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Investigation Continuing, More Arrests Could be Likely in Gitmo Leaks
Aired September 24, 2003 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, Guantanamo Bay and the war on terror. Today, growing fears that military renegades may have hatched a conspiracy to attempt to aid the enemy. CNN's Barbara Starr standing by in Washington with the latest on this widening espionage probe -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.
Well military sources are telling CNN this investigation is continuing. More arrests could be likely. There are at least two additional members of the U.S. military that are under investigation for possible espionage.
But, of course, it is Senior Airman Ahmad al Halabi that has been under arrest since July 23 charged with espionage and aiding the enemy, apparently Syria. This man worked as a military translator at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where more than 600 detainees are being held, including members of al Qaeda.
Now he was arrested back in July, he's being held at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California where he is facing more than 30 specific charges for espionage, aiding the enemy, false statements, bank fraud and failing to obey orders.
According to the details that the Air Force has made available the specific things he is charged with include e-mailing classified information to Syria, although it is not clear whether he was e- mailing to the Syrian government or simply to individuals in Syria. That information is said to include names of detainees, detailed information about the camp, information about military flights in and out of Guantanamo Bay and an attempt to e-mail more than 180 notes from detainees out of the country.
One of the charges, on a lighter note, is that he tried to provide detainees with unauthorized food, namely baklava pastries.
But the whole case, in fact, Kyra, is very serious because one of the details in that Air Force charge sheet is that he attempted to facilitate unauthorized communications between detainees and other military members. A hint, perhaps, that other people are involved.
And of course, there has been the arrest of army Islamic chaplain Captain James Yee. Now while he has not been charged, as the airman has, he is also being held. He is suspected of espionage and aiding the enemy. So the question on the table now for the Pentagon is whether or not there is a broader conspiracy here, whether people were operating together, or whether these are a number of isolated cases that have popped up at Guantanamo Bay. And sources tell us they simply do not know -- investigators do not know the answer yet. The investigation into all of this is continuing - Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Barbara, is the Yee case raising new questions at the Pentagon about how clergy are screened to even become military chaplains?
STARR: It's a very complex issue because how people become chaplains for the U.S. military is they pass a review. They are certified by religious organizations that the Pentagon selects.
New York Senator Charles Schumer is raising a lot of questions about the two organizations that certify Muslim clerics, if you will, to become military chaplains, in the Islamic faith. These two organizations that certified the people for the Pentagon are under investigation by the federal government and Charles Schumer says he wants the whole situation reviewed. The Pentagon is reviewing the process at this time -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Our Barbara Starr, live from the Pentagon. Thanks, Barb.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Gitmo Leaks>
Aired September 24, 2003 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, Guantanamo Bay and the war on terror. Today, growing fears that military renegades may have hatched a conspiracy to attempt to aid the enemy. CNN's Barbara Starr standing by in Washington with the latest on this widening espionage probe -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kyra.
Well military sources are telling CNN this investigation is continuing. More arrests could be likely. There are at least two additional members of the U.S. military that are under investigation for possible espionage.
But, of course, it is Senior Airman Ahmad al Halabi that has been under arrest since July 23 charged with espionage and aiding the enemy, apparently Syria. This man worked as a military translator at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where more than 600 detainees are being held, including members of al Qaeda.
Now he was arrested back in July, he's being held at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California where he is facing more than 30 specific charges for espionage, aiding the enemy, false statements, bank fraud and failing to obey orders.
According to the details that the Air Force has made available the specific things he is charged with include e-mailing classified information to Syria, although it is not clear whether he was e- mailing to the Syrian government or simply to individuals in Syria. That information is said to include names of detainees, detailed information about the camp, information about military flights in and out of Guantanamo Bay and an attempt to e-mail more than 180 notes from detainees out of the country.
One of the charges, on a lighter note, is that he tried to provide detainees with unauthorized food, namely baklava pastries.
But the whole case, in fact, Kyra, is very serious because one of the details in that Air Force charge sheet is that he attempted to facilitate unauthorized communications between detainees and other military members. A hint, perhaps, that other people are involved.
And of course, there has been the arrest of army Islamic chaplain Captain James Yee. Now while he has not been charged, as the airman has, he is also being held. He is suspected of espionage and aiding the enemy. So the question on the table now for the Pentagon is whether or not there is a broader conspiracy here, whether people were operating together, or whether these are a number of isolated cases that have popped up at Guantanamo Bay. And sources tell us they simply do not know -- investigators do not know the answer yet. The investigation into all of this is continuing - Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, Barbara, is the Yee case raising new questions at the Pentagon about how clergy are screened to even become military chaplains?
STARR: It's a very complex issue because how people become chaplains for the U.S. military is they pass a review. They are certified by religious organizations that the Pentagon selects.
New York Senator Charles Schumer is raising a lot of questions about the two organizations that certify Muslim clerics, if you will, to become military chaplains, in the Islamic faith. These two organizations that certified the people for the Pentagon are under investigation by the federal government and Charles Schumer says he wants the whole situation reviewed. The Pentagon is reviewing the process at this time -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Our Barbara Starr, live from the Pentagon. Thanks, Barb.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Gitmo Leaks>
