Posted on 11/14/2009 6:40:21 AM PST by opentalk
Eric H. Holder Jr. called his order Friday to send the suspected plotters of the Sept. 11 attacks to trial in Manhattan "the toughest decision I've had to make as attorney general." But what the nation's chief law enforcement officer did not lay bare for public consumption was the four months of deliberation, lobbying and tug of war inside his own Justice Department that preceded an announcement that will follow him into history.
In his nine months in office, Holder has jettisoned a public corruption case against former senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) because of prosecutorial lapses, launched an inquiry into CIA interrogators who abused terrorism suspects and announced a turnaround on medical-marijuana enforcement. Each decision has drawn a measure of criticism from Capitol Hill and some of his predecessors.
Nevertheless, the fate of the five men who allegedly conspired to use fully fueled airliners as weapons of mass destruction in 2001 posed the single biggest legal and political question that Holder is likely to face. The criminal proceedings against Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his four alleged confederates may display to the world all the protections and failings of the U.S. justice system.
"The stakes are high," Holder said Friday in a brief conversation. "You have what is truly the trial of the century. The American people are committed to the resolution of this, and I considered that closely in picking the right place, the right forum, the right team."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Meanwhile his old law firm will be defending the slugs.
Who did he wrestle with? It wasn’t his conscience, ‘cause he doesn’t have one.
“Wrestling.” Or a “risky decision,” the media say. If Bush or McCain had done something so stupid or reckless in endangering lives the headlines would be screaming about incompetence, America being made more vulnerable, etc.
Total BS, this has been his goal since 2001. Put Bush on trial. This will be a show trial of the Bush years and the war on terror todate
This article is devoid of truth. The Lib Holder, worst AG of all time, reflexively takes the ACLU position every time. Consequences to the country be damned.
Anybody who believes this WaPost fabrication also still puts their teeth under the pillow and leaves cookies for Santa Claus.
Such a tough decision. We’re supposed to be in awe that their superior intellects had to work so hard to make these decisions. Why if people that superior to us had a hard time with the issue, we should just follow them. It’s clearly beyond us.
To which I say: NUTS!
“allegedly conspired”
ALLEGEDLY??????
This is exactly what I was afraid of.
He had to wrestle between the plusses—putting the Bush administration on trial for “torture” and giving the jihadists a platform for international publicity, vs. the negative of public outrage if the defendants were to get off. Maybe he’s sure the fix is in so the defendants can’t walk free.
Carl Rove was on Fox and Friends a few minutes ago and said something that I hadn’t even thought of and that is the safety of the jurors. And it is very likely that will become a major concern. Anyone who believes that there aren’t Jihadis in this country who will try to destroy the jury is a fool, not to even mention the rest of the population.
Under a bus or bust!!
Not guilty.
I’ve got a serious question for Freepers. We’ve had fictional depictions of treasonous politicians before (i.e. Manchurian Candidate) but my question is this:
Excluding puppet governments that have been installed by conquering powers (like what the Japanese did in Manchuria) has there ever been a treasonous administration in history like the one we have that has rose up from within?
There was no wrestling with this decision, except for when to release the decision. The decision was made on Obama’s first day in office when he decided to close Gitmo.
Barbra Streisand!!
I mean even Neville Chamberlain wasn’t trying (I don’t think) to destroy Britain - he was duped by Hitler - I don’t think he was working towards Britain’s destruction.
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