Posted on 11/17/2010 4:24:52 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The first suspect transferred from Guantanamo military prison to face a U.S. civilian court was found not guilty of terrorism charges on Wednesday in a setback to President Barack's Obama plans for trying terrorism suspects.
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, 36, a Tanzanian from Zanzibar, had been accused of conspiring in the 1998 al Qaeda bomb attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people. The jury found him guilty of one relatively minor charge of conspiracy to damage or destroy U.S. property with explosives.
Ghailani was cleared of 276 murder and attempted murder counts, along with five other conspiracy charges. It was a rare defeat for the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York, which has a near perfect record in prosecuting terrorism cases.
The jury deliberated for a week.
Obama has vowed to close the prison at Guantanamo amid international condemnation of the treatment of detainees, but he has run into political resistance at home.
The Obama administration has adopted what it calls a flexible approach, favoring military tribunals in some cases and civilian trials in others. Most Republicans say all terrorism suspects should be tried in military tribunals.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
It was a milk factory. No, wait...........
They did get a conviction on one charge, he ain’t going anywhere.
What happens when you put one of America’s enemies on trial in front of a jury of America-hating Manhattanites.
What is 0bama and Holder going to do with this guy when he gets out jail in a few months? If he cannot be deported because no other country wants him, what American city will be his new home? How much will he collect in welfare benefits?
Holder and Obama Please give us a Statement. The fake one, we know your happy.
However it isn’t going to make life any easier for Holder.
The jury was tampered with, when eleven says guilty, one says not guilty. Money or intimidation bought that twelfth one.
Check his bank account in six months.
The one charge he was convicted on carries a amndatory minimum of 20 years in prison without parole, and a maximum of life.
How in the hell does Reuters figure that this is a setback for Obama's "plans for trying terrorism suspects"?
This is exactly what he and Holder wanted!
...gov had 46 witnesses,hundreds of exhibits.......
defense spoke for 20 mins...no witnesses
jury deliberated for seven days......
and rats say their “happy” with outcome....
From Obama's perspective this is not a setback at all. This is the type of outcome he and Holder wanted all along.
Sorry for the typo— that’s a mandatory minimum.
The important thing here is a jury in a civilian court can be stacked and the person can be set free. A good reason for a military court. It’s just starting folks.
Obama is such a dope!
Yes conspiracy, but cleared of all the murder charges. Main reason for that is because a key witness was not permitted to testify. This was not a victory.
Impeach Obama!!! Fire Holder!!! Traitors, both of them!!!
I agree with you completely. Just as you said these combatants should be tried in military tribunals and not civil courts.
This is why Osambo is doing it this way. These combatants (there is a hint of what they are by just their title) are rag tag soldiers not criminals in the common sense. These combatants should be tried, and if found guilty, hanged.
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