Hero of the Day: Colonel Vandeveld; Villian of the Day: The Pentagon

The New York Times reports today that charges have been dropped against five Guantánamo detainees for lack of evidence, and that the prosecutor in all five cases has stepped down, "saying there were systemic problems with the fairness of the military prosecutions there":

The Pentagon’s decision to dismiss the cases comes after the former prosecutor, Colonel Vandeveld, said in a military commission filing that he had ethics questions about prosecution procedures for notifying the defense about information favorable to detainees. He called the procedures “appalling” and “incomplete and unreliable.”

The Pentagon earns Villian of the Day status because even without any charges pending against the detainees, they will not be released. (Friendly Combatant reminded me, "That's nothing new," but I still confer V of the D status on our military leaders and/or the White House officials giving them such directives).

Honorable mention award for Hero of the Day goes to Reprieve and to other organizations who are providing legal defense to Guantánamo detainees.