About-Face: Obama Admin. Will Prosecute 9/11 Plotters in Military Court
- Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:25pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
WASHINGTON (AP) — Yielding to political opposition, the Obama administration has decided to refer avowed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged henchmen to the system of military commissions for trial rather than to a civilian federal court in New York, a federal law enforcement official said Monday.
After months of delay, the administration finally backed off Attorney General Eric Holder’s November 2009 announcement that the five would be tried in a courthouse just blocks from the World Trade Center site in downtown Manhattan that was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. That announcement created intense political opposition among Republicans and ultimately even among some Democrats, particularly in New York.
The official said it will be up to the U.S. military to decide whether the island prison at Guantanamo Bay, where the five are held, will be the site for trial or whether the five will be tried together or separately.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity about the switch, which Holder was expected to announce at an afternoon news conference.
At the White House, press secretary Jay Carney referred questions about the decision to the Justice Department, where Holder was scheduled to make an announcement after Carney’s daily briefing. But at one point during the questioning, Carney answered “yes,” when asked whether Obama agreed with Holder’s decision.
Republicans wasted no time Monday in criticizing the delay.
“It’s unfortunate that it took the Obama administration more than two years to figure out what the majority of Americans already know: that 9/11 conspirator Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is not a common criminal, he’s a war criminal,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith of Texas.
Republican critics have roundly assailed the administration, first for the decision in late 2009 to try the men in New York City, then for a long delay in making a decision on whether to have them face military commission justice instead.
One key senator, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in November he believed he had the votes in the Senate to block Mohammed from a civilian court.
“I think it is a big mistake to criminalize the war, to take someone you’ve held under the law of war as an enemy combatant for six or seven years, then put them in civilian court,” Graham said in November. “It is a disaster waiting to happen.”
The four alleged co-conspirators are Waleed bin Attash, a Yemeni who allegedly ran an al-Qaida training camp in Afghanistan; Ramzi Binalshibh, a Yemeni who allegedly helped find flight schools for the hijackers; Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, accused of helping nine of the hijackers travel to the United States and sent them $120,000 for expenses and flight training, and Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi, a Saudi accused of helping the hijackers with money, Western clothing, traveler’s checks and credit cards.
Mohammed allegedly proposed the concept for the Sept. 11 attacks to Osama bin Laden as early as 1996, obtained funding for the attacks from bin Laden, oversaw the operation and trained the hijackers in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Mohammed was born in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province and raised in Kuwait.
Holder’s earlier decision that Mohammed would be tried in New York was initially embraced by city officials, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said: “It is fitting that 9/11 suspects face justice near the World Trade Center site where so many New Yorkers were murdered.”
New York Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly called it appropriate and announced his police department was ready to meet any security challenge.
But an avalanche of criticism from Republicans, including former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, led a chorus of opposition in a place where there was virtually no opposition to trying major terrorism defendants prior to Sept. 11, 2001, even though some defendants had spoken of targeting judges and the FBI headquarters in lower Manhattan.
With the city still trying to recover from the hit it took in 2008 when the economy collapsed, fears that a major trial would harm real estate values on choice land in lower Manhattan and create high expenses for the city’s police department seemed to be a deciding factor in getting Bloomberg and others to change their mind.
By early 2010, city officials had estimated it would cost $216 million for the first year after Mohammed and four others were brought to Manhattan from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and $200 million annually every year as long as they remained. They said they needed to defend against the possibility the trial might inspire other terrorist attacks.
They cited the cost of New York City Police Department patrols but never got specific about those costs and never explained why the detention and trial of others like a defendant who was convicted last year in the deadly 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa did not drive up police costs considerably as well.
As politicians bickered over the issue, administrators at the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan and at the U.S. Marshals Service prepared for the possibility of a trial. At one point, there was discussion of broadcasting the trial on closed circuit television to a large enough venue that family members of Sept. 11 victims could watch the proceedings.
As security at the courthouse was tightened in anticipation of the trial, Bloomberg turned against the possibility in late January 2010.
“There are places that would be less expensive for the taxpayers and less disruptive for New York City,” Bloomberg said.
—
Associated Press writer Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.
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Comments (118)
TheWatcher
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:37pmIs anyone really surprised by this inaction by Obama?
Report Post »////////////////////
Buck
http://www.***************
Heirloom Seeds, “How God plants His garden!”
ConservativeFeminist
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:33pm$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Can you imagine the stock market rally that would occur if Obama announced he -would not- seek another term?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Report Post »goatkid
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:27pmHe is doing this only as an attempt to win re-election. I hope Americans wont be fooled.
Report Post »needanotherReagan
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:25pmHis first 2012 campaign promise. I’m sure he plans on breaking this one just like all of the 2008 promises. I pray he never gets the chance.
Report Post »Drum Man
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:10pmI totally agree with marine249
Report Post »Watch the other hand….
Semper Fi
Whostolemypig
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:08pmNo telling what Jeckel and Hyde will come up with tomorrow. You can sugar coat him, add whipped cream and sprinkles, but a turd is a turd and that chewy center just isn’t going to taste good.
Report Post »jrcess
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:04pmObama and the attorney General are playing Government. Remember when you were kids and played house or army. These jokers do not have a clue what they are doing. The handling of the financial matters to the war in Libya on to health care, this is like running an adult day care center.
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:02pmJust thinking about Obbbbahhhhhh-blaah make my stomach turn.
Report Post »xoke
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:57pmWell, at least he stopped the war in Iraq, Afganistan, and closed Gitmo…oh…wait……yea
Report Post »Harry Palm
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:01pmHe also said he would cut the deficit in half by the time his first term is up.
I wonder if the lame stream media si going to hold their chosen one accountable for all his failures?
Report Post »Harry Palm
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:55pmYet the O’bots will not hold any of the lies against their incompetent community organizer.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:53pmshould have lined them all up and shoot everyone between the eyes,for what they done to all those innocent Americans , then we would not have to waste all that money on trails,transportation,food, officers, if they need a couple of bullets, i am more than sure we could find more than a couple of Americans to donate a few. starting with me.
Report Post »charliego
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:53pmHELLO, what was his first clue? If he thinks these changes along with others is going to ingratiate himself with the American people for re-election purposes he is in for a rude awakening. Too little, too late. How about charging those ‘new black panthers’ for breaking voting rights laws and intimidating people. Holder is nothing, but a talking head for his boss—-like all the others. I bet their heads spin daily with what is gong to be the new talking point changes for the day.
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:52pmHa ha ha ha ha. Another instance of a socialist trying to live in an alternate reality and then being forced back into actual reality.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
Chicago Ray
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:48pmHe should be impeached just for this part of his failures that the media ignores more than the non existent BC…His entire platform consisted of closing Club Gitmo, ending all wars, and nothing more. He’s obviously failed tremendously.
Failed at it so miserably and badly it had to be on purpose. No one sucks this bad at what they supposedly do. No one.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:54pmwatch the other hand
Report Post »chips1
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:06pmGovernment czars?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:09pmdo not forget health care for every one at a savings!
Report Post »tiredofprogressives
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:45pmObama can’t even fool anyone anymore. Such antics as this. NOW he is going to try them in a military tribunal. Geez a day after he launches his 2nd term campaign. What an idiot but more the idiots who don’t realize this.
Don’t know why he came out with his 2nd term campaign since his entire 2 years as prez has been a campaign.
Report Post »REETZBEE
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:39pmMaybe Obama will resume oil drilling in the Gulf too just to get elected again. He’s going to get a billion dollar propaganda machine working for the next 1-1/2 so who do we have that can beat him in 2012?
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:34pmLike I said, sometimes it feels like an alternate government has taken over because no one’s at the wheel.
Report Post »Daggett
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:33pmTranslation: “It looks like we won’t be able to fix the 2012 election after all, so we have to at least pretend we care about what those damned American people think.”
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:39pmThey’ll fix it all right, like they did in Minnesota, Nevada, California and, now we’re learning, Colorado.
Report Post »MrsMB2008
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:32pmHis campaign has begun.
Report Post »SAYNOTOSOCIALISM
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:31pmI‘m sure this has nothing to do with the fact of Barry announcing he’s running for re-election……
Report Post »WireWizard
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:31pmFinally, the President got my letter…
Report Post »Oh, God!
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:40pmLetter of endorsement? LOL
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:31pmWe shall prosecute Obama as well.
Report Post »justice
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:29pmOh, how timing. He announced his re-election. Dear God people get out and vote 2012….
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:27pmIt is strictly a POLITICAL MOVE to help insure Obama’s re-election…….PERIOD!
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:33pmI’d take it one step farther: They make this announcement and pretend it‘s what they’ll do, then they just don’t do whatever they want instead and without fanfare.
Report Post »Defending Truth
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:34pmYes. This is how you always know an election season is coming up–those in office start making common sense moves again
Report Post »Restored One
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:49pmThe trial will not begin until after 2012 election. And if Obama gets a 2nd term (God help us), the trial will not begin at all. Political games!
Report Post »1chancey1
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:53pmAnd the Left, as usual, will give him another pass.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:05pmYes, oh so correct you are. And sholud he win, we will deeply regret it, for I think that’s trails will start here, of us.
Report Post »ConservativeFeminist
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:31pmAgree with BSDetector – this is a pre-election statement, and a final decision to move trial ~back~ to NYC would occur if Obama wins.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 3:53pmWhat fools they take US for!
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:26pmBRILLIANT, JUST BRILLIANT…… where did they come up with this idea? oh, they listened to the people, I see…
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:33pmActually, they were boxed in by the people. Obama has an election coming up next year.
Report Post »Revere1
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:33pmI love it. Obama made ridiculous promises to the left and they bought it, hook line and sinker: http://www.battlefield315.com/2011/02/barack-obama-explained.html Of course half of what Obama promised them could never be done. Will they ever realize what kind of man he is?
Report Post »SoCal Patriot
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:44pmWhat will be interesting to watch is how our President spins this to sound like it was his original goal all along. “Let…me…be…clear…military tribunals have been our preferred choice from day one…it is the first thing I think of when I wake up…and the last thing I think of when I go to sleep at night.”
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:47pmObama – “My fellow Americans, I would like to be re-elected……. and to prove my worth I am going to let the military courts handle these evil men. Originally, I was going to do it my way, but the election is upon us and I need some BS tactic to fool everybody into thinking I actually care about the American people or their way of life”.
“Thank you, and good-riddance (I mean “good night”). “Kool-aid refreshments will be provided to anyone who wants to partake“ in the next historic transformation of the United Socialists States of Amerika”.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:48pmMegyn Kelly did a story a couple of weeks ago on prosecution team not being properly funded limiting their access to evidence. US attorneys complained there was not enough money allocated for travel etc. to allow them to gather evidence required for the case. Is Holder tying their hands behind their backs on purpose?
Report Post »randy
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:48pmWell, this just shows me that Omaba’s is well aware his radical liberal base is not strong enough for a win in 2012.
So the Moron in Chief believes reversing himself and trying these pigs in a military court will
convince you and I, and other independents and conservatives to pull the lever for him?
Keep dreaming OBAMA!
Start packing your bags “OBAMA”, 2012 is not far away!
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:51pmThe reason they’re doing this is to take the focus off the ATF and Project Gunrunner.
See here.
Obama Denies Knowledge of Controversial Fed Operation Smuggling Guns Into Mexico
Report Post »http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-denies-knowledge-of-controversial-fed-operation-smuggling-guns-into-mexico/
BetterDays
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 12:56pmChange? Oh he did promise that didn’t he, can’t seem to recall………would like to recall him from office…….why hasn’t the house started impeachment yet, besides the fact that the Senate is a commie body right now? Change? Perhaps his golf swing, he’s had enough practice. Change? Perhaps his skivies, but that‘s debatable and I haven way of knowing for sure as I’ve never been within a mile of this man. Change? Naw, just more far left junk, and a whole bunch of lies and manipulation to try to fool America all over again, but then again with him gone and a majority in the house and senate and a tea party president….change is so sweet!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:02pmand when the polls he listens to say the USA again…..Go THERE!
and then Antartica>>>>> NO NO go there!
Report Post »butler180
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:07pmActually it is all about re-election, not what is right and definitely not what the American people want.
Report Post »proudconservative
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:18pmIts called campaign time, he must now put on his very best moderate deception act #2.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:27pmAnd To The Republic:
The irony of having a POTUS who cares about nothing except doing what is expedient is now one of many established precidents for Obama and his cronies; so how soon will we hear the leftists howl for the unfairness of military trials as they did during the Bush era presidency?
Not gonna happen folks, the left will now stay silent until the elections are done.
Report Post »No1YaKnow
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:29pmFlip flop-what a shock. The danger isn’t in his flip flops–we all expect those. It’s in the refusal of Obamabots everywhere to acknowledge them for what they are.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:30pmNothing more than re-election fodder.
This administration is a freaking disaster.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:42pmSo you are critical of the American Justice System. And suspicious of this decision. Please tell us what the correct path would have been. Don’t you think they can change their approach based on doing what is best for the country? Are they supposed to never change or adapt? (Oh, darn it, they are doing what we wanted!)
Report Post »Ha ha (smile) Its a beautiful day here in perfection land.
trolltrainer
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:43pmI am just happy this is the decision no matter the motives. This is not something that should be politicized and there are many people in NYC, and across this country, that still grieve daily over 9/11.
Holder needs to go…They ALL need to go, but Holder…He needs to go…
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:46pmExpedient! Ha Ha Bill, that is rich – they have been “ramming this through” for 14 months now! (smile) They wanted it done before now, but had to wade through everyone’s Caterwauling. But, as always, a thoughtful and sincere post. Thanks for your service, too.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 1:47pm@Hauschild:
I do not feel the term ‘disaster’ gives enough emphasis on what the administrations term is like; to me more like cataclysmic or apocolyptic are better – just wonder what would happen if he gets in for one last term – God help us if that happens, for nothing will stop him from his nightmare ambitions.
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:11pmThe Pretender In Chief! He Doesn‘t Know What He’s Doing! He doesn’t even know how to lead his dog — his dog leads him!
BHO’s such an airhead, he doesn‘t realize America doesn’t want him in the white house!
He’s So Fired In 2012! He’s almost out the door as it is!
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:23pmWuss-Puss blaming Congress for this decision? Hahaha. They haven’t closed Guantanamo. That says it all.
I disagree as to the motive. Wuss-Puss has to grant them a “speedy” trial (meaning the very moment he announced his intention to seek re-election), to satisfy his base and win back independents. However, given the Islamization of the ME and the hostility expressed by civilians against him as POTUS, he doesn’t want to further risk an attack by holding the trials in NY.
Report Post »Deane
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:23pmHolder just said he knows more about the case then the military commission……what a crock of you know what…..he only knows racist descisions based on his prejudices….rewritting history…and redistribution of wealth…NOTHING ABOUT JUSTICE
Report Post »Mikeyyy
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:25pmThis decision should have taken less than 1 day. The Obama Administration is a dog and pony show…they are laughable to the rest of the world.
Report Post »dirtypolitics
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:26pmElections 2012? This President is now doing everything that is popular. Suddenly he is a hybrid of both Conservatives and Liberals. He aligns with whatever is popular.
Oh but I guess it may change again if he wins re-election?
Report Post »Soldiers_Son
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:31pmSo, of all the things that Obama accused Bush of, and promised that he would not do, what is left that Obama has not done himself?
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 2:47pm@ sleezyhippo: Who are your questions to? On most keyboards there is the @ symbol and I find it works well when addressing certain people. How bout ya try it. If you are addressing me, then my answer is to continue to follow the Bush direction, which is exactly what they have decided to do.
I for one am glad they tried what they did and look forward everyday to what new great ideas they have, because in the end, they do nothing but make themselves look like absolutly imcompetent fools. I love the brilliance of these people. They try opposite of what normal thinking everyday people would do, it doesnt work, and it makes the RIGHT stronger. I love this admisinstration….
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 3:10pmSoldiers_Son: “So, of all the things that Obama accused Bush of, and promised that he would not do, what is left that Obama has not done himself?”
Report Post »—–
Actually, he is guilty of every FALSE ACCUSATION he made against Bush. For example, unlike Bush, he HAS tortured by proxy. Unlike Bush, he HAS extended the Patriot Act to allow invasion of privacy in non-terrorism-related cases. He HAS used drones to an excessive degree in the Af-Pak region, thereby killing far more civilians unnecessarily. He HAS abused recess appointments. He HAS started a war without Congressional approval in a country where we do not have a vital interest, thereby qualifying as a true commie imperialist and warmonger. And so on.
sleazyhippo
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 3:16pmIt’s a great big world, Billy; full of wonderful people.
Report Post »Always remember that you are unique.
— Just like everybody else.
Thanks again for the tip, but “keep your change” LOL.
UPSETVET
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 5:18pmWell I’ll be, who would of guessed there would be a backflip on this ” \Just about every American. I don’t believe he or Holder ever had any intention of trying the terrorist in civiklian court, it was just a ploy to try to appease some of his supporters.
He hasn’t lived up to his campaign promise to close the Guantanamo Bay Prison either, did he really intend to close it ? I don’t think so. It’s the “don’t let one hand know what the other hand is doing” tactic that Obama has really mastered it these past two years.
It’s a shame that politics has kept the mastersmind of the 9/11/2001 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon out of court since 2001. Maybe I’ll live long enough to see the jerk tried, convicted and hopefully executed. But. since I’m 72 years old, I doubt it.
Report Post »Jackers
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 8:48amAnd during Holder’s rant, this vain “know it all” not only slandered our members of Congress for opposing his ridiculous idea of trying foreign terrorists as simple criminals on civilian soil, but not once mentioned the majority will of the American people…
As one reporter asked Holder after his rant, “Do you not realize that these lawmakers represent constituents who are against civilian trials for foreign terrorists?” Holder abruptly ended the Q & A…
This tyrannical administration acts like We the People don’t exist…
Report Post »GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 8:13pmHis testimony was given in absentia, and the public wasn’t even allowed to know what he said.
Tyranny not terror.
Scapegoat 101!!
Report Post »