Posted on 09/06/2006 10:34:53 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - President Bush has transferred 14 key terrorist leaders from secret CIA custody to the U.S. military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to be prepared for eventual trials, a senior administration official said Wednesday.
The high-value suspected terrorists include Khalid Sheik Mohammed, believed to be the No. 3 al-Qaida leader before he was captured in Pakistan in 2003; Ramzi Binalshibh, an alleged would-be Sept. 11, 2001, hijacker; and Abu Zubaydah, who was believed to be a link between Osama bin Laden and many al-Qaida cells before he was also captured in Pakistan, in March 2002.
Bush was announcing the move in a speech from the White House, with families of those killed in the 2001 attacks in attendance.
The announcement from Bush is the first time the administration has acknowledged the existence of CIA prisons, which had been reported in the media and the subject of friction between Washington and some allies in Europe. The administration has come under criticism for its treatment of terrorism detainees.
It came as the president also was pressing a hard line with Congress Wednesday on legislation he says is needed to permit the trial of terror suspects through military tribunals. Bush exhorted lawmakers to allow evidence to be withheld from a defendant, if necessary, to protect classified information.
"One of the most important tasks is for Congress to recognize that we need the tools necessary to win this war on terror and we'll continue to discuss with Congress ways to make sure that this nation is capable of defending herself," he said at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
Bush's original plan for military tribunals was struck down in June by the Supreme Court, which said the commissions would violate U.S. and international law.
The official, who spoke only on grounds of anonymity because the president's announcement was still pending, said the suspects transferred to Guantanamo would be afforded some legal protections consistent with the Geneva conventions.
Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham have drafted a rival proposal. It would guarantee certain legal rights to defendants, including access to all evidence used against them.
In both military and civilian courts, a defendant's right to see evidence is viewed as indispensable to mounting an adequate defense.
Senate leaders were briefed on Bush's legislative plan Tuesday night. It already has met resistance from lawmakers who say it would set a dangerous precedent.
President Bush makes remarks as he meets with his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006. At left is Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and in the center is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Did that include Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi and John Murtha?
This is actually a good thing IMO. We need to conduct public trials of KSM and Binalshibh to jerk some sense into the liberal media and the electorate about just how bad these guys are and what they want to do to us. It really does our side no good to have them rotting in a secret jail. We have the goods on both those pieces of filth for masterminding 9/11. Let's try them and then hang them.
At the very least hang them.
Just in time for Hurricane Florence. Good idea, let Allah sort them out.
This seems like a good time to ask my dumb question of the month.
"U.S. military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba"
Can someone tell me how you marry our official rejection of the Cuban government and/or Castro, yet we have a prison there? Don't take me wrong. I'm all for our rejection of the Castro regime. I just must be missing something in that he allows us to maintain a prison there.
Any wisdom on this for me? Thanks.
An error. Nuremberg-style trial would be good, but difficult. A backdated presidential pardon to some guards could be much easier.
I was thinking Teddy, Chuck Schumer, Richard Durbin and Joe Biden myself, but I like your list too. ;-)
So this is why he is breaking into the soaps and Rush Limbaugh show at 1:45pm?
We had like a hundred year lease for a naval station at Gitmo, and Castro didn't really have any way to throw us out when he took over did he? Besides, he needs the money. The military prison was built after 9-11 though.
I think we've occuped Guantanamo Bay for the past 100 years or so and just decided to keep occupying it after 1959.
"Besides, he needs the money."
Castro hasd never cashed the checks the U.S. sends.
We have a long term lease on the base in Cuba
I never realized we even sent checks until now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_Naval_Base
"Since coming to power in 1959, Cuban president Fidel Castro has refused to cash all but the very first rent cheque in protest. But the United States argues that its cashing signifies Havana's ratification of the lease — and that ratification by the new government renders moot any questions about violations of sovereignty and illegal military occupation."
Nedra Pickler needs a name change operation. I'm guessing she is also helen thomas-ugly with a name like that.
we have a lease of 45 sq miles forever.
Makes sense to me...beat the libs with the truth.
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