Axelrod: Concerns About Gitmo Detainees Becoming "Martyrs"

By: Michelle Levi
Topics: In The News

Senior White House advisor David Axelrod said that should Guantanamo detainees be allowed to plead guilty, avoid trial and possibly receive the death sentence, as The New York Times reported Saturday, there are concerns the U.S. would be allowing criminals to "martyr themselves."

Appearing on CBS News' Face The Nation Sunday, Axelrod said "grave concerns" had been raised about such a possibility, and that because discussions at the White House are still ongoing, President Obama has not made a decision on the matter.

(CBS)

Axelrod (left) was also asked about President Obama's speech in Cairo last week and his call for Israel to stop settlement building in Gaza. He said he was happy with the foreign reaction.

"One of the most heartening things about the speech was the kind of reaction that it got across the region, from Arab leaders, from Israeli President Shimon Peres and others in Israel," he said.

Guest moderator Harry Smith noted that Israeli prime minister Bibi Netanyahu did not support a halt to settlements, and Axelrod admitted that the peace process is "difficult."

Axelrod also predicted major healthcare reform will be accomplished this summer, and while he admitted it would be expensive, he warned of far worse if action isn't taken.

"If we don't do health care reform, if we don't get costs under control, if we don't reform the system, then we will have a fiscal disaster in the future," he reasoned.

Axelrod also said there are signs of progress in the economy, and that the stimulus plan is just gaining "momentum."

He said he would not pre-judge the impact of the latest stimulus plan and would not say whether President Obama will have to go back to Congress to ask for more money.

More from Face The Nation (6.07.09):

Gingrich Opts To "Reframe" Racist Tweet

Gingrich Responds To Powell-Cheney Debate

Read The Complete Transcript> (pdf)

To watch David Axelrod click on the video player below.

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by stn_sage June 7, 2009 10:47 PM EDT: None of these guys are going to get the death penalty. Who is Axelroach trying to kid?
Posted by randomlybanned at 6:16 PM : Jun 7, 2009
========================================
AGREED! I think you are correct in your assumption!
To give these prisoners the death penalty---in light of how
they were apprehended, mistreated in custody, and denied
coherent legal rights---WOULD ABSOLUTELY make
martyrs out of them---if in fact, someone in the Middle East
does NOT already see them as such!; Reply to this comment


by randomlybanned June 7, 2009 9:16 PM EDT: None of these guys are going to get the death penalty. Who is Axelroach trying to kid?; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage June 7, 2009 9:01 PM EDT: President Axelrod at work while Obama makes tourism abroad. This regime is really funny.
Posted by j-whitman2010 at 4:20 PM : Jun 7, 2009
======================================
You seem to have a problem with David Axelfrod speaking for President Obama---hence, your ridicule!

But how is this any different than Karl Rove, Andy Card, or Josh Bolton speaking for Mr. Bush?!

The point is: no president can be everywhere, all the time, speaking about everything! Staff people are used to 'fill in' when the president is not available!

Obviously, staff people aren't mind-readers and don't usually know exactly what the president really thinks at any given moment! That level of precision is not to be expected by the public. However---

IF you don't like what Mr. Axelrod has to say---do what I do---don't watch him! That way, you don't waste your time!; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage June 7, 2009 6:49 PM EDT: The whole "detainee" situation was bungled by Bush and Cheney from the very beginning!

By refusing to try them as either civilians or military personnel under existing law, and then making new law up not recognized by the courts or the public, these PRISONERS were made martyrs from the onset of this Bush-Cheney disaster!!

Over the YEARS these men have been held, most of them have been found innocent of the charges against them!!

So, the real question is: when and how quickly can those remaining in Guantanamo be released---ending one of the biggest legal embarrassments in U.S. history?!

Solution: 'Kit them out' and release them where you found
them.; Reply to this comment


by PVperson2 June 7, 2009 6:42 PM EDT: There's always Cheney's preferred method, just kill them, isn't it just wonderful to hear the depravity of that man's mind.; Reply to this comment


by dkhorse11 June 7, 2009 6:25 PM EDT: They won't (or can't) be martyred if they are sent on those rickety Cuban rafts that rarely make it to America. Send them adrift into the open seas and let nature take its course. If they make it, OK, SuperMax isolation,(no contact with anyone). If not, I guess no hears from them again, Yeah!; Reply to this comment


by 1notrub11 June 7, 2009 5:35 PM EDT: It may turn out that any plans the detainees have to become martyrs may fall on deaf ears - at least some places

See: www.comcast.net/articles/news-world-asia/20090605/AS.Pakistan/

Looks like the "subjects" are finding the way they are being treated by their "leadership and police" to be getting old. If you are a Taliban in Pakistan, you might want to watch your back.; Reply to this comment


by McHineguy June 7, 2009 5:17 PM EDT: If they want to plead guilty, then give them "life". That will really mess up their "martyr" plans.
Posted by DefendLiberty at 11:53 AM : Jun 7, 2009

And where exactly will they be serving out these life terms?
Posted by rational_1 at 1:56 PM : Jun 7, 2009

I have an idea!! How about serving their life terms at GITMO. Tell them before they enter the pleas so they know what they are signing up for.; Reply to this comment


by rational_1 June 7, 2009 4:56 PM EDT: If they want to plead guilty, then give them "life". That will really mess up their "martyr" plans.
Posted by DefendLiberty at 11:53 AM : Jun 7, 2009

And where exactly will they be serving out these life terms?; Reply to this comment


by mysteriousjz June 7, 2009 4:02 PM EDT: The whole detainee drama is just to tame the world. There are millions of people specially in Middle East who think, behave, and live like the ones in detention. US just captured few poster boys in order to deter million others. Unfortunately, it has backfired. US is in mor etrouble than it was before. There are more terrorists, more violence and more bombing now than had been ever in the history of human kind.

What I am saying is the so called "detainee terrorists" are common man and would probably doing "resistence" a just cause against Bush's hectoring and bullying the world. There is so much resentment already built that it would take a miracle to repair the damage, if ever possible.; Reply to this comment