPRIATE
AGENCIES [SPECIFY PROCEDURE/CHANNEL]
4. (SBU) BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR POST ONLY: VARIOUS GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AND CONCERNED FAMILY MEMBERS OF DETAINEES OF MANY
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NATIONALITIES. HAVE PRESSED FOR MORE INFORMATION AND OFTEN THREATENED. LEGAL ACTION IF THE USG FAILS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SUCH. AT THIS TIME, IT IS DEEMED STILL TOO SENSITIVE TO THE ONGOING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ANY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUALS DETAINED AT GUANTANAMO BEYOND THAT CONTAINED IN THIS RESPONSE.
POWELL
UNCLASSIFIED
« END OF DOCUMENT »
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DOS-002105
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