Politics

GOP Leaders Blast Obama for Bringing Somali Terrorist to Civilian Court

Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame, a Somali terror suspect accused of providing support to Al Shabab and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, will be brought to a conventional courtroom on U.S. soil. Warsame was interrogated overseas for intelligence purposes for two months before finally being transferred to FBI custody and brought to the United States Tuesday. The decision pleases supporters frustrated with President Obama for not holding firm on promises to begin trying terrorism suspects in civilian court and to shut down Guantonomo Bay. Republican lawmakers on the other hand are not so delighted.

GOP Leaders Blast Obama for Bringing Somali Terrorist to Civilian Court“‘It’s astonishing that this Administration is determined to give foreign fighters all the rights and privileges of U.S. citizens regardless of where they are captured,’said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor this morning, ‘And now Warsame, an enemy combatant with ties to Al-Qaeda who was captured overseas and detained by the military for months, is now in the United States awaiting trial as a civilian criminal suspect. It is not necessary to bring or continue to harbor these terrorists within the United States. The infrastructure is already in place to handle these dangerous individuals at Guantanamo.’”

“Why is it so hard for President Obama to acknowledge what the majority of Americans already know: foreign terrorists are enemies of America,’ chimed  Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith.’They should not be tried as common criminals, but as terrorists in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay.”

“The transfer of this terrorist detainee directly contradicts Congressional intent and the will of the American people,’ said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon in a statement. ‘Congress has spoken clearly multiple times — including explicitly in pending legislation — of the perils of bringing terrorists onto U.S. soil.”‘

Warsame was captured April 19 on a boat traveling between Yemen and Somalia. Up until Tuesday Warsame was held for military questioning on a U.S. Navy ship where significant intelligence is believed to have been extracted. The Washington Post reported that an official described Warsame as “an important conduit between” Al Qaeda and Al Shabab, and that another official described his interrogation as “very, very productive.”

Military Officials affirmed that while on the Navy Ship Warsame was “at all times treated in a manner consistent with all Department of Defense policies”–following the Army field Manual– and the Geneva Conventions.

GOP Leaders Blast Obama for Bringing Somali Terrorist to Civilian Court

In reaction to Republican outrage, Democrat and former fellow Illinois Senator Dick Durbin came to the President’s defense Wednesday. ABC News:

“‘The bottom line, though, is to say to any president, whether it’s Republican George Bush or Democrat Barack Obama, congress is going to tell you the best place to try a terrorist. Do we really have that expertise? I don’t,’ Durbin said, ‘I’m not sure Senator McConnell does. I think it’s up to the president, the secretary of defense, the central intelligence agency, and the attorney general to make that call. Take the would-be terrorist to the court where we’re most likely to convict. Take him to a tribunal where they’re going to get a fair hearing in the eyes of the world and conviction is most likely.”

Centrist and often left-siding Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine argued however it is not a matter of ‘expertise’ but more so common sense. Siding with her party, Sen Collins wrote in a statement supporting Sen. McConnell’s argument:

“A foreign national who fought on behalf of al Shabaab in Somali — and who was captured by our military overseas — should be tried in a military commission, not a federal civilian court in New York or anywhere else in our country.

While decisions on the proper tribunal should be made on a case-by-case basis, this case does not appear to be a close call”

The administration did not disclose Warsame’s capture until Tuesday, after he arrived in New York. The majority of GOP lawmakers have long argued that foreign terror suspects be tried in military commissions rather than civilian courts. The decision made by President Obama on Warsame could have implications to high-profile terror cases in the future, FOX News:

“But the move, first reported by Fox News, offers a glimpse into how the U.S. government may handle foreign terror suspects captured overseas in the wake of the Justice Department’s failed attempt to prosecute the alleged conspirators of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in a civilian court in New York City. Congress has blocked administration efforts to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and many believe military interrogation is the most effective way to obtain valuable intelligence.”

Judging by their comments on today’s news, Congress will continue to let the President know that his views on detaining terror suspects are not in line with his fellow legislators, and perhaps not in line with the views of the American people.

Comments (60)

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  • kindling
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:28pm

    We are at war with Islam and to bring POWs to our courts is outrageous. They are not American citizens and have no Constitutional rights. They are war prisoners, are treated as war prisoners and that has nothing to do with civil courts. Obama is the biggest fool ever to step foot in the White House and that is saying a lot…….Carter and Clinton….enough said. He is no military commander and he is in his infinite stupidity destroying the greatest nation the world has ever known and in so destroying other countries that depend on the rock America has come to be.

    Report Post » kindling  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:27pm

    And thats all they will do is blast him, another little bitsy slap on the hand!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:21pm

    Good luck to New York, or wherever he is tried. Stupid id as stupid does. Wow.

    Report Post »  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:10pm

    The FDA effectively kept silent about the red flags popping up in the 90-day rat study mentioned above. After an investigation conducted by Health Canada (the Canadian version of the FDA), it was discovered that the FDA and Monsanto mislead the public on the results of the study.

    http://www.infowars.com/the-90-day-rat-study-monsanto-igf-1-and-fda-denial/

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:58pm

    I’m sure Holder will use the Casey Anthony jury , to try obama’s people in USA

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • tom
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:55pm

    Did Obama and Holder celebrate on 911? I think that is a logical question based on Obama‘s and Holder’s actions. They have treated the families of victims of that tragic day, horribly. Holder defended the Gitmo detainees “pro bono” from his former law firm, and they go after Navy Seals and CIA agents who they think didn’t show enough respect for the radical Muslim murders of 3000 Americans. So what should we think? Here is what I think. Vote them out in 2012 to save America!

    Report Post » tom  
  • bagman52
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:39pm

    O J and Casey Anthony, two fine examples of the abilities of the civilian jury system.

    Report Post »  
  • geonj
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:35pm

    so what happens when the defense says their client was subjected to coerced interrogation and other tortures via rendition? and what does the judge say, case dismissed because any information is fruit of the poison tree and thus there is nothing to sustain criminal charges. eric holder sucks.

    Report Post » geonj  
  • ICEDRAGONNITE
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:19pm

    Agent Brain Terry is killed with an AK-47 smuggled into Mexico with the help of ATF.
    December 28th 2010: The first whistle-blowing agent makes contact with gun rights media reporters David Codrea and Mike Vanderboegh. This first agent states that the program’s purpose was to increase the number of US guns recovered in Mexico in order to justify further gun control laws in the US and increase ATF’s budget.
    January 22, 2011: World Net Daily becomes the first news outlet outside the “gun rights” media to report the story.
    Late January 2011: ATF supervisors begin threatening whistle-blowers in an effort to stop the story.
    January 30, 2011: Mexican press begins reporting on the scandal. Over the next two months it becomes and remains front page news throughout the country.. Mexican lawmakers are furious and demand that the US Agents be extradited for trial in

    Report Post » ICEDRAGONNITE  
  • lynnissmart
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:13pm

    Holdum and Oboldum…..an act of tragedy upon the USA!

    Report Post »  
  • ICEDRAGONNITE
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:13pm

    aware that large numbers of these weapons were ending up in the hands of the cartels – and BATFE would discover this when they ran the trace. Counting these guns as coming from U.S. gun shops was flat out dishonest.
    3) Wikileaks now also confirms that at the time the “90% lie” was being sold to the U.S. public, Hillary Clinton’s own State Department knew that the majority of weapons (other than handguns) were actually coming from Central America, not the U.S. This would include the so-called “assault weapons” the administration was seeking to ban.
    In short, there is now ample proof that one of the first things the new Obama administration did upon taking office was to use information they absolutely knew was false to attempt to pass new gun control laws.
    Sadly, the story does not end there. It appears that the administration may have reacted to the exposure of their lie by trying to make it come true.
    Early 2009: At virtually the same time: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began ordering gun dealers to sell guns to suspected smugglers.
    Early 2009 to late 2010: Instead of arresting the smugglers, ATF agents are ordered to watch as the guns are smuggled into Mexico. Over and over they beg for permission to stop the guns from going into Mexico – every time the order is the same; Stand down.
    Late 2010: Reports of the policy begin to appear on the insider web forum cleanupatf.org.
    December 14th 2010, just after 11:00pm: US Boarder

    Report Post » ICEDRAGONNITE  
  • ICEDRAGONNITE
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:13pm

    I CAME ACCROSS THIS TODAY CHECK IT OUT SEEMS UP TO SNUFF. WILL TAKE SEVERAL PAGES.
    GUN RUNNERS? OR TRATORS? 7/6/2011

    1. Dan az says:
    July 6, 2011 at 1:56 pm
    OK look I waited all day for you to moderate and now I’m just going to post it.Maybe in the future we could get a little acceptance of sites that we need to share with out going to these such extremes.
    Shortly after President Obama took office in January 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched a coordinated effort to pass more gun control laws here in the U.S.. The justification? 90% of military style semi-automatic rifles used in the cartel wars in Mexico were bought in U.S. gun stores and smuggled across the boarder.
    There was only one problem: It was all a big lie. We now know that not only did the Justice Department know that the 90% figure was inaccurate, the State Department knew where the bulk of the rifles were actually coming from: Central America and U.S. sales to the Mexican Military.
    The current timeline of the scandal provides the strongest support yet for the theory that administration officials first lied about the source of Mexican crime guns and then set about trying to support that lie by increasing the number of guns “going south”.
    Early 2009: High ranking members of the administration launch a major campaign to pass a new “Assault Weapons Ban” in the U.S.. Over and over they state that 90% of weapons recovered

    Report Post » ICEDRAGONNITE  
  • SilentReader
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:06pm

    It’s ludicrous that this Traitor-in-Chief is trying foreign terrorists in our courts and giving the same rights as Americans! When is this horrendous behavior going to stop? When is the Congress going to do anything about it?

    We the taxpayer are paying for the trials of those who want to murder us!!! OMG! When is this nightmare of this Obama administration going to end? When?

    We have a traitor in the White House.

    Report Post » SilentReader  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:02pm

    The Anti-colonialists in chiefs plan to “transform America” is in full stride,Barry isn’t concerned with U.S citizens and their plight. Barry is simply fulfiling his Anti-colonialists fathers dreams.The total destruction of the U.S economy.Barry is going to correct all the wrongs committed by the U.S according to his sick twisted mind.Through wealth redistribution to other countries,trying enemy combatants in civilian courts,health care,energy policy and a whole host of other asinine ideas.

    I pray Barry will lose in a landslide so we can correct all the damage the worst president in U.S history has done.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:52pm

    It must be hard to defend someone who is so out of touch and fails so much

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
  • cassandra
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:45pm

    obummer can’t sall them terrorist because he stands with them

    Report Post »  
  • cassandra
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:44pm

    obummer has no idea what America stands for, this dosn’t suprise me in the least or for our so called AJ eric holder who should be tried for treason, bringing them in a conventional court room means WE provide the lawyer, isn’t that giving aid to our enemies? Article 111 section 3 TREASON

    Report Post »  
  • mobynowak
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:38pm

    Article III, Section 2: The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

    Why isn’t the GOP dictating where this trial is held?

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:35pm

    Right on Spot of TEA .. time to take back OUR COUNTRY!

    TEA!

    Report Post »  
  • SPOT_OF_TEA
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:28pm

    Raising taxes….Trying terrorists in civilian courts…….Spending the country into bankruptcy…..open borders…….banana congress……transforming America……Everything is going as planned.

    Report Post » SPOT_OF_TEA  
    • pappy
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:05am

      No doubt the prisoner will have time to recruit a few new members while being held at his new home. Why else would he be brought to the USA for trial & imprisonment.

      Report Post »  
  • NHABE64
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:26pm

    Mitch McConnell is right on. Obama is a national disgrace and each day this cockroach starts a new day in the life of a cockroach he seems determined to continue trying to destroy everything this country stands for. If Michelle Nobama is proud of this country for the first time, it is the very first time I am NOT proud of it. These wretched people who inhbait our White House are nothing more than a bunch of liars and thieves. I used to try to maintain myself when speaking about such a high office but the truth be known I have absolutely NO respect for Obama and any of his socialist friends, i.e. the clintons, pelosi, reid, and the list goes on. I don‘t mention biden because he is merely Obama’s white boy in the White House and is too stupid to even know what is going on. Incompetence, thievery, dishonesty, these bastards and bitches have betrayed America. Damn them all!

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:25pm

    Gots to take care of the brethren.

    Report Post » HKS  
  • MartyTr
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:21pm

    What are the progressives trying to prove? I thought they didn’t want the US to be the super power and run the show. But then who else would take them??? How confusing.

    Report Post »  
  • Sound The Trumpet In Zion
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:19pm

    How about if we give obama the choice to be tried in our civilian courts or at Guantonomo. Whichever one he chooses we can do our best to have all the truth come out and he would be convicted.

    Report Post » Sound The Trumpet In Zion  
  • Whostolemypig
    Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:14pm

    Gitmo need to stay open to house Obama and his band of crooks.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:34pm

      They blast them .. but then they never follow ANYTHING UP .. how about Fast and Furious .. who ordered it .. who okay’d it .. how far up does it go .. Watergate anyone.

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • forcefield
      Posted on July 6, 2011 at 11:39pm

      That would be nice but by the time he ends up there the golf course will be finished and he’ll be right at home with his clubs and prayer rug and he can trade stories from home and continue planning the destruction of America

      Report Post »  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 5:36am

      Believe nothing that comes out of Washington except the fact that your freedom will be taken right out from under you.
      You better wake up before Nov. 2012.

      Report Post »  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:47am

      I agree………..make them a reservation for Jan 21, 2013!!

      Report Post »  
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