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EDITORIAL
Terrorism on trial
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Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 9:57 a.m.
So, dangerous foreign terrorists who seek to destroy the United States now get the same constitutional protections afforded American citizens?
"We have a president who doesn't know we're at war," Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the hijacked jetliner that crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11, said Friday after the Obama administration announced it would try the mastermind of the worst attacks on U.S. soil in a civilian federal court in New York.
Four other terror suspects thought to be involved in planning 9/11 will also be put on trial in that federal court.
The government will seek the death penalty.
The decision isn't particularly surprising, given the Obama administration's promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, where the men are now imprisoned. But it is fraught with risk and raises questions about how this administration intends to fight the war on terror.
Attorney General Eric Holder announced the decision by saying, "For over 200 years our nation has relied upon a faithful adherence to the rule of law.
Once again, we will ask our legal system in two venues to answer that call."
But since when have we ever tried prisoners of war, enemy combatants or whatever you want to call Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his ilk in a civilian court under protection of the Bill of Rights? What will we do with Osama bin Laden if we find him? Read him his Miranda rights?
"By trying them in our federal courts, we demonstrate to the world that the most powerful nation on Earth also trusts its judicial system," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat.
So this is actually more about securing the approval of the French?
The dangers here are obvious. The courthouse -- and all of Manhattan -- will become a potential terror target once again.
Judicial discovery may lead to important classified information falling into the hands of al-Qaida terrorists. The trials could easily degenerate into circuses.
The Obama administration has made the wrong move. These men should be tried in a military setting.
But Americans will now cross their fingers and hope all goes well in New York.
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"Why does Doper Barry hate America? wrote on November 16, 2009 08:44 PM: Just asking? [sic]"
First of all, before asking anything, learn proper punctuation. But since AM radio listeners come from the lowest of the low-life fringe, that's obviously requesting something way beyond their ability to even conceptualize.
But more about Barry and why he hates America. (I didn't know he was on dope like Limbaugh, thanks for the info).
Barry Morris Goldwater (January 1, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona (1953–1965, 1969–1987) and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. He was also a Major General in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was known as "Mr. Conservative".
As "Mr. Conservative", Barry Goldwater was all about making the super-rich even richer, and therefore hated the extremely vast majority of people living in the United States, and he hated you and me.
Why do the cons like Barry Goldwater hate America? Let us count the ways.
"The dangers here are obvious. The courthouse -- and all of Manhattan -- will become a potential terror target once again."
So the Las Vegas Republicon-Journal has declared the terrorists have won and we should be very, very afraid.
I always knew at core, Sherm, Thomas and Vin were lilly-livered, anti-American scum.
By the way.............just saw pictures of Nixon and Eisenhower bowing to heads of states. Some have more class than others, I guess.
How utterly ridicules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's very hard to accept that we now have an administration that adheres to the rule of law.
After supporting 8 years of Republicans justifying anti-constitutional policies, for our President to have faith in our country's judicial system is scary.
Where are the days when a Vice-President can march over to the CIA and alter policy?
Will there ever again be a time when a presidential aide can fire Federal Prosecutors who won't indict innocent political rivals?
I'm more afraid of the chance that the trials will reveal illegal and immoral actions of the Bush administration than these people being acquitted aren't you?
(oh Patrick, guess when Obama will probaly sign the final execution orders for these guys? GENIUS!)
Bill:
President Obama is a GENIUS!
And while he is a genius about lots of things, let me just list a few here:
He is a genius because he nominated a Supreme Court justice that republicans COULDN'T SHAKE EVEN THOUGH THEY BUILT A MACHINE DESIGNED TO DEFEAT THE FIRST SUPREME COURT JUSTICE HE PUT FORWARD. That, is genius.
He is also a genius because he will demonstrate to the entire world that this country has faith in its judicial system, by trying a terrorist who WANTS to admit that he did it; its a NO lose situation. He gets to claim all the credit for abiding by the laws of humanity AND he gets credit for convicted a terrorist!
Its genius, pure unadulterated genius.
And, as to the "promises" that you contend candidate, then President Obama has made, I laugh in your general direction.
Neither candidate Obama, nor President Obama broke any "promise" that he would not accept campaign contributions, nor did he "promise" that unemployment wouldn't go higher than 8%, and this would be easy enough for you to prove; and good luck to you.
And just one more thing, while the economy has already come out of the recession the stimulus funds have only just begun to work their way through the economy; guess when the full impact will be felt? Let me help you; just before the 2010 elections!
LOL
President Obama is a GENIUS.