Check this out — the end of the piece has choice information on his motivation, admitting basically that, indeed, “we” do torture. I know, you’re shocked. I’m betting Guantamo is a hellhole of soon-to-be-known historical proportions, I’m sure. Snipped and included below:
Navy lawyer convicted of leaking Guantanamo names
NORFOLK, Virginia (AP) — A military jury recommended that a Navy lawyer spend six months in prison and be dismissed from the service for sending a human rights attorney the names of 550 Guantanamo Bay detainees in an unmarked Valentine’s Day card.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Diaz was convicted Thursday at his court martial of communicating secret information about Guantanamo Bay detainees that could be used to injure the United States and three other charges of leaking information to an unauthorized person.
The jury of seven Navy officers recommended Friday that Diaz receive his pay and benefits while incarcerated, but the sentence must still be approved by Rear Admiral Rick Ruehe. The dismissal will also be reviewed by a military appellate court, the Navy said.
Diaz, who could have received up to 14 years in prison, gave emotional testimony during the sentencing hearing, apologizing for his actions.
(…)
But in an hourlong interview after the opening day of his trial Monday, Diaz said he believes the Bush administration’s prosecution of the war on terror is illegal. He accused officials of violating international law, such as the Geneva Conventions on the humane treatment of war prisoners, and the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of due process.
“I made a stupid decision, I know, but I felt it was the right decision, the moral decision, the decision that was required by international law,” Diaz told the Dallas newspaper. “No matter how the conflict was identified, we were to treat them in accordance with Geneva, and it just wasn’t being done.”
The Defense Department strenuously rejects such comments.
Bush administration officials have characterized the Guantanamo population overall as “the worst of the worst.” Diaz said that is one of two incorrect or false statements.
“The other statement was ‘We do not torture,’ ” said Diaz, whose jobs included tracking and investigating abuse allegations.
Link.