news Khadr's Pentagon lawyer back at desk after nasty public spat with superior

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Khadr's Pentagon lawyer back at desk after nasty public spat with superior


2 hours, 16 minutes ago





By Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Omar Khadr's military lawyer was back at his Pentagon desk Monday following a battle of wills with his superior who had him ousted from his position and locked out of his office without access to his files 10 days ago.
Lt.-Cmdr. Bill Kuebler said he had resumed work on the case of the Canadian held at Guantanamo Bay for more than six years but refused to discuss the issues surrounding his firing and reinstatement.
"I'm back at my desk," Kuebler said Monday. "I don't want to comment further about the counsel stuff."
Kuebler's return follows a decision last week by Judge Patrick Parrish that Col. Peter Masciola had no authority to remove the detainee's lawyer.
Kuebler did say he would now try to focus on completing his submission for the review process set in motion by U.S. President Barack Obama.
The deadline for the review submissions is April 15.
"I don't see the Obama administration wanting to take this case to a military commission trial, so I don't expect to be back on the record in Guantanamo," Kuebler said.
The Pentagon appointed Kuebler two years ago to represent Khadr, 22, who faces charges of killing an American soldier in Afghanistan in July 2002.
Kuebler, who quickly became a vocal critic of the military commission hearings, ended up rubbing Masciola the wrong way, especially after accusing the colonel of getting too cozy with the prosecution and suggesting a conflict of interest.
Others on the defence team also complained about Kuebler's style.
Following a couple of tense meetings, Masciola abruptly reassigned Kuebler, arguing the lawyer had become a polarizing figure and the legal team "dysfunctional."
According to Masciola, the team had "lost faith in (Kuebler's) integrity and ability to represent Khadr's best interests," one source said.
Kuebler appealed to Parrish, who had been presiding over Khadr's military commission hearing until it was suspended by Obama in January, to reinstate him.
The judge agreed, prompting a further request from Masciola to reconsider, but the decision appeared to stand.
One insider, speaking on background, said Monday the situation remained "tense."
Kuebler, along with Khadr's Canadian lawyers, have long argued the detainee should be treated as a child soldier and returned to Canada.
It was not immediately clear what Khadr thought of the saga involving the military lawyer.