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A movement in the right direction…finally.
Khalid Sheik Mohammed — the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — and four co-defendants will be tried in federal court in New York instead of a military commission, with prosecutors likely to seek the death penalty, U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced Friday.
The long-awaited decision, part of President Obama’s quest to close the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sparked immediate outrage from Republican lawmakers, who said military commissions are a more secure and appropriate place to try suspected terrorists. But the announcement drew praise from civil rights advocates, who argue that the detainees’ civil rights have been violated by years of detention without trial and the use of military commissions.
“For over 200 years, our nation has relied on a faithful adherence to the rule of law to bring criminals to justice and provide accountability to victims,” Holder said. “Once again we will ask our legal system to rise to that challenge, and I am confident it will answer the call with fairness and justice.”
Why would anyone fear that a legal system which has served the country well for over 200 years should now suddenly fail in the midst of trying terrorists? The irrational claims by the right that terrorists are too dangerous to be brought on to American soil speaks of a belief that these men are something else than mere humans. As irrational are the claims that the American justice system would provide loopholes by which these men might escape the punishment they deserve should they be found guilty…or worse, found not guilty.
“The Obama Administration’s irresponsible decision to prosecute the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks in New York City puts the interests of liberal special interest groups before the safety and security of the American people,” House Republican Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement. “The possibility that Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his co-conspirators could be found ‘not guilty’ due to some legal technicality just blocks from Ground Zero should give every American pause.”
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, said holding 9/11 trials in the federal court system “could endanger the American people.”
“Bringing terrorists to U.S. soil expands their constitutional rights and could result in shorter sentences,” Smith said. “Trying terrorists in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay is the most appropriate venue and safest option for the American people.”
One either believes in the American judicial system or they don’t. Republican’s ploy of playing on people’s fears as a means of keeping Guantanamo open won’t work. Let the trials begin.
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This is incredibly dumb and wrong on so many levels.
What circumstances could possibly be conceived as warranting bestowing on these criminals all the benefits of the US Judicial System?
Every nutcase, whack job Islamic Radical in the world will be drawn to this sorry spectacle. New York will become a target. You people cried so hard about Gitmo creating more Terrorists. You think every detail of this trial won’t hit the front pages of every whack job, Muslim, Islamic Newspaper in the world? You think this will not be used to recruit, suicide loving Islamic Whack Jobs?
I don’t have the time right now to go into this but I am stupefied that the Obama Administration can be this dumb. That they can be so out of touch with what the normal American Citizen thinks and desires NOT TO MENTION the callous disregard for the sensibilities of New Yorkers and those whose loved ones were senselessly ripped from this world on 9/11.
Mario, you exercise incredibly poor judgment here. And your disdain and disregard for the US is painfully obvious. Your statement that, “One either believes in the American judicial system or they don’t.” is a classic display of Liberal naivete and over simplification. Why would one have to NOT believe in the American Judicial System to understand it is a bad idea to insert Foreign War Criminals into it? Availing them of the safeguards to which they have no entitlement or expectation?
And here is what I think. This is such an incredibly DUMB move, I have to look for reasoning. It’s a real struggle for me to see how any possible good can come from this action. It is so obviously dumb (in my opinion) that I am forced to consider there may be ulterior motivation. I mean, subject to the rules, laws and procedures of the US Judicial System, you’ve got to understand these people COULD win release!
And it appears this administration is willing to risk that in a desperate attempt to put the previous administration on trial alongside these Terrorists. You think this empty suit, and now this obviously empty headed President would accept responsibility should that happen??
No. He, they and YOU will point the blame at the previous administration. If one of these Terrorists walks, these people…YOU people will point to the previous administration and blame them.
What a depraved manner of practicing politics. When you are willing to risk freeing someone like KSM in a desperate attempt to embarrass the “Other Party.”
This President and his incredibly stupid, inexperienced policies and decisions have polarized people in this nation as never before.
Please, someone impeach this idiot while there is still a semblance of the United States Of America to try to rebuild.
@TN Your hyperbole is reaching into the absurd and you take yourself much too seriously. This is a nation of laws and if you cannot understand that, then you don’t have much to offer in way of intelligent thought.
TN, Federal criminal courts have successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases of this kind. Most of those terrorist cases were tried under the direction of the previous administration. Military tribunals have prosecuted a total of 3. Two things are apparent – Federal criminal courts are capable of trying terrorists, and military tribunals need reorganizing to make them more effective.
If your premise is that these people don’t deserve a fair trial, then that is your BELIEF and is not in accordance with the rule of law of this country and the Constitution that GWB used for butt-wipe. If your premise is that US courts will fail at convicting the terrorists, then that is disproved by precedent. If you believe that letting the world see the terrorists getting a fair trial will somehow work against America, then again, that is your belief. Perhaps you don’t want it revealed to the world that KSM was tortured? Too late for that. Perhaps you believe that will expose the CIA and the previous administration to charges of torture on an international level?
As for your speaking with authority about how 9-11 families feel – you and anyone else but them have no right to do it. But let me ask you this – how many people want to sit in the courtroom and look at the person who murdered their son/daughter/husband/wife/mother/father/sister/brother, and make sure with their own eyes that justice is served? None of them, some of them, most of them or all of them? My guess is most of them, but again I have no right to speak for them.
It seems to me that what you have a problem with is not the trials, not the families and not even the terrorists – it’s Pres. Obama. You are free to have your opinion, but fortunately your having that opinion or even all of the ignorant people of this country having that opinion, does nothing to interfere with the proper carriage and support of the rule of law and the Constitution of this country.
Frances, those cases, if I am not mistaken, were for people that were living in the US. Your trashy statements re: Bush and the Constitution don’t merit a response. The 9/11 Families interviewed so far are coming down about 9 to 1 against.
You can “seem” all you want. Please show me one precedent where foreign War Criminals have been tried and availed of all the protections of the US Judicial System.
I’m not ignorant Frances. But you’re right about one thing. I think Obama’s inexperience and radical policy is certainly damaging this country. I hope not irreparably.
And if I can be so free to form assumptions as you have, it appears to me you are willing to run the risk some attorney gets these people off on a technicality. What do you think? In your little Pollyanna world, should that happen, you think you have the option of asking for a “Do Over”?
Tony, as long as all you have to say is “Tennessean is stupid.” why don’t you just be quiet?
At least I’m intelligent enough to attempt to articulate my feelings. I care less if you agree with them.
What are YOUR thoughts? Why do YOU think it’s such a good idea to risk these guys could walk?
I did not write “Tennessean is stupid”. Your insecurity is showing. But since you mention it, yes I find you incredibly stupid. End of discussion.
TN, on further consideration, none of your ridiculous neocon diatribe deserved a response.
“Please, someone impeach this idiot…” YOU ARE IGNORANT and no longer worth my time.
@TonyM: You’re spot on. TN calls people, “stupid” constantly on here. That alone, makes her small mind, even smaller.
The 9/11 terrorists that were tried here and convicted here were NOT living here legally. Their visa’s had actually expired! They were here illegally and they were NOT citizens of this country. Therefore, a U.S. Federal Court succeeded in 4 cases to convict foreign terrorists through the legal and normal process outlined by the Constitution and done through upholding the law of the land. I think that speaks in favor of letting our judicial process function as the founding fathers originally envisioned. And remember, Tenn., that you have long espoused using the “founding father’s”, “original intent”. So let’s indeed use it and let the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the Dec. of Independence and all the laws we have for our Federal Courts do their thing. And just like those currently serving their life sentences and those who were excuted for acts of terrorism, let them see how well our system of laws already work and how long they are going to rot in jail for the rest of their lives.
Frances. Okay. Impeachment calls for Bush were in vogue. But feeling the same way about this traitorous President is “Ignorant”?
I have reached the conclusion he can’t be screwing up this bad accidentally.
Tony, you’re debating semantics. Whatever. And you still have not addressed the post.
But you will need to change your name to “Spike”. Seems you are the latest School Yard bully drawing the adulation of the yipping little Chihuahua, “Chester”! (Anomaly)
@Tennessean “I have reached the conclusion Obama can’t be screwing up this bad accidentally.”
And with that you have lost the last ounce of credibility you had. Sign up for your birther lapel pin yet?
laurie, why? Because I’m not infatuated with Obama to the point of Idolatry as you are?
Look, you people can be as snarky and catty as you wish. I think this was a horrible decision on the part of this inept President. I feel it is such an obviously disastrous decision, I find it hard to believe he could take this action without understanding the harm that can and will come from it.
So yes Ma’am. I am suspect of his motives. If that costs me credibility or intellectual position, then so be it. And yes. If I were in a position to do so, I would introduce a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings. Or recall or whatever stood a decent chance of getting him out of office.
In my opinion, this is one of the dumbest moves any supposedly intelligent Politician has ever made. You want to impugn me because I think so. I don’t give a whit.
I don’t care to be on the level of naivete and denial that you who think it is a good idea are on.
Tennessean:
Blaming Obama for this decision and criticizing him for not reining in the attorney general shows you do not recall the separation our founding fathers put in place just for these types of occasions!
Obama can hire and fire the attorney general (which got Nixon in a whole lotta trouble) but has no power to interfere, advise, or in any way influence any decision the AG can make. Presidents can talk his/her ear off and beg and plead, but that’s it. Its in the Oath they both signed
Don’t you recall the sh*t attorney general Janet Reno and Roberto Gonzales went through when called before the Senate and accused of serving at the ‘pleasure of Presidents’ instead of “Laws of the Nation”?
What amazes me is that politicians who are criticizing Eric Holder for his decision cannot possibly have all the facts he does.
One other good thing to consider in having the trials in New York. When you deny a “terrorist” the ability to be called one and instead just call him the general thug and nuisance and criminal that he is, you deprive him of any ego tripping and you take away his ability to amaze and cause the “terror” he was hoping to invoke. Just call him a common criminal and you take away his power to “terrorize”. You let him know that he is nothing in our eyes and that our country is much stronger within the boundaries of it’s laws than it would ever be trying to respond to these thugs by giving them such acclaim as to call them “terrorists” or to descend to their level and act like thugs ourselves. Let’s keep ourselves within the law and abide by the documents that made us great and let these thugs die of our neglect of their egos and die as forgotton common criminals that no one will again remember and you deny them what they most sought! Power of Recognition and Power of Influencing us to forget our own best selves and our best laws. Think about it!
It is funny that Tennessean is criticising a decison before the trial even starts and name calling our President when Obama is doing what he promised as president elect.
Tennessean,you can say all you want but the true measure of a man is what he actually does when he makes promises and this is another policy that I was waiting for. It is the right thing to do and these criminals will get what they deserve. You just have to be patient.
Everybody is saying that America is in danger and for eight years,there hasn’t been an attack on US soil. Al-Quaeda is loving it as we spend billions to protect America and deunify this nation. And boy are you playing in their hand. We need stronger people than you Tennessean as we are not afraid to practice what we preach by our constitution. So be patient and criticise when the verdict is in
I agree @Melody,
We champion and proselytize democracy and freedom throughout the world. Yet our politicians display no faith in our system of justice. We want to shout “This is how a civilized society under democracy looks like and conducts itself – out in the open – fair and just for all to see”.
If we cannot put this trial anywhere WE want, then we can’t believe our constitution works and we cannot chant our mantra of “We are a“Nation of Laws” It becomes weak, unconvincing and difficult to spread our message with a straight face,
And do we actually fear that 12 American citizens would let a terrorist go free? Even if the prosecution was lousy and defense in top form – there is always Jury nullification! (OJ)
@Jovial, like I said, this is Not an Obama decision. Here is a short video of Eric Holder interviewed on the Jim Lehrer http://tinyurl.com/ye5ego2 He goes over his decision making and involving Obama in the process.
Fear should never be the basis for any decisions we make. Lets not become the nation that defines and outlines the benefits of using Terror.
Melody, the terrorists want “attention” for their cause. President Numb Nuts has just handed them the most public spectacle they could ever hope to achieve beyond something of the scope of another 9/11.
Jovial, that makes no sense. Do I have to wait until you actually chop off my head to be firmly convinced it’s not a good idea? At least not for me???
A better mark of a man is being able to depart from being a patsy for radical influences in his party and having the good sense to recognize it when something is so blatantly wrong. This President has proven that when the more radical winds of the Liberals and Democratic influences in this country blow, he can do little more than flap hopelessly in the putrid breeze.
It’s time to recognize the mistake America made and begin to move in the direction of doing something about it.
Dahl, “War Criminals” “Nuremberg Trials” There is precedent. This lame excuse for a President should follow it.
And Dahl, I think it speaks to your naivete if you don’t think Obama okayed this decision.
Tennessean:
Yes the Attorney General has just handed ‘them’ a most public spectacle. Honest American Muslims will be able to watch this trial and one or two may just want to call the FBI about a strange acting fellow Muslim in their mosque. And if it changes the mind of just one Muslim terrorist, who lives among us, from carrying out their deed, then halleluiah. Keep it in the dark and the terrorists can recruit with horror stories of what we did to them.
Neither you NOR I can know of any conversation between Obama and Holder, therefore we can BELIEVE from our perspective but THINKING it requires a gathering of facts
We DID recognize the mistake America made and began to move in the direction of doing something about it on November 22, 2008.
BYW the other five terrorists were on foreign soil and under military responsibility.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured on American soil just as the other 119 terrorists we have ALREADY tried in our CIVILIAN courts around the country.
“War Criminals” “Nuremberg Trials”?? The fact that America made no legal “Proclamation of War” that the terrorists had no loyalty to one government or organized marching army was the excuse Bush used to invade and drop the Geneva Convention rules of war for tactics he and Cheney wanted to use. So perhaps HE would should have followed the rules.
Can anyone tell me a logical reason not based on fear or anger why they do not want him tried in NYC?
“Can anyone tell me a logical reason not based on fear or anger why they do not want him tried in NYC?”
Didn’t he confess to being the brains of the operation? So shoot the bastard already!
dahl, you seem a nice enough person. But naivete of the level you exhibit is dangerous.
Seems this failure of a President has done a poor job so far of gaining respect and consideration from the Muslim World. I don’t see that allowing them to mock us and exploit the weakness and naivete of this Radical Liberal Administration will gain us anything….other than more ridicule and derision.
Tennessean:
I have been told by men that I can be very dangerous – but not because of inexperience :->
It is odd, is it not, that it took Republicans 8 years to figure out Bush did a poor job as president, but only 9 months to conclude the President of the other party ‘has done a poor job’? Too bad you were not so astute when we needed it.
Mock, weak, naïveté, exploit, ridicule, derision – sounds like buzz words memorized from Fox and Limbaugh.
@Tommy: Hey, I’d help ya pull the trigger, but I asked for logic, not anger!
Anger toward a man who admits to planning the deaths of 3000 of my countrymen, is a logical reaction. If our goal is gained respect from the Muslim world, then a public execution would be the next step in their culture. They’ll interpret a “fair trial” of a confessed murderer as a sign of moral weakness.
Dahl, perhaps some don’t think Bush, given the circumstances, did all that terrible a job. You can give or take what you wish, but he led this country through some extraordinary times, times never before experienced. And in the end, for whatever reason, this country was safe from another attack on our soil until Ft. Hood.
Perhaps when you guys quit attributing all differing thought to Fox News, and the rabble such as myself being incapable of independent thought, constructive dialogue can move forward in this country.
Somewhere, I read there should be a C.I.T.A. charge and prosecution. “Caught In The Act”. Streamline the judicial system that way. Given that, I think it would be very logical to just “shoot the bastard”. And go ahead and take care of Major Hasan while you’re at it. Save the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars at a time when we could desperately use the money.
Tommy Pane says, “They’ll interpret a “fair trial” of a confessed murderer as a sign of moral weakness.”
SPOT FRIGGIN’ ON!!!
But don’t expect to get any agreement or understanding from THIS naive (thank you Fox or Sean or Bill or Rush or whoever) crowd.
(Funny how my vocabulary and understanding of words has increased since I started viewing Fox News. Let’s see….that was during the 9/11 Coverage. I was a deaf and dumb mute before then I guess!!) ;-)
@Tommy
See The 9/11 Trials: Fear Over Reason and Strength
Tommy, don’t reply yet. I’m going to put the above in a post.
@Tommy: ruh roh! You’re in trouble now! I’m just kidding. :lol: <see! (Anomaly)