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Email from Atty. David J. Cynamon to Sandra Hodgkinson
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Detainee Affairs, DOD

October 30, 2007 

Via E-Mail and Facsimile

Hon. Sandra Hodgkinson

Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acting)
Detainee Affairs
2900 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-2900

Re:     Guantanamo Detainees ISNs 213, 232, 551, 552

Dear Secretary Hodgkinson:

I represent the remaining four Kuwaiti citizens detained at Guantanamo: ISNs 213, 232, 551 and 552.  I am writing to request a meeting with you to discuss the repatriation of these four Kuwaiti citizens under due process, security, and intelligence conditions mutually acceptable to the US Government and the Government of Kuwait.

I have previously made similar requests in writing to Captain Frank Sweigart, Director of the Office of Administrative Review of Detained Enemy Combatants, and to Alan Liotta, Principal Director of the Office of Detainee Affairs, who I understand is the Defense Department official principally responsible for negotiations with the Government of Kuwait concerning the terms and conditions of repatriation.  Copies of my e-mails to Captain Sweigart (dated September 19, 2007) and Mr. Liotta (dated October 5, 2007) are attached below.  I also spoke to Mr. Liotta by telephone on October 18, 2007.

The reason for my contacts with DoD is because the representatives of the Department of Justice and the State Department have consistently maintained that DoD exercises sole control over the substantive aspects of bilateral negotiations on the return of detainees.

Despite the apparent mutual interests of the United States and Kuwait in the prompt repatriation of the remaining Kuwaitis under appropriate terms and conditions, the negotiations between Department of Defense officials and their Kuwaiti counterparts have not been successful as there are four remaining detainees from Kuwait.

As I am sure you know, the Amir of Kuwait met with President Bush on Labor Day 2006, and personally requested the repatriation of all of the then six Kuwaitis at Guantanamo.  Yet more than a year later, four remain.

As you are at the policy level at the Defense Department, it is my hope that you have the authority and discretion to meet with me directly to discuss the outstanding issues that may be delaying the completion of the negotiations, or issue instructions to those reporting to you to do so.  I believe that such a meeting could help resolve this matter in the best interests of all concerned.

Thank you

David J. Cynamon

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