Free Republic

As President Obama vows to “finish the job” in Afghanistan by sending more troops, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has completed a detailed look back at a crucial failure early in the battle against Al Qaeda: the escape of Osama bin Laden from American forces in the Afghan mountains of Tora Bora in December 2001. “Removing the Al Qaeda leader from the battlefield eight years ago would not have eliminated the worldwide extremist threat,” the committee’s report concludes. “But the decisions that opened the door for his escape to Pakistan allowed bin Laden to emerge as a potent symbolic figure...

When Eric Holder announced he was moving the 9/11 terrorist trial to New York City, a rash of worries were released, the case will be dismissed because of the waterbording, all the evidence will be thrown out because they weren't read their Miranda rights..etc. The Wall Street Journal is warning of the very real possibility that the two of the terrorists, Ramzi Binalshibh and Mustafa al-Hawsawi may be declared mentally unfit to stand trial. Their attorney's claim that the terrorists have mental disorders caused by harsh CIA treatment. The issue already has arisen in military-commission proceedings at the military's detention...

The decision by Obama administration officials to bring a terrorist who admits to plotting the Sept. 11 attacks and four others to New York City for criminal trials amounts to a public relations bonanza for terrorists and a disaster for U.S. security interests. At the same time, the trials will present terrorists with a venue and a reason to launch further attacks... They will draw just as much attention if similar to, for instance, the shootings by another Islamic extremist at Fort Hood just a few weeks ago. The trials also will give U.S. enemies valuable insights into vital national...

08:51:37 THE WORLD TRADE CENTER HAS JUST BLOWN UP, WE SEEN THE EXPLOSION OUTSIDE OUR WINDOWS. TERESA… 09:05:33 PLANES JUST HIT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WITHIN 15 MINS! IT’S HORRIBLE… 09:05:38 I am on Wall Street. A plane just crashed into the Twin Towers. This is horrible. Gerry Genna WorldCom Conferencing 2001 09:05:46 PLEASE CALL ME ASAP. I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE OK. -ELLEN.

This was found in the 9/11 pager texts; http://911.wikileaks.org/files/messages_2001_09_11-10_30_2001_09_11-10_34.html 2001-09-11 10:31:03 Skytel [005344000] A ALPHA UD REPORTS ANONYMOUS CALL TO JOC REPORTING ANGEL IS TARGET JOC = Joint Operations Command = Pentagon Angel = Air Force One This call would explain why Bush was diverted to Barksdale AFB and away from Washington.

Hundreds of thousands of electronic messages from 9/11 – including panicked exchanges from the Pentagon and the NYPD – were released today by a nonprofit activist group. The riveting pager texts include messages from people at the fiery scene, brave first responders and worried, desperate onlookers just trying to get a word about a loved one. "We're under another 'terrorist' attack in new york city at the world trade buildings!!!" said one message recorded at 9:11 a.m. "It's horrible. two planes crash into the top floors of each building." Another message reads: "Please don't leave the building. One of the...

(CNSNews.com) – Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told CNSNews.com that President Barack Obama was giving 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed “his wish” by giving him a trial in federal civilian court instead of trying him before a military tribunal. McCain was asked on Nov. 19 whether the administration might have to produce Mohammed’s CIA interrogators if the terrorist’s defense lawyers call them as witnesses. McCain said the answer was not clear because Obama had opened the civilian justice system to enemy combatants, a move that raised myriad problems and gave Khalid Sheik Mohammed, or KSM, what he wanted.

Excerpts from Peter Re gan's remarks yesterday at a press conference on protests against the "9/11 trial" being held in New York. I AM here today to express my opinion on this administration's recent decision to put terrorists from a foreign land on trial in a civilian court of law of the United States of America. I am an American. I am a United States Marine, a New York City firefighter and the son of a New York City firefighter killed on 9/11. As an American, I believe in the Constitution of the United States. I believe that the rights...

Syndicated talk-radio host Mark Levin spoke with former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew McCarthy this evening about AG Eric Holder's decision to prosecute 9/11’s conspirators, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four lieutenants, in federal court a mere 6 blocks from Ground Zero. "The Cole bombing did not prompt a military war against al-Qaeda. It eventually resulted in a civilian indictment that is still pending. The Pentagon is the ultimate military target, and the attack against it spurred both the war we are now fighting and the implementation of military commissions to try jihadist war criminals. Yet, Holder has decided to give...

For discussion only! Should the criminal case of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (aka KSM) be dismissed? Some potential motions: 1) Judicial Misconduct: Violations of Miranda, violations of Escobedo, as stated by the President of the United States, KSM was "tortured". Violations of the right to a speedy trial. Detained by federal agents for more than 24 hours without being formally charged. 2) Double Jeopardy: In the case of Dr. Jeffrey McDonald: Source:http://www.altlaw.org/v1/cases/534614 Quote: "Since MacDonald was not put to trial before a military tribunal authorized to convict or acquit him, jeopardy never attached. Serfass v. United States, 420 U.S. 377, 387-89,...

One woman has not forgotten September 11th, 2001. Debra Burlingame, sister of Chic Burlingame, pilot of AA Flight 77 that was crashed into the Pentagon, wants the world to know she is not happy with President Obama’s and AG Eric Holder’s decision to try the 9-11 terrorists, including KSM, in Federal Court in New York. She’s has formed the 9-11 “Never Forget” coalition, and making arrangements for a nationwide protest on December 5th. The Coalition formed to fight the decision of President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to try the 9/11 co-conspirators in New York City’s federal court,...

This KSM trial will all be about the USA,former President Bush,former Vice President Cheney and the world on global terror. So, you thought Erik Holder was being truthful when he stated he was very confident the terrorists brought to New York would be convicted and given the death penalty? Maybe he does have evidence we don’t know about, but Germany – who provided evidence – will be watching in person. Hat tip to Michelle Malkin who directs us to a Deutsche Welle (DW-World) article.

As time goes on, this will most likely become a CIRCUS TRIAL. There is no doubt the terrorist trial of the Sept. 11 planners in New York City will be a big show that aims to put the United States on trial. Scott Fenstermaker, the lawyer in the headlines, implies American foreign policy will be on trial and he refuses to admit civilians were murdered. O’Reilly had Fenstermaker on his show last night, and here is the video courtesy Gateway Pundit. (Actually, had to grab the video from another source -- the PoliticsCentralX You Tube channel.) O’Reilly calmly asks Fenstermaker...

. 9/11 SCOTT "Let's Roll" BEAMER's Dad called for "Regime Change USA-2010/2012" on FoX this morning.

Just saw Mr. Beamer, father of 9/11 Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer, on Fox News. This man needs to run for Congress - campaign slogan should be "Let's Roll!"

Note: The following blog entry is a quote: Iranian Official: The U.S. Is No Longer Immune to Attack At a November 21, 2009 conference in Qom, Ali Saeedi, Khamenei's representative in the IRGC, aimed a veiled threat at the US, saying that this country is no longer immune to attack. Assaults like 9/11 have proved that its stability can be compromised, he explained. Source: Fars (Iran), November 22, 2009 Posted at: 2009-11-22

The five men facing trial in the Sept. 11 attacks will plead not guilty so that they can air their criticisms of U.S. foreign policy, the lawyer for one of the defendants said Sunday. Scott Fenstermaker, the lawyer for accused terrorist Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, said the men would not deny their role in the 2001 attacks but "would explain what happened and why they did it."

"I'm not scared of what (self-professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed) would say at trial," Attorney General Eric Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee as he defended his decision to prosecute Mohammed and four other accused 9/11 planners in a federal criminal court. I'm not scared of what KSM has to say in court either. I'm scared of what a federal judge might say and do. Mohammed already has said, "I was responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z." By handing the 9/11 Five over to the federal court system, the Obama administration has opened the door for...

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee met to question Attorney General Eric Holder about his decision to prosecute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others in criminal courts rather than military tribunals. As the father of Todd Beamer, who died on United Airlines Flight 93, I was able to attend that hearing. What transpired caused me great concern and shook my confidence in our current administration....How can we be assured that these enemies will be found guilty? Given that criminal courts are now the presumed venue for those captured on the battlefield, will soldiers need to read them their rights at...

So why is Attorney General Eric Holder doing this? Ostensibly, to demonstrate to the world the superiority of our system where the rule of law and the fair trial reign. Really? What happens if KSM (and his co-defendants) “do not get convicted,” asked Senate Judiciary Committee member Herb Kohl. “Failure is not an option,” replied Holder. Not an option? Doesn’t the presumption of innocence, er, presume that prosecutorial failure — acquittal, hung jury — is an option? By undermining that presumption, Holder is undermining the fairness of the trial, the demonstration of which is the alleged rationale for putting on...

To try Mohammed in a criminal court is to treat his act as criminal, and coming from a young administration that has already ceased using the phrases ‘terrorism’, ‘Islamic fundamentalism’ and ‘war on terror’ this serves as confirmation for many who, like myself, view the struggle against terrorism and against the oppressions of fundamentalism as the most important international (and moral) task facing our nation. Trying Mohammed in a criminal court is not necessary, and one could argue that he does not deserve to be treated as even the least respected criminal by the United States. He is by every...

If there was ever a more irresponsible decision by a U.S. attorney general than Eric Holder's decision to try the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attack and four others as common criminals in a civilian court in New York City, I can't recall it. He is gambling with the nation's security and providing a platform that will give aid and comfort to the enemy at a time of war. And he is doing so with no discernible benefit, least of all to showcase the strength of our judicial system. Does Eric Holder remember the most infamous criminal trial of the...

Attorney General Eric Holder adopted a tough-guy pose when he announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others will be tried in federal court for the most heinous terror attack on Americans in history. “After eight years of delay,” he intoned, “those allegedly responsible for the attacks of September 11 will finally face justice. It is past time to finally act.” Where to begin? The claim that the Bush administration was somehow dilatory sets a new standard for gall, particularly coming from Eric Holder. As former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy points out, “The principal reason there were so few military...

WASHINGTON -- For late-19th-century anarchists, terrorism was the "propaganda of the deed." And the most successful propaganda-by-deed in history was 9/11 -- not just the most destructive, but the most spectacular and telegenic. And now its self-proclaimed architect, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, has been given by the Obama administration a civilian trial in New York. Just as the memory fades, 9/11 has been granted a second life -- and KSM, a second act: "9/11, The Director's Cut," narration by KSM. September 11, 2001 had to speak for itself. A decade later, the deed will be given voice. KSM has gratuitously been...

Barack Obama's suggestion that the alleged September 11 mastermind would be convicted could affect the verdict in the trial, legal experts have warned. Remarks by the US president and Eric Holder, the Attorney General, forecasting a conviction for the Khalid Sheikh Mohammed could create unnecessary delays in the trial, analysts said. Defence lawyers were sure to apply to have the charges dismissed after Mr Obama made an overarching effort to reassure Americans that the decision to put Mohammed on trial at a federal court in New York was sound. "I don't think it will be offensive at all when he's...

Attorney General Eric Holder faced tough questions during a Senate hearing yesterday, but the toughest of all came after the lawmakers filed out of the room. Alice Hoagland, whose son, Mark Bingham, was killed in the 9/11 hijacking of Flight 93, politely laid out her own concerns with the plan to put accused terrorists on trial in Manhattan. "I can't help thinking that it does make New York City a more dangerous place and a target and it will give these ugly people . . . every elegant access to all of the media sources in the United States. We...

After his Senate testimony today, Holder was confronted by a woman who lost a son Flight 93. She accused him of giving the military commissions short shrift and enabling a media circus in which KSM will be allowed to rant and put the country on trial. Once again, he failed to address the issue. He tells her he did not give them short shrift and that the defendants ranted in the commissions too. Funny, I don't recall breathless liberal news organizations gleefully giving endless blow-by-blow of those antics. Maybe that is because the military doesn't allow circuses to take place...

<p>Accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four others must be, and will be, convicted, Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday in defense of his controversial recent decision to try the five alleged terrorists in a federal court in Manhattan.</p>

In fairness to The One, I don’t understand why America’s prosecutor-in-chief can’t express confidence in convicting a guy whom his own DOJ is trying. When Nixon called Manson guilty 40 years ago, he was meddling in a state trial without having seen the evidence. Not so here, but oh well. This is indeed a gift to the defense, although aside from giving the court an extra procedural headache to dispose of, it won’t matter ultimately. No judge is going to free the mastermind of 9/11 on a technicality and no president is going to let the mastermind of 9/11 walk...

Here is video of the mother of a Flight 93 (Mark Bingham) hero who confronted Attorney General Eric Holder today in the hearing room of the Senate Committee today where he had just testified. She did it firmly but graciously and respectfully. Alice Hoagland told Holder - “I take great exception to the decision to give short shrift to the military commissions and to put the five most heinous criminals and war criminals into court in New York City. It will give these ugly people, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh especially, very eloquent access to all the media sources...

Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to bring self-professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four of his alleged co-conspirators to trial in New York City is a disaster. Barring a repetition in civilian court of an earlier confession, it is at least as likely that the terrorist known internationally by his initials, KSM, will be set free as it is that he will be executed for the murder of nearly 3,000 innocent Americans eight years ago.

Should KSM and other 9/11 terrorists be tried on American soil six blocks from the WTC or by a military tribunal?

For if we are at war, why is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed headed for trial in federal court in the Southern District of New York? Why is he entitled to a presumption of innocence and all of the constitutional protections of a U.S. citizen? Is it possible we have done an injustice to this man by keeping him locked up all these years without trial? For that is what this trial implies — that he may not be guilty.

the White House made up its mind about this six months ago--that would be in May, roughly four months after President Obama's inauguration....why did it wait until last week to make the announcement? That it was the week after an election is bound to raise suspicions that the timing was politically motivated.

Under the Geneva Convention a prisoner of war or a POW is one who is held in continuing custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. Continuing custody means that there is no speedy trial requirement for prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, they may be imprisoned for the duration of the armed conflict. If a conflict last for 8 to 9 years the prisoner of war, according to the Geneva Convention, can be held for 8 to 9 years and shortly after the conflict is resolved without trial. Any demand to try a prisoner...

The CIA has paid millions of dollars to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) since 9/11, "accounting for as much as one-third of the foreign spy agency's annual budget", says a media report. The ISI also collected "tens of millions of dollars through a classified CIA programme", which pays for the capture or killing of wanted militants, a newspaper reported on Monday citing current and former US officials. An intense debate has been triggered within the US government due to "long-standing suspicions that the ISI continues to help Taliban extremists who undermine US efforts in Afghanistan and provide sanctuary to Al Qaeda...

I can think of a number of motives President Barack Obama might have for his egregious decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other high-profile al-Qaida terrorists to New York for trial in our civil courts. Regardless of which motives apply, one thing is clear: Our enemy is at war against us while we are in a suicidal, 9/10 state of denial. I've heard at least three possible reasons for his decision, which fall into the categories of political, ideological and strategic, respectively. These motives are by no means mutually exclusive and are overlapping. My friend Andy McCarthy, at...

Gov. David Paterson openly criticized the White House on Monday, saying he thought it was a terrible idea to move alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspected terrorists to New York for trial.

JOIN KSM IN SINGING "New York, New York"

We want to know what you think! Should KSM and other 9/11 terrorists be tried on American soil six blocks from the WTC or for war crimes by a military tribunal?

Five hundred more people died on September 11, 2001, than died on December 7, 1941. The earlier attack was against a military installation, the later attack was primarily against civilians. One was in a distant territory, the other was in the homeland, against what had been our first national capital. One was an act of war, and led to the atomic bombing of our enemy. The other has now been classified a crime, and has led to a civilian trial. And, most likely, an acquittal. In a display of stunning disregard for national interest, the Obama Administration announced last week...

This morning on Fox & Friends, three 9/11 family members debated President Barack Obama's decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other top attack conspirators in a federal court just six blocks away from the World Trade Center. The three were Debra Burlingame, James Riches Sr., and Charles Wolf. (See the video after the jump.)

On Wednesday, November 18, 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder will attempt to explain his decision to bring war criminal Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to trial in Manhattan's federal courtroom six blocks from Ground Zero. This is our Action Alert to you: Americans, it is time to unite, not as Republicans or Democrats, not as Conservatives or Liberals or Progressives. It is time to unite as CITIZENS. President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have forgotten that their chief duty is the safety and the security of the American people. IT IS TIME FOR US TO REMIND THEM. AG Eric Holder...

In light of Obama's decision to prosecute Khalid Sheikh Mohommed in civilian court, I found it interesting that the US Senate killed an amendment that would have defunded any effort to try anyone in a civilian court, that was involved in the 9/11 attacks. Big surprise - it was killed by Democrats in a 54-45 vote. S.AMDT.2669 Amends: H.R.2847 Sponsor: Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] (submitted 10/8/2009) (proposed 10/8/2009) AMENDMENT PURPOSE: To prohibit the use of funds for the prosecution in Article III courts of the United States of individuals involved in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. COSPONSORS(6): Sen McCain,...

While there is ample reason to believe that these will be show trials, I believe, along with others, the show trials will inure more to the benefit of the jihadists. I think they are neither designed for the purpose nor likely to achieve the aim of persuading the Muslim world or anyone else that we are so fair we are willing to sacrifice our best interests for the world’s pat on the head. They are a naked appeal to the left here and abroad who insist on treating war as a criminal act and jihadists as individual felons not worthy...

WASH­ING­TON — Not long after he was roust­ed from bed and seized in a predawn raid in Pak­is­tan in March 2003, Khalid Shaikh Mo­hammed gave his cap­tors two de­mands: He want­ed a lawyer, and he want­ed to be taken to New York. After a near­ly sev­en-year odyssey that took him to se­cret Cen­tral In­tel­li­gence Agen­cy jails in Eu­rope and an Amer­i­can mil­i­tary prison in Cuba, Mr. Mo­hammed is fi­nal­ly like­ly to get his wish. He will be the most se­nior lead­er of Al Qaeda to date held to ac­count for the mass mur­der of near­ly 3,000 Amer­i­cans, fac­ing trial in...

There is obviously a lot of discussion on FR concerning Obama's decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a civialian trial in NYC. Most of the comments have centered around the horrible possibility of a new terrorist attack against the court or somewhere nearby. I want to focus on another item I haven't seen discussed... what would happen to KSM, etc if the verdict is Not Guilty? Do they walk? Are they deported? As cleared, are they free to roam the streets of NYC? I am being deadly serious... If you open this to the civilian legal system, what would...

WASHINGTON — A nearly empty state prison in northwestern Illinois has emerged as a possible site to house detainees transferred from the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba, the Obama White House told the Chicago Sun-Times on Saturday. Gov. Quinn and Obama discussed the federal purchase of the Thomson Correctional Center when Quinn was in Washington on Nov. 4 and visited the White House. Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) will outline proposals for the future of the prison at press conferences in the Quad Cities, Chicago and Rockford on Sunday. Durbin’s office has been quarterbacking the potential sale of...

New York's Death Penalty Law Declared Unconstitutional DPIC Summary: People v. Stephen LaValle On June 24, 2004, New York's highest court held that the state's jury instructions were unconstitutional under the state constitution and that the constitutional defect in the existing statute could only be cured by passage of a new law by the legislature. The Court of Appeals vacated the death sentence of Stephen LaValle, concluding that the jurors might impose the death penalty on a defendant whom they believed did not deserve it simply because they feared that the defendant might someday be released. The court remanded the...

Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey said today that it is highly likely that terrorists will attack New York City as a consequence of the Obama administration's decision to send five alleged Sept. 11 plotters there for trial in federal court. During a question and answer period following a speech to a conservative legal group, Mukasey was asked about the possibility that there might be an escape by one or more prisoners. "The [Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan] is a very secure place....Is it secure? Of course, it’s secure. They’re not going to escape," Mukasey told a conference of the Federalist...