Posted on 11/15/2009 10:07:52 PM PST by FromLori
The government will have to choose between vigorous prosecution and revealing classified sources and methods.
This is a prosecutorial decision as well as a national security decision," President Barack Obama said last week about the attorney general's announcement that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other al Qaeda operatives will be put on trial in New York City federal court.
No, it is not. It is a presidential decision—one about the hard, ever-present trade-off between civil liberties and national security.
Trying KSM in civilian court will be an intelligence bonanza for al Qaeda and the hostile nations that will view the U.S. intelligence methods and sources that such a trial will reveal. The proceedings will tie up judges for years on issues best left to the president and Congress.
Whether a jury ultimately convicts KSM and his fellows, or sentences them to death, is beside the point. The treatment of the 9/11 attacks as a criminal matter rather than as an act of war will cripple American efforts to fight terrorism. .
. He was the brains behind a succession of operations against the U.S., including the 1996 "Bojinka plot" to crash jetliners into American cities.
Now, however, KSM and his co-defendants will enjoy the benefits and rights that the Constitution accords to citizens and resident aliens—including the right to demand that the government produce in open court all of the information that it has on them, and how it got it.
Prosecutors will be forced to reveal U.S. intelligence on KSM, the methods and sources for acquiring its information, and his relationships to fellow al Qaeda operatives. The information will enable al Qaeda to drop plans and personnel whose cover is blown. It will enable it to detect our means of intelligence-gathering, and to push forward into areas we know nothing
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Thanks libs.
If the proceedings are not going to be classified, why are even the Rats tolerating Bummer any more.
the list, ping
No, no, this is absolutely fine with me as things have a tendency of working out. As in coming back to bite them in ass big time. Islamic fundamentalists view them as a target just as much as the rest of us.
Bush's fault.
First off these guys are going to pay a huge price for this pitiful miscalculation.
Americans are the most productive people anywhere and that is because we are the ultimate multi-taskers.
They are just adding to the pile of stuff we are concerned about or angry over. This is just one more log on the fire and we are the ones who have to manage it with our own pokers.
They are very, very mistaken about our ability to wage opposition on a multitude of issues and we will oppose them at every turn.
The funny part, is these war criminals could very well be acquitted.
Why? How?
First off, bringing them to New York? That is beyond laughable. No way could they get a fair trial so their defense attorneys will argue change of venue. It will be granted but where will it ultimately be tried?
Second, Miranda Rights. Not having received them, much of the evidence against them will be quashed or suppressed. Any that is brought forth will be challenged for chain of command or better yet defense will motion for discovery and los and behold they will have to conjure up a battle ship by the name of USS New York. Said ship is constructed of material from the World Trade Center girders but, unfortunately it has been altered.
Where are the remains of the planes?
How did the Hijackers gain control and what weapons where used?
What about 911 truther theories? Someone is going to bring that up and test it.
This will be a great idea: “Hey, uh, Attorney General, why don’t you try them together”. The punch line is, a jury will need to find All of them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. They won’t be able to.
Guantanamo and Habeas Corpus, which will likely come up twice. It will most certainly come up when the Defense demands dismissal for failure to bring forth a timely trial and as such again chain of command over all aspects of the case will come up. Funny, when the government starts pulling change of holding status it will become a huge defect in their case.
Why weren't these alleged murderers (Okay, we still call them terrorist) all availed a competent attorney, who cold pursue a logical, lawful and legal case that follows a traditional path and in some way makes sense?
Torture of a suspect to coerce a confession is not cool. Now if they in jeopardy under the military code of justice as battlefield prisoners then big deal.
But, and really big BUT, when this happens in the traditional area of law enforcement, we let guys go who are indeed really bad guys and we hand them a check. In this case it could indeed be a rather large check.
What about pursuing civil rights violations? Being held against your will in another country? Whoa, man, that is pretty heavy. Being forced to take medication against one’s will, what if they died or were scared silly?
What about the schlubs that got let go? The defense will want to question them but, alas they will not be available for examination. Why is that important? They were rounded up like cattle with the other “alleged” terrorists, now criminals and they may have information relevant to exoneration of these alleged murders.
Well, well, well...now what will become of the suspects upon acquittal? Where will we release them? What if they claim to be stateless? Who will take them?
Couldn't they apply for asylum? Couldn't they make a “Federal Case” out of hardship and begin the process of citizenship or alien residency?
What about their ability to go on the college circuit giving speeches?
They are, after all, men who have been held for years for a crime of which they were acquitted.
Shouldn't they be free to move about the country while they pursue a counter suit and damages for being kidnapped and held as political prisoners for years?
Can't they sue for damages and their lost lives of the last 8 years?
This is going to be fun, for the alleged murderers and they are going to bask in the Arab and m uslim adoration world wide, while making a fool of our government and justice system.
We, the American Public, are going to be rightfully angry when we let these animals go. But that is the way is the cookie crumbles.
Enjoy the next 5-7 years while the government does their dog and pony show.
Me, I think I will begin eating popcorn without butter.
Click on the title of this sad satire, as this one is just so apt:
Anyone recollect Nancy Pelosi’s vendetta against the CIA for which she never apologized or explained? Underhanded redux in NY!
Geeez, I read the excerpt before I read your disclaimer. Almost had a freaking heart attack!
Larger font next time, please!
These trials will put the administration of Justice into deep disrepute.
You think that government lawyers are hated now? Wait until these trials start! They will need 24/7 security.
WHen they are done, America will have incredible disrespect for the Courts and the Justice system of the United STates.
Obama may be creating his own death bed, IMHO.
Your satire would be grimly funny if it were not in fact right on the money and basically true. The Far Left and its bankers fought to get Gitmo closed in order to make things better for the guilty terrorists and to get these scum into civil rather than militrary tribunals.
This is going to be a circus.
Life is like a box of chocolates.
We just need to hang on for the next 8-12 years until we can elect people who are not willing to be bought off and will tell America the truth.
But our story needs to be stronger than the Clinton mantra “It’s for the children”, when they really mean it is for the collective.
Our story needs to be about the children but stated in terms that are more stark and opposite of the progessives and show a real investment in our future, as the only Global Superpower.
Fine, if everyone else wants to be a Great Power but, they are happy to have us as the only Super Power, so they can leverage our strengths, while lining their pockets.
We just have to accept that we are the lone Super Power, Police the world and through us, make the world a better place.
I didn’t quite state that in terms I like, so feel free to flame away and I will fix it in subsequent posts.
This will be used as evidence that Obama is working for the other side.
If we elected an AQ agent, how would he act differently? KSM and the others will get off because of “torture” and AQ will get a publicity bonanza.
ping for later
Huessein is paying back those that put him through school and into power.
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