Sept. 11 Families Sit Down With Obama

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Like members of any other group, the survivors of the 9/11 attacks and the family members of victims don't always agree on how America ought to handle terror suspects. Some have advocated for a more aggressive approach to prosecuting the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Others believe that the men should be treated more humanely within the framework of our existing criminal laws.

Never will the true-believers in each group agree upon a solution. So it is not surprising, then, that President Obama has chosen to meet with a group of 9/11 families that happens to agree with his worldview on what to do with the detainees. This afternoon at the White House the president met with a group called "September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows," which believes, among other things, that there should be no military prosecutions down at Gitmo and that the detainees there should be given due process as regular criminal defendants in our civilian courts.

In their public letter to the President in advance of their visit, the group's leaders wrote:

We are deeply troubled that the Guant?namo proceedings have not only denied the detainees their rights as human beings, they have tainted the reputation of this country around the globe. We hope that the evidence against these defendants will be presented in Federal Court in compliance with due process of law under the Constitution. After consulting with Constitutional lawyers, we are confident that it can be done. As 9/11 family members we care deeply that justice be served in these prosecutions, which are often perceived by others as vindication for our loved ones.

4591246President Obama has a delicate dance here, for his views on what to do with the detainees is not nearly as clear or as single-minded as are the views of those in the "Peaceful Tomorrows" group. For example, the White House has never declared that it wants to bring terror masterminds like Khalid Sheik Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh to the United States for a criminal trial (like the zany conspiracy trial we saw for Zacarias Moussaoui). Nor have Administration officials yet come up with a plan to safely disband the detainees from Gitmo.

There is a real and deep symbolism about the new President meeting early in his term with the people most directly affected by the horrors of September 11, 2001. It is a reminder, a moment of respect, for a group of people who will carry with them until the day they die a special sadness and place in American history. And I suspect that future Presidents also will visit with these people until there are no survivors and family members left to meet.

Some have reasonably wondered whether it's appropriate for the President to be meeting with these folks at this time—in the heat of the battle over a stimulus package. I wonder instead whether—and when—the President is going to meet with 9/11 families who don't happen to share his political persuasion or views on justice, retribution, and the fate of men who, accurately or not, have been tied to terrorism. The members of those other groups, who oppose "Peaceful Tomorrows," deserve their time at the White House, too.

Andrew Cohen is a CBS News legal analyst.

[jl54-2]

In the interest of accuracy, as a member Sept. 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, I can confirm that there was only one member of Peaceful Tomorrows at the meeting. Peaceful Tomorrows did present a letter to Pres. Obama with over 100 signatures, but as far as the meeting, there were 9-11 and USS Cole family members with a wide range of political and social opinions present.

[rushuugly]

ALMOST FIVE YEARS LATER IT''S TIME FOR ANSWERS!


Tuesday, October 26 2004 - Endorsements & Support
911 Truth Statement


Respected Leaders and Families Launch 9/11 Truth Statement Demanding Deeper Investigation into the Events of 9/11

NEW YORK CITY, NY (Oct. 26, 2004) - An alliance of 100 prominent Americans and 40 family members of those killed on 9/11 today announced the release of the 911 Truth Statement, a call for immediate inquiry into evidence that suggests high-level government officials may have deliberately allowed the September 11th attacks to occur. The Statement supports an August 31st Zogby poll that found nearly 50% of New Yorkers believe the government had foreknowledge and "consciously failed to act," with 66% wanting a new 9/11 investigation.

Focusing on twelve questions, the Statement highlights areas of incriminating evidence that were either inadequately explored or ignored by the Kean Commission, ranging from insider trading and hijacker funding to foreign government forewarnings and inactive defenses around the Pentagon.


http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20041026093059633

[rushuugly]

Time to reopen the INVESTIGATION

of 9/11 and put BUSH/CHENEY under oath

9/11 INVESTIGATION needs to be open to the public and all those charged must be brought to trial with the camera''s rolling in USA courts

No more hiding the evidence, for or against; all those charged we the AMERICAN people want to hear the evidence and see the proof

No stone left unturned

Let''s catch those really responsible even if it leads to moles working within the US GOVT!

[andie52]

seriousinusa-
Is Barack Obama a Muslim?
Summary: Email rumor alleges that U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim who has lied about his religious background, including his claim to being a devout Christian.

Description: Email rumor
Circulating since: January 2007
Status: False
--------------------------
There are persons responsible for 9-11; he isn%u2019t one of them.

[parkview84]

Mr. Cohen gives away the game here w/ his "some families advocate a more aggressive approach" - "others believe that the men should be treated more humanely and within the framework of our existing laws." I''m a 9/11 family member and I believe in both because that is what has been happening - it is Obama who, by this order, is trying to avoid rendering justice - in order to placate the Arab street. Still, I appreciate his recognition of the real point of this meeting and his call to meet others who, gee, may not agree with him. Anybody who wants to contact me about joining a protest of this order write [e-mail]

[bigloudbike]

I agree! this is all happening because of Republican Policies. Which time after time never work! Seems the Dems always are stuck fixing the economy after the fact. Just look at the History.Republicans equals war, giant deficits,Tax shifts to the Middle Class,And big time Corruption( Dems aren''''t perfect either,but there is less thier seems). Also It seems all republicans do the blame on everone else except them even when it is their policies which they put in power.Who was in Power the last eight years? Looks like they will never learn to take responsibilities for thier own actions.Now its time to fix it and they want no part in what they did. Time to abolish the Republican Party as a whole.

[bigloudbike]

I agree! this is all happening because of Republican Policies. Which time after time never work! Seems the Dems always are stuck fixing the economy after the fact. Just look at the History.Republicans equals war, giant deficits,Tax shifts to the Middle Class,And big time Corruption( Dems aren''''t perfect either,but there is less thier seems). Also It seems all republicans do the blame on everone else except them even when it is their policies which they put in power.Who was in Power the last eight years? Looks like they will never learn to take responsibilities for thier own actions.Now its time to fix it and they want no part in what they did. Time to abolish the Republican Party as a whole.