Uncomfortable with moving forward until Khadr knows his rights, Parrish told Khadr’s lawyers that either they can administer those rights by proxy at Camp Delta or he’ll order what’s called a “forced cell extraction” — having guards force Khadr into court. Khadr did not attend a pre-trial hearing this morning, and prosecutors and defense counsel sparred over whether that decision was actually voluntary.
But even if Parrish opts for the “forced cell extraction” (or FCE in military acronym-ese) that doesn’t necessarily mean Rear Adm. Thomas Copeman, the commander of the detention facility housing Khadr, will comply. “In the past Admiral Copeman has refused to do a FCE without a court order,” Navy Commander Brad Fagan, a spokesman for Copeman’s command, emailed reporters here. “As per Khadr and today’s events, we’d have to wait and see what the judge/court decides to do (i.e., if they decide to issue a court order or not).” Parrish, in other words, may have to issue a formal court order for the FCE — and see if Copeman complies.