U.S. turns over Iraqi detainee accused of killing soldiers

As the United States winds down its military role in Iraq, on Friday it turned over its last detainee in the country to Iraqi authorities, but not without serious concerns.

The Obama administration had been trying to convince the Iraqi government for months to allow the extradition of Ali Mussa Daqduq, a suspected Hezbollah operative, to the U.S. for trial. Daqduq is accused of orchestrating a 2007 kidnapping that resulted in the killing of five U.S. military personnel.

But ultimately, Baghdad would not cooperate.

“Because of the president’s concerns about the crimes Daqduq is alleged to have committed, we worked a wide range of options consistent with U.S. and Iraqi law to effect his transfer to a U.S. military commission. We did so because we felt that was the fastest possible way to bring him to justice. We are continuing to discuss this case with the Iraqis, and as of this morning, he has been transferred to Iraqi custody,” said Tommy Vietor, spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement.

“We take this case very seriously, and for that reason have sought and received assurances that he will be tried for his crimes,” Vietor said. “We have worked this at the highest levels of the U.S. and Iraqi governments, and we continue to discuss with the Iraqis the best way to ensure that he faces justice.”

But that wasn’t enough to reassure lawmakers who said they remain concerned the Iraqi government will release Daqduq for political reasons.

In a statement, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate minority leader, termed the administration’s actions “disgraceful.”

“The real test regarding Daqduq was not whether the United States should violate our security agreement with Iraq in order to maintain custody of him outside of the country. The real test was whether the United States could exercise our influence effectively with the Iraqi government to ensure that a committed killer of Americans would be held accountable for his crimes in the U.S. system of justice. The administration has clearly failed that test,” the senators said. “As a result, we are deeply concerned that Daqduq will never have to answer for his involvement in killing U.S. citizens, that he could be released from Iraqi custody for political reasons, and that he would then return to the fight against the United States and our friends.”