Among the many things that bugs me about this notion of trying KSM in civilian court is that if KSM is found innocent is he released and free to go? I’m not very happy with that notion.
If he will be kept in custody no matter the outcome, then why are we doing it? Why go to the expense? Why share secrets with his, likely, traitorous sieve to Al Qaeda defense council? Why give Al Qaeda a public forum? And why put New York through it?
It makes no sense. Which, of course, means it is a typical policy from this administration.
Usually when something stupid comes from them, I can see a bribe to a constituency group or donor (whether the UAW or China). The stimulus bill is a prime example of something stupid but that makes sense from a self-centered political corruption point of view.
There are two sides to this administration. The first is a “machine politics, corrupt, bribe, our job is to steal for our constituencies” side. The second is a “we hate America, we suck, we are the problem” side. And maybe that is the side driving this decision.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Earlier this week, Obama when asked about this trial, said that when it is over and they are sentenced to death and then executed, there will be closure.
He just handed the defense their reason to ask for a dismissed trial or a mistrial. This is a sorry day for this country when the president is a traitor to the freedoms our men and women have fought and died for for over 200 years.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:04 am
Compare the ongoing saga of KSM and Co with the justice meted out to the Indonesians found guilty for the bomb attacks in Bali in 2002, which killed 88 Australians and more than a hundred others. Arrested in 2003, they were tried and found guilty. Their appeals failed and they were executed in November of 2008.
The two cases aren’t exactly parallel. But, five years for the process to run its course on one hand – on the other, who knows…
The Indonesians understood the threat those men and their associates posed not only to foreigners but to their own countrymen as well. Your government seems too intent on being seen to be dealing fairly with the accused – who will no doubt express their gratitude by turning the courtroom into a circus.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:39 am
I was surprised to see the soldier that killed our own men back in 2003 still hadn’t been executed.
This is less about the accused than this administration seeing an attempt to embarrass the last one. They are so focused on that they miss that this is and will do them a lot of damage.