Donald Vance is a American civilian who was held in detention at Camp Cropper, the United States military's maximum-security detention site in Baghdad for ninety seven days beginning in April 2006.^[1] He is currently in a legal suit against the former defense secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld, on grounds that his constitutional rights had been violated.^[1] He is being represented by Arthur Loevy, Jon Loevy and Michael Kanovitz of the law firm Loevy & Loevy.^{[citation needed]} Camp Cropper is a high-value detention site (HVD) near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, operated by the United States Army. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... Baghdad (Arabic ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... Donald Rumsfeld Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is the current Secretary of Defense of the United States, since January 20, 2001, under President George W. Bush. ... A constitutional right is a right granted by a governments constitution (on the national or sub-national level), and cannot be legally denied by that government. ...

Background

The then 29-year-old Navy veteran from Chicago had gone to Iraq as a security contractor.^[1] He became a whistle-blower for the F.B.I., informing them that the Iraqi security firm at which he worked had been engaged in possibly illegal weapons trading, particularly to officials from the Iraqi Interior Ministry.^[1] Former crewmembers of the battleship Missouri pose for photos shortly after the Anniversary of the End of World War II ceremony, held aboard the famous ship. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town, City of the Big Shoulders, The 312, The City that Works Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837  - Mayor... A whistleblower is someone in an organization who witnesses behavior by members that is either contrary to the mission of the organization, or threatening to the public interest, and who decides to speak out publicly about it. ... For other uses of the initials FBI, see FBI (disambiguation). ... The Ministry of Interior in Iraq handles policing and border enforcement. ...

However, when American soldiers raided the firm, he was mistaken for a suspect. Another American who worked for the company, but had resigned over the alleged weapons trading, was also detained.^[1]

Incarceration

During his time in prison he claimed he was subject to interrogation and sleep deprivation techniques.^[1] A Pentagon spokesperson, First Lt. Lea Ann Fracasso, claimed the men had been "treated fair and humanely", and that there was no record of either man complaining about his treatment.^[1] Though officials were informed by his F.B.I. handler that he was an informant after his first three weeks of detention, they decided that he still "posed a threat".^[1] He took notes on his imprisonment and smuggled them out in a Bible. Although denied legal representation at his detainment hearing on 24 April, he was allowed to attend it because he was an American.^[1] Two weeks into his dentention, he was allowed to phone his fiancee in Chicago, who had already informed her Congressional representative of his apparent disappearance.^[1] He wrote ten letters home, one of which arrived in November 2006 dated 17 July.^[1] Sleep deprivation is a general lack of the necessary amount of sleep. ... The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located at 48 N. Rotary Road, Arlington, Virginia 22211 (Map). ... April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town, City of the Big Shoulders, The 312, The City that Works Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837  - Mayor... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ...

After three months, officials decided to release him after further review of his case.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Moss, Michael (2006-12-18). Former U.S. Detainee in Iraq Recalls Torment. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2006-12-18.