First Guantanamo Military Commission Trial Begins Today

HRF Staff Member Aaron Zisser is in Guantanamo this week monitoring the start of the first military commission trial in more than 60 years. Although Salim Hamdan’s trial is scheduled to begin today, the parties are still debating the ground rules, and the judge still has several important legal motions to decide. Read Aaron’s description of the ad hoc nature of the military commission process and the complex legal wrangling leading up to the trial. Aaron suggests that Guantanamo detainees should be tried in ordinary criminal courts.