Home » Archives » "Army drops all charges against Muslim chaplain"

Army drops all charges against Muslim chaplain

Mar-21-2004 » Filed Under: General Military

Interesting conclusion to the case involving a Ft. Lewis Chaplain.

[Link to Full Article]
By SAM SKOLNIK
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The U.S. Army dropped all charges against Capt. James Yee yesterday, ending a six-month ordeal in which the former Fort Lewis chaplain had been branded a possible traitor and was charged with a range of accusations including mishandling documents and viewing pornography on his computer.

Yee's backers said the formal dismissal vindicates their contention that the former chaplain at a Guantanamo Bay detention center for suspected terrorists was targeted because of his Chinese heritage -- and his Muslim faith.

In dismissing the charges, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, which operates the detention center, cited "national security concerns that would arise from the release of the evidence" if the case proceeded.

"In the grand scheme of things, and in the interest of national security, General Miller felt like the charges needed to be dropped," said Lt. Col. Bill Costello, a spokesman for the U.S. Southern Command. "It seemed to be the prudent way to proceed."


Advertisements