A former donor to US Senator John Edwards (D-NC) is drawing fire for his legal defense of one of the Taliban Five released from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for US Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
Marion NC attorney Frank Goldsmith has proudly told a number of media sources of his legal work on behalf of Khairullah Khairkhwa. Khairkhwa was part of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, serving as acting minister of the interior and a provincial governor.Goldsmith defended his work this week with an essay in Time magazine and an interview with the Citizen-Times. Although he said he deplored the Taliban regime, Goldsmith said he believes the Guantanamo prisoners deserve legal representation and due process of law, and that many of them have been mischaracterized as bloodthirsty terrorists.“What we’re hearing is these labels that call them terrorists with the blood of Americans on their hands,” Goldsmith said, referring to the five prisoners released. “That is absolutely not true of my client, at least. There is no allegation that he spilled any American blood or ever tried to, or that he ever fought against the Americans. There’s no evidence he was what anybody would call a terrorist.”
However, classified documents disclosed by WikiLeaks tell a very different story about Khairkhwa.
- Detainee was a senior Taliban official serving as the Minister of Interior, Governor of Herat, and a military commander. Detainee was directly associated to Usama Bin Laden (UBL) and Taliban Supreme Commander Mullah Muhammad Omar, and was added to the UN financial freeze list. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, detainee represented the Taliban during meetings with Iranian officials seeking to support hostilities against US and Coalition forces.
- Detainee was identified as a narcotics trafficker and probably used his position and influences to become one of the premier opium drug lords in Western Afghanistan. Detainee probably used profits from drugs to promote Taliban interests in the area.
- Detainee had previously served as Governor of Mazar-e-Sharif and was a trusted sub-commander of Taliban Supreme Commander Mullah Muhammad Omar,as well as being affiliated with UBL (Usama bin Laden). Detainee’s placement and access suggest knowledge of the highest levels of the Taliban. Detainee’s relationship with Iran and position as Governor of Mazar-e-Sharif requires further exploitation. Due to detainee’s high- level positions in the Taliban government, it is assessed detainee would have detail regarding Iranian interaction and influence in Afghan politics.
But Goldsmith remains unapologetic for his assistance to Khairkhwa and expressed happiness that his client will return to Afghanistan.
“He had been confined for well over 12 years, almost 12 and a half years, with never being charged with any crime, or any offense, so we’re glad that he got released,” Goldsmith said. “The Afghan government wanted him back, specifically for his potential utility as peacemaker there.”
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Goldsmith donated to John Edwards’ campaign for President in 2007.