US

Krauthammer Calls Acquittal of Gitmo Suspect a ‘Huge Embarrassment’ for Obama

The first detainee from Guanatamo Bay to be tried in U.S. civilian court has been acquitted on all but one of the more than 280 charges he faced for his alleged role in the coordinated terror bombings of two U.S. embassies overseas.

A jury convicted Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani Wednesday on just one count of conspiracy for the 1998 al Qaeda car bomb attacks on American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania — attacks that killed 224. Prosecutors had alleged that Ghailani helped an al-Qaeda cell purchase a truck and components for explosives used in the suicide attack.

“This is Ahmed Ghailani. This is Al Qaeda. This is a terrorist. This is a killer,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Chernoff said in closing arguments.

On Wednesday, Ghailani was acquitted on all 276 murder and attempted murder accounts, as well as five other conspiracy charges.

After deliberating for five days, the jury returned with a guilty verdict on just one conspiracy count, a minor charge for “conspiracy to damage or destroy U.S. property with explosives.” According Reuters, this conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison.

The relatively light sentence presents a potentially large setback for President Barack Obama and his administration who were vocal proponents for civilian trials instead of military tribunals for Guantanamo detainees. Prior to his trial, Ghailani had spent five years at Guantanamo bay after being captured in Pakistan in 2004 and held by the CIA.

Comments (89)

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  • Freedom1984
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:10am

    I actually think this Administration wants this. After all there are no “terrorists in our Country” only Criminals. I think BO is dancing around laughing at all of us, just waiting for the next “terrorist to strike”. He doesn’t care about us. REMEMBER he is an ANTI-COLONIST who wants the UNITED STATES of AMERICA to pay back all the resources we stole from all the 3rd world governments. I wonder if after 2012 comes he will “heed is calling and go back to Kenya”… WE CERTAINLY DON’T WANT HIM STINKING UP OUR GREAT SOIL ANYMORE… Maybe he will wind up just like his Daddy… a pathetic drunk who murdered people by driving while under the influence. What a great role model he has.

    Report Post » Freedom1984  
  • Cabo King
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:08am

    was he tried by diaper heads??

    Report Post » Cabo King  
  • SandyfromChesterfield
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:06am

    213 people killed and 4500 injured in the Kenya attack. Ahmed Ghailani smiled as some of the verdicts were read. What an outrage.

    Report Post »  
  • wash1776
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:04am

    Obummer got into office to destroy America as MOST Americans remember it. Although it is true that he had little or no experience in several areas, he has all of the help he needs to ruin the country. And, that is just what he got into offiice for. His statement awhile back that we would know him by the people surrounding him tells it all. He is surrounded by radical,progressive, leftist, communists, marxists, leninists and totally selfish destroyers such as Pelosi, Reid, Rahm, Soros, etc. This list could go on with Van Jone, Jarret and many others but the pointis that this is all deliberate by a VERY EVIL MAN(and I use that term loosely) and all his EVIL COHORTS!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • SandyfromChesterfield
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:02am

    Doesn’t obama care about his beloved Kenyan citizens that were killed?

    Report Post »  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:47am

    Embarrasment , perhaps. Surprised ? Hardly….

    Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:46am

    Eric Holder’s old law firm represented the TERRORIST!
    http://conservativeamerican.org/dems-libs-socialists/dems-libs-socialists-obama/obama-welcoming-terrorists-and-its-not-the-first-time/

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • nathanhale
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:45am

    20-to-Life? Do you feel properly protected from future terrorist attacks? This guy gets to recruit for Al-Quaida from inside a prison, with protection provided by (you guessed it) US! And with a “rough” 20-to-Life sentence, I‘m sure he’ll suffer in “abject squaller” for maybe 5 years before his slick ACLU lawyer muscles through his appeal for a reduced sentence based on the fact that “he was never convicted of murder.” He’ll be out in 7-10 years; With jailhouse degrees in American law & justice, Constitutional law, and proper police procedures all funded by (you guessed it) US!

    I feel violated. Like a lot. Ghailani was part of a collective declaration of war, and two acts of war on our soil. Now, with the help of the ACLU and our money he may get the chance to be a part of another attack in his lifetime.

    Great job, Eric Holder! You really turned out to be real traitor to this nation. And Mr. President! Great choice for Attorney General! WOW!! That really reinforces my faith (cough-suspicions-cough) in your other appointees. Great job all around, guys!! Give yourselves a big pat on the back! Let’s not leave out those that voted for this one! You guys deserve some credit, too! Lots and lots of “credit”.

    Report Post »  
  • MajSmitty
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:33am

    DON’T FORGET! Holder and Obama said that if Osama Bin Laden is captured he is already convicted. Based on this case however, we will be the laughing stock of the world when OBL walks out a free man after he is acquited in a civilian court on a technicality that would never happen in a military court.

    Report Post »  
  • powers3000
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:29am

    Are you kidding me?? Obama knew exactly what he was doing. He has a law degree from Harvard.

    Report Post » powers3000  
    • Psyborg
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:43am

      I think Obama thinks he knows what he is doing but add up the facts; he has never been in front of a trial himself, he has never run a business, he has only taught in a school. Obama does not have the experience to be making these kinds of decisions and that is why they keep turning out so badly but he does not realize this because he is so very arrogant. These are the things that make him so very dangerous. Then you have the added problem of corrupt backers like Reid and Pelosi who only want power and money and to be in control of others and all of the people Obama hired for his staff who are either Marxists, Communists or Progressive Socialists who what to bring Socialism/Communism and big government to US citizens. All of this mixed together brings a horrible influence to Obama as he is making his decisions that affect us all. It is a very bad cocktail for Americans.

      Report Post »  
  • KylieGOP24
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:25am

    In this day and age of ‘hope & change’, I‘d say it’s completely plausible the Sheikh will also be acquitted. It must be a lovely day to be a jihadist. Great job Holder!

    I hope and pray Rep. Issa follows through and investigates Holder & DOJ.

    Report Post » KylieGOP24  
  • sbenard
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:20am

    This is an outrage! Obama insisted on civilian trials for these terrorists, and now, how many will be acquitted in the future because the evidence is inadmissible? They will discard all those cases because they didn’t read them Miranda rights on the battlefield? Excuse me, but with bullets and mortars flying overhead, its not quite convenient to read them their rights in a foreign country! From now on, perhaps they should just execute military justice of these terrorists right there on the battlefield! One bullet to the head and they’re done. No Miranda necessary! That’s called WAR, Mr. Obama! And then they can join their 70 virgins all the sooner!

    Report Post » sbenard  
  • Conserving Ink
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:06am

    Raise of hands for anyone who did not see this coming from a mile away? When you pick the venue, prosecutor and jury – you pick the verdict.
    _________________________________________________
    New Post conserving-ink.blogspot.com

    Report Post » Conserving Ink  
  • Ronko
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:05am

    An embarrassment no this is a slap to the face for the Administration and I hope the Admins realize that these are terrorists and war criminals not just regular criminals.

    Report Post »  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:04am

    Isn‘t that one of Obama’s peeps? I don‘t think he’s embarrassed at all! I’m almost certain, he’s jumping for joy!

    Report Post »  
  • EgoBrain
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:02am

    Now THIS makes me feel safer.
    :|

    Report Post » EgoBrain  
  • DagneyT
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:55am

    What about this regime is NOT an embarrassment? As the saying goes, “If Obama was the answer, how stupid was the question?”

    Report Post » DagneyT  
  • obfuscatenot
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:50am

    Obama as a constitutional professor, teacher or let’s just say “expert” being involved with important legal issues like terror trials would be like having a nuclear engineer as president and not educating the public and building safe energy ….remember Carter?
    It is so very sad when I pray for our Nation that I ask God to let these people in power be just stupid and not evil.

    Report Post »  
  • SND97
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:47am

    Everyone is missing a higher point; this administration simply does not have a clue. Look, people laughed when anyone tried to bring up the fact Obama was an in experienced politician that was not qualified for the job, remember Hillary’s famous quote during one of the debates? “Barrack? This is not a job for on the job training”
    Our Attorney General Holder is a flat out Progressive Socialist Liberal, whet in the world did everyone expect this administration would do? I agree with the person who said, I’d be interested in why the jury failed to convict, however the star witness could not testify if you remember because the judge ruled they could not use the witnesses testimony because he was water boarded.
    Obama is losing it, now even in the public eye, he lacks any authority on anything, now I’m afraid that those yelling at him to bypass Congress will get this guy to sign every executive order he can. God help us all.

    Report Post »  
    • Psyborg
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:20am

      I agree with you totally however, all of us who post on the Blaze should be doing what I am doing. I log onto the sights that are “pro” Obama and post “responsible comments” that go against what Obama is doing and against the writer who put the article out. I call it my way of “doing my part”, what little I can do, to “wake up” other Americans and to let the writers of these pro-Obama and Pelosi articles know that others are awake and do not like what Obama is doing. Sometimes I get slammed but I can take it and at least I throw in a healthy attitude. I personally have a theory about Obama backers and that is they are not really doing their research on what the truths are and just like when Fox 59 interviewed some guests of the rally that went on last month most of the folks who went on camera had no real education of the facts.
      One of the sights where find that articles that are posted are very left slanted is Channel 8, not too many actually post and the writers are very much slanted towards positive left views.
      This morning when I looked at Pelosi’s face while she was patting herself on the back for being a great person it made me “sick” to look at her, but she really believes what she is saying and so does Obama and that makes them very dangerous.I try to do my part and wake up as many people as I can and so should we all.
      The fact that Obama made such a stink about a civilian court, I wonder if he will comment on the outcome as when he does these things more and more people turn against him which is what we need to happen.
      We can all agree here in this forum but we need to debate the ones who just do not get it.

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:23am

      I thought Biden made that comment about on the job training?

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • lobster
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:23am

      How about “The Birth Certificate”?

      Report Post »  
  • Wayner
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:38am

    Is it me or my biased opinion? It seems that our president is being made to be an ignorant ass on just about every issue.
    The United States is losing respect and credibility every time I go into the news these days despite the efforts of the media to make him look like the world’s saviour.

    Report Post »  
    • DrBeatle
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:10am

      Look! Why does everyone keep saying Obama and the progressives don’t get it. On the trial: why wouldn’t a professor of the law be able to predict the outcome of a civil trial. The outcome is just another way to bring down our system and demonize the USA. It is hard but we the people need to realize how demonic the forces of the progressives can be.

      Report Post » MGB-CPA  
  • mrsclark
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:30am

    So is this a failure of the prosecutor or a failure of it being in the civilian trials? Mind you, I dont want these in civilian trials, but the reality is, if the prosecutor had done his job on this one….

    Report Post » mrsclark  
    • rdk
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 12:45pm

      This was a show trial for Eric Holder’s DOJ. The evidence is now in. Holder is in over his head.

      Report Post »  
  • emertz8413
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:24am

    Or is this what this administration wants?

    Report Post »  
    • TrueGrit
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 10:54am

      Incompetence in the DOJ…
      Intentional…
      Eric Holder edit…

      ???

      Wolverine

      Report Post »  
  • WireWizard
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:22am

    This is exactly what they wanted. A public trial and more ammunition for the terrorists to use against us in the media.
    The media is one of their most cherished weapons.

    Where is John Galt?

    Report Post » WireWizard  
    • Freedom1984
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:07am

      “Who is John Galt?”

      Report Post » Freedom1984  
    • starman70
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:36am

      Who IS John Gait? A good question. He should have been tried before the “Hangin’ Judge” Roy Parker.

      Report Post »  
  • starman70
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:21am

    Charles, THAT IS THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR!

    Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:35am

      What I really desire to hear is what the jury found in the not-guilty part of the charges. Al-quaeda will use this as a rally cry to action against us, and I feel that is what the administration desires indeed.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:59am

      This is just one of the many “huge embarrassments” for the Obama administration. They are complete novices who have no clue how to legislate or run the government, but they are very proficient at campaigning.

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • tobywil2
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:19am

      The Tyrants will have no problem spinning this embarrassment into a huge victory. The wannabe tyrants and their cronies will publicize lies, half-truths and the irrelevant to emphasize their triumph. Pay no attention to the smokescreen.

      When the premise is false the only arguments that can be used are fear mongering, emotion, sarcasm, ridicule, attacking the messenger and misrepresentation of the facts (lying). Those who expect to reap huge profits from our misery caused by tyranny are experts at these tactics.

      The only relevant issue is freedom or tyranny!!!!
      http://commonsense21c.com/

      Report Post » tobywil2  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:21am

      Since we don’t have access to the transcripts of the trial (yet) I’m going to have to withhold any kind of comment on it in specific. Maybe the guy was in fact innocent? I really have no idea. Being held in an off shore torture prison doesn’t make one automatically guilty of something. Not endorsing the verdict, just noting that I really have no clue what evidence was presented and what case was made.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:29am

      Give obama a slam dunk and he turns it into a brick..

      Douch

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:50am

      I bet there isn’t a leader around the world (well, maybe a few) that doesn’t think Obama is a joke. Never thought I would say that about a sitting president but he is so weak, has no class, no diplomacy, no compassion. It is obvious he is in over his head. Soros made a bad choice and I bet buying his degrees and covering up his past cost him a pretty penny too. 2012 can’t come fast enough.

      Report Post »  
    • Marcobob69
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:39am

      You can trace this back to Eric Holder, who in my opinion is THE WORST Attorney General this country HAS EVER seen. This guy wouldn’t know a criminal if he IDENTIFIED HIMSELF FIRST!!! DUH! Why was this terrorist not tried in a MILITARY COURT??????? This administration is looking more like a bad comedy every day. :-(

      Report Post »  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 9:42am

      Gee what if the was Innocent ? Is that really not a possibility ?
      MK-Ultra mind control

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • Jackson
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 11:04am

      You have to keep in mind “the progressive point of view”. Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani is a victim! We, here, are the terrorists! Why else would a person be tried in a venue that prohibits 90% of the evidence gathered from being presented? How could anyone expect evidence gathered on the field of battle to be presented in a civilian court of law? Oh, that’s right. Progressives!

      Report Post » Jackson  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 11:13am

      This is exactly what will happen with every one of these trial in civil court. The judges will throw out most of the testimony. The jury can only rule on what is presented. What happens if a jury is retaliated against? Holder wanted his show trial but this one kicked his buutt and showed us what will happen with every single one of them. Trie them in military court!

      Report Post »  
    • drbage
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 11:20am

      Would love to hear from the one juror who had asked to be excused while they were deliberating, but the judge said no way.

      Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 12:59pm

      Holder show the whole world what a complete idiot he and Obama really are.

      Report Post »  
    • GdHUs
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 3:44pm

      Snowleopard, please stop using this forum as your private advertising billboard. I’m sure you are a good artist and will be very successful, but it diminishes all your credibility and sincerity. Are your posts sincere or just an opportunity to plug your business? Since we don‘t know there’s the tendency to just skip over what you have to say and ,in essence, you are just wasting space.

      Report Post » GdHUs  
    • GdHUs
      Posted on November 19, 2010 at 2:23am

      Snowleopard, please stop using this forum as your private advertising billboard. I’m sure you are a good artist and will be very successful, but it diminishes all your credibility and sincerity. Are your posts sincere or just an opportunity to plug your business? Since we don‘t know there’s the tendency to just skip over what you have to say and ,in essence, you are just wasting space.

      Report Post » GdHUs  
  • Mornincrapper
    Posted on November 18, 2010 at 7:19am

    Did they even try to get a conviction in the first place?

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • abc
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 1:16pm

      Krauthammer confuses the judicial and executive branches, and he fails to show that a military tribunal would have produced a stiffer sentence. 20 years to life is not a death sentence, but the judge has discression to life without parole. This is the second heaviest sentence available and is still on the table.

       
    • br549
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 1:42pm

      Why would we put them on trial in a court that is supposed to be for Americans? They aren’t Americans, and should not have any of the rights that are reserved for Americans. A military tribunal should be all they are entitled to.

      Report Post »  
    • abc
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 5:16pm

      BR, we try non-US citizens in our courts all the time. Try again.

       
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on November 18, 2010 at 8:59pm

      ABC – We do not put enemy combatants who have been captured in war on trial in the American judicial system (or at least we didn’t). They are to be tried in a Military tribunal. This “judgment” is precisely why our court system cannot be trusted to prosecute war criminals.

      Report Post »  
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