Pentagon disavows comment on detainees

[cal04]

The Pentagon on Saturday disavowed a senior official's remarks suggesting companies boycott law firms that represent detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Charles "Cully" Stimson, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs, said in a radio interview last week that companies might want to consider taking their business to other firms that do not represent suspected terrorists.

Stimson's remarks were viewed by legal experts and advocacy groups as an attempt to intimidate law firms that provide legal help to all people, even unpopular defendants.

A Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Brian Maka, said Stimson was not speaking for the Bush administration.

Stimson's comments "do not represent the views of the Department of Defense or the thinking of its leadership," Maka told The Associated Press on Saturday.



http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/16454925.htm

[rodeodance]

1. SO, WILL THE pENT GET RID OF THIS CANNON?

[w4rma]

7. The Bush administration will probably promote him. (nt)

[tanyev]

8. Medal of Freedom.

[MidwestTransplant]

2. I mean wouldn't our justice system be better off if firms didn't

represent allegedly guilty people /sarcasm

[1monster]

3. Of course they have disavowed the comment. But just like in a jury

trial one lawyer or another will make a point that is objected to, the objection sustained and the jury instructed to "disregard" the point, so has the Pentagon made sure that companies will reconsider taking their business to firms that represent the detainees.

The companies will be afraid to do otherwise.

[TomInTib]

4. But they are not going to fire him, are they?

Hot air.

He knew exactly what he was doing.

[Nostradammit]

5. Does this mean we shouldn't do business with Baker Botts, LLP

Aren't they representing the Saudi Arabian terrorists?

[ShockediSay]

6. this is extortion IMHO and this guy should be looking at disbarment

to learn the difference b/n Saddam style thuggery and the rule of law

yes, he is a lawyer
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6849592

[struggle4progress]

9. Stimson's no "loose cannon": he explicitly named a number of law firms in the FNR interview

so his remarks were not "off-the-cuff" and were likely part of somebody's broader plan