Alleged 9/11 mastermind will face military tribunal, not civilian trial

» Why the change? In November of 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder angered a lot of people (mostly Republicans) by announcing that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others implicated in masterminding the 9/11 attacks would be tried in civilian court, as opposed to military tribunals. Now, Holder has changed course. He blames the change of plans on Congress, which passed legislation barring federal funds from being used to transfer GITMO detainees to the US. However, President Obama signed that legislation, so the White House can’t cry foul too loudly here without being just a tad hypocritical.

Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

bad A civilian court trial against embassy bomber Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani only managed to convict the Guantanamo suspect on one charge – out of 285.
worse Obama’s failure to secure a conviction in civilian court means other civilian terror trials – including one for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – are off the table. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

I thought about my meeting with Danny Pearl’s widow, who was pregnant with his son when he was murdered. I thought about the 2,971 people stolen from their families by al Qaeda on 9/11. And I thought about my duty to protect my country from another act of terror. ‘Damn right,’ I said.
George W. Bush • Explaining in his coming memoir, “Decision Points,” why he allowed the CIA to waterboard suspects being interrogated, specifically Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. While it’s clear from the quote that he thought the decision through, the off-the-cuffness of his response strikes us as a little, you know, stark. We appreciate Bush caring so much about the lives of Americans that he’s willing to waterboard a 9/11 suspect, but waterboarding is about half a step away from torture. In fact, depending on who you ask, lots of people consider it torture. Also in the book, Bush (who claims to be through with politics) compliments Obama’s political skills while criticizing those of John McCain. He is also keeping his nose out of the whole 2012 race out of respect for Obama. This is impressive restraint that he at times didn’t show in office, by the way. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg isn’t on board anymore. Months after planning to have the trial for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (a.k.a. Mr. Bedhead) in Manhattan, local pressure is causing the Obama administration to reconsider its plan. “Conversations have occurred within the administration to discuss contingency options should the possibility of a trial in Lower Manhattan be foreclosed upon by Congress or locally,” said one official under an anonymous cloak. Many New York politicians have criticized the idea. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

In 2003, the 9/11 mastermind looked like this. In 2009, we replaced him with an Osama bin Laden lookalike. See if you can tell the difference. source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Apr 2011 01:12