Obama Administration Is Right To Prosecute Alleged Detroit Bomber in U.S. Court [Wrong]

Washington Post ^ | December 31, 2009

[Steelfish]

Obama Administration Is Right To Prosecute Alleged Detroit Bomber in U.S. Court

Thursday, December 31, 2009

FORMER VICE president Richard B. Cheney on Wednesday joined a Republican chorus criticizing the Obama administration's decision to charge alleged bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in federal court. Mr. Cheney and others argue that Mr. Abdulmutallab, who is accused of trying to down Northwest Flight 253 over Detroit on Christmas, should have been held as an enemy combatant and pumped for information, rather than read his Miranda rights and provided a lawyer. They further argue that the decision to shuttle him to federal court shows that President Obama is in denial about the dangers of terrorism.

This last claim has no merit. Just as it would be a mistake to approach all terrorist acts as a law enforcement challenge, so would it be imprudent to dispense with strong and available law enforcement tools, and to deal with all such incidents as acts of war.

Recall that the Bush administration prosecuted shoe bomber Richard Reid in federal court for attempting to down a transatlantic flight using the same type of explosives allegedly found on Mr. Abdulmutallab. No one then questioned the Bush-Cheney administration's judgment or its resolve -- and rightly so.

The prospects for Mr. Abdulmutallab's prosecution are good. Multiple eyewitnesses can testify to the incident on the plane, and physical evidence, including the failed explosive device, has been recovered. If the case goes to trial, there is probably little danger that secret sources or methods will be exposed.

Yet part of the critics' argument is worthy of discussion. Mr. Abdulmutallab could have been detained without charge and interrogated outside of the constraints of federal rules to give the administration an opportunity to gather information in hopes of thwarting a future attack.

[Steelfish]

The Editorial goes on to say:

"Second, because he is no Khalid Sheik Mohammed -- he is not a seasoned al-Qaeda operator but a disturbed young man whom the group tried to use as cannon fodder."

"Disturbed Young Man" Please call in Oprah and Dr. Phil!

[freespirited]

a disturbed young man

Wapo-speak for sociopath.

[andy58-in-nh]

They are all "disturbed young men". If that were the standard by which one was exculpated from treatment as an enemy combatant, they'd all be tried in court under US laws, which is what The Post really desires, so that their ACLU lawyers can turn each trial into a public referendum on the Bush Administration.

[Manta]

From HBL

“It is interesting to note that while President Obama has given
INTERPOL immunity from the laws protecting the rights of US
citizens, he has extended the protection of rights, through the
granting of criminal trials, to non-citizens who engaged in the 9/11
attacks.

Though it may be an obvious point for this audience, comparisons
like this make it all the more clear that he is not only a statist, but
an anti-American statist.”

[JohnLongIsland]

And the libs wonder why they have zero credibility when it comes to national security.

[muawiyah]

The "disturbed young man" is, according to OTHER WarshPost stories the former President of a Moslem student group in London. Three previous presidents of the same group have gone on to become terrorists.

I think the "postie" who wrote this one didn't bother checking with the paper's archives ~ from YESTERDAY!

Sometimes the people over there are just so stupid ~ like they're on drugs.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

The Zero is flunking Risk Management 101.

If another incident occurs that could have been prevented by interrogating the Pantybomber the Zero is going to have a Dukakis situation.

When faced with with the Doomsday Scenario the Zero punked out.

[trumandogz]

President Bush was dreadfully wrong to prosecute Richard Reid in a civilian court and Obama is making the same dreadful mistake.

[Melas]

IMHO, much to much is being made of this. Federal court, state court, military tribunal et al, doesn’t matter much. What’s important is that he’s being prosecuted. I don’t really care about the venue as much I care about a successful prosecution.

[InterceptPoint]

At least they ask the right question:

So why not bundle the Nigerian suspect to a secure location for intensive questioning by the CIA?

But of course they fail to actually answer it. The right and ability to interrogate terrorists is the primary reason you want to hold them as military prisoners. The WP may believe it knows what information this guy has in his head but somehow I doubt that they do. There is no way of knowing what he knows without an intensive interrogation. Period. The WP, as usual, is simply carrying water for Obama. The truth is a much lower priority for them.

[ANGGAPO]

It is really a sad day when Americans fail to realize that the Islamic Fascists want all Americans dead, if it is possible to do it. They wish to kill us any way that they can. As to the Crotch Bomber, send him to Gitmo for a military trial and then execute the SOB. It's time for us to forget PC and get into the real world.

[purplelobster]

Presidential Itinerary 12/31/09

9AM - Have Janet supboena bloggers
10AM- Meet w/Axelrod re: status of attacks on Cheney/Bush
12AM- Meet w/Ayers - lunch & underpants shopping
2PM- Sledding w/family
5PM- Massage appointment w/Pinch

[trumandogz]

The Obama apologists don't seem to recall that Richard Reid was an American citizen and the Tighty Whitey Jihadi is not.

Thanks, I was not aware that the Bush Administration granted the British born Richard Reid his American citizenship in the time after he attempted to blow up the plane and prior to standing trial in a civilian court.

[mbarker12474]

And... the fact that we might successfully prosecute an enemy combatant in a civil court, is not in and of itself good reason to use civil courts to adjudicate the cases of foreign, enemy, combatants in war.

Note also that the Obama administration will gain huge credibility points with middle America, via the MSM, when he successfully prosecutes and then executes the scumbags that should have been handled via wartime means.

[ANGGAPO]

President Bush tried the Shoe Bomber in a civil court because “at that time” no one had any idea what a monstrous situation we would be facing down the road.

[cranked]

Umm, no, it is not right.
Giving a non-US citizen the same rights as a US citizen is ludicrous, period.

[jwalsh07]

Thanks, I was not aware that the Bush Administration granted the British born Richard Reid his American citizenship in the time after he attempted to blow up the plane and prior to standing trial in a civilian court.

My mistake I was thinking of Padilla but I appreciate the bitching snark. Good stuff!

[trumandogz]

President Bush tried the Shoe Bomber in a civil court because “at that time” no one had any idea what a monstrous situation we would be facing down the road.

As I recall, back in December of 2001 just three months after the 9/11 Attacks, Americans were quite aware of the monstrous situation we would be facing down the road.

[AuntB]

FYI

HILLARY CLINTON’S AGENCY ISSUED THE TERRORIST’S VISA
by Michael Cutler

http://www.newswithviews.com/Cutler/michael177.htm

I have noted several times that the State Dept. is responsible for issuing many of the BAD visas who turn out to be jihadists or criminals. Remember this number is above those issued by USCIS. All in all, we must be issuing a couple million visas every year.(over 4 million are overstays and will be eligible for AMNESTY)