Republicans Outraged Over Terrorism Trial

(AP Photo)

Updated 2:28 p.m. ET

Congressional Republicans – along with independent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman – are not happy with the Obama administration's decision to try alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (left) and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees in civilian federal court in New York.

"The Obama Administration's irresponsible decision to prosecute the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks in New York City puts the interests of liberal special interest groups before the safety and security of the American people," said House Republican leader John Boehner in a statement. "The possibility that Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his co-conspirators could be found 'not guilty' due to some legal technicality just blocks from Ground Zero should give every American pause."

"This decision is further evidence that the White House is reverting to a dangerous pre-9/11 mentality – treating terrorism as a law enforcement issue and hoping for the best," he added.

Sen. Republican Whip Jon Kyl, meanwhile, said "It is a constant amazement to me that there are some who seem more concerned about extending legal protections to terrorists than security protection to Americans."

Added Sen. John Cornyn: "These terrorists planned and executed the mass murder of thousands of innocent Americans. Treating them like common criminals is unconscionable."

"Our court system was never designed for this purpose," said Sen. Jeff Sessions. "These trials will turn lawyers, juries, and judges into targets, and will needlessly endanger Americans living nearby. They will give men like 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed an international stage to mock America and advance his own celebrity and jihad."

New York Republican Rep. Peter King suggested the decision makes New York City more of a target for terrorists.

Lieberman argued that "the terrorists who planned, participated in, and aided the September 11, 2001 attacks are war criminals, not common criminals."

"Not only are these individuals not common criminals but war criminals, they are also not American citizens entitled to all the constitutional rights American citizens have in our federal courts," he said. "The individuals accused of committing these heinous, cowardly acts of intentionally targeting unsuspecting, defenseless civilians should therefore be tried by military commission rather than in civilian courts in the United States."

"It is inconceivable that we would bring these alleged terrorists back to New York for trial, to the scene of the carnage they created eight years ago, and give them a platform to mock the suffering of their victims and the victims' families, and rally their followers to continue waging jihad against America," he added.

Democratic Sen. Jim Wedd of Virginia also critized the move, calling it "disruptive, costly, and potentially counterproductive."

"[W]e must be especially careful with any decisions to bring onto American soil any of those prisoners who remain a threat to our country but whose cases have been adjudged as inappropriate for trial at all," he said in a statement. "They do not belong in our country, they do not belong in our courts, and they do not belong in our prisons."

Former Congressman Tom Andrews, Director of the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo, applauded the decision and directly responded to the critics.

"Partisan, fear based attacks by right-wing critics of President Obama are likely, including the charge that trying suspects of the 9/11 attack in U.S. courts will endanger Americans," he said in a statement Friday morning, as the decision was being formally announced. "In fact, 195 terrorists have been convicted in U.S. federal courts since 2001. The terrorists who bombed the World Trade Center in 1993 were tried and convicted in U.S. courts and are now locked away in a federal supermax prison. Yet Republicans in Congress will no doubt attack the transfer of these detainees as a threat to Americans."

"Those responsible for 9/11 are not warriors, they are criminals and mass murderers," Andrews added. "Treating them as anything else plays into al Qaeda's hands and rewards them an elevated status that only stokes their desire for 'martyrdom.' They need to be subjected to the full force of law and justice – nothing less."

Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, also defended the decision, calling it "a step toward bringing long overdue justice to the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001."

"I have always believed that the nation's federal courts are capable of trying high profile terrorism and national security cases," he said. "They have proven time and time again to be up to the job...By trying them in our federal courts, we demonstrate to the world that the most powerful nation on earth also trusts its judicial system – a system respected around the world."

[Cattzen]

The Bush Administration attempted to pose duality (at their convenience) when it came to Suspected Terrorist Detainees. The War on Terror would declare that these subjects were Prisoners of War, but when it came down to Due Process George Bush dismissed the Geneva Convention Rules of Engagement, Custody, and Tribunal claiming that Terror Subjects were not Prisoners of War. Thus, the United States willfully warehoused many prisoners without evidence, charges, nor course of due process.

Again the Republican Party that did nothing with these alleged detainees are criticizing the current administration for acting on a course of due process and are not offering any alternative actions, except for their usual nothing?

[50BMS13]

OBAMA has scored a HUGE victory for muslims and liberals with this announcement. In a war tribunal these terrorists are found guilty and executed. In a CIVIL TRIAL WITH FULL AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS, they have had their rights horribly violated. Obama has turned this into a media circus on GEORGE BUSH AND HIS INTERROGATION METHODS. All the classified material will come out. All the confessions and statements will be struck from court citing civil right violations. This will take the heat off Obama and the fact he has gotten nothing done. This will expose classified material that puts Americans at risk and also makes us more hated. OBAMA FOUND A WAY TO EXPOSE GUANTANAMO. He wanted to release photos and documents early in his administration but did a 360. Now it will all come out. THEY WILL WALK. THEY WILL SUE. THEY WILL GET MILLION$. Obama is a hero in the muslim world tonight.

[billards53]

We are a nation of laws . We do not torture people period . We do not torture to extract confessions from anyone . The case against most of the Gitmo detainees could have been fairly made 6 years ago and justice would have been served , instead people were held without charge and without the right to counsel . If somehow justice is served and the constitution is upheld it will be a miracle . Do you think it would appropriate to waterboard bush administration officials to find out what they knew prior to 911 or about what intelligence was available on WMD in Iraq ? Can an american citizen be held with counsel and with out charge because someone in the executive branch says that that individual is a terrorist ? How about you ? How about me ? Your neighbor ? If you think obamis so far left how would you feel if you were accused of high crimes and not allowed to talk to your family or a lawyer or anyone except a US government official until you confessed to the alleged crime or forced to stay in jail for 6 years ? I would not like to be treated that way and yet it did happen .
The constitution should be protected and preserved ! The people have suffered in NYC and DC and in pennnsylvania , thousands died . We are a nation of laws .

[z987680]

I agree with 50BMS13 - We should act exactly like all those darn Muslim countries and just lock these guys up without a trial. What makes America great is when we ignore our best traditions and values, use a line-item on the constitution and just do whatever we feel like at the moment. Great post, 50BMS13 - I hope we can both one day see a world in which America is no better than our enemies!

[rickwar]

by N369RM November 13, 2009 3:47 PM EST

"This is unbelievable. We are going to bring these guys on our shores, give them all our constitutional rights and somehow in all this we think "justice" is being done? Terrorism is not a "crime" it is an act of war and terrorists are not criminals, they are combatants. Why reward them with civil courts? Give them military tribunals, quick appeals, then hang them all within one year. Absolutely unbelievable.

We will lose the war in Afghanistan because we want everyone to play fair, and we can't defend OURSEVLES from this because the local government may or is corrupt. If THAT is our dividing line, then all these terrorists will be safe to attack us again and again and again.

Time to impeach Obama for failing to defend this Country. "

The stupidity of this post shows how far we've moved from an understanding of American law and how the campaign of fear the Republicans always use, has worked so well.

50's "Communist threat", 70's horrible Vietnamese 80's "evil empire" 90's 2000's "Terrorists eveywhere" "Godless people everywhere, missing Christian values, gays coming to take your chldren and husband, lesbians coming to take away your wife, government healthcare will kill you, the market will fix everything (how did that work out for you) America must deregulate (we did and now it's manufactured in China.

Follow the Republican party, all it knows is fear and in the latest polls only about 23% can even identify with the party.

Stupidity and fear fueld by the Republicans? From the Sarah Palin book of sayings "You Betcha" wink wink

[GeezOhReally]

Oh BS, this has nothing to do with republicans and democrats, it has to do with the fact that we have had methodology for dealing with war criminals, terroists, treasonists, and enemies of state for over 200 years which included hanging by the neck until dead, and a firing squad. They are NOT US citizens with the rights given to us by our Constitution.

These men have already entered a guilty plea. The evidence is gathered and proven. They should have already stood before a firing squad of 72 of America's finest FEMALE sharpshooters, and been done with.

ObaMao is making a mockery of our constitution and rights by giving them to these rabid dog terrorists.

[billards53]

If terrorism is an act of war then shouldn't the geneva conventions come into play ? Tribunals ? Civilian courts ? Most of these terrorists should have been on trial in 2003 and with the ample evidence against them tried and convicted .Instead of JUstice there is political bickering . Does the AG under george bush deserve criticism also for his lack of action ? The world Trade Center is in NEW York City and yet John Boehner and Peter KIng think it is bad idea to try them there ? Obama is to blame for ALL of this ? Obama is making a mockery of the constitution ? Criminal suspects have Rights ? 72 female sharpshooters ? You blog mad . If any of you nutcase right wingers are on the beach when the hallucination of a invasion appears remember the white you see behind you is being worn by guys carrying butterfly nets .The CASA DEL WACKO to all of ya .

[maistir]

Hi, chitown and skyk,

I think that the federal courts do many things well, but Congress makes the laws. Congress specifically created military commissions to try enemy combatants such as KSM. (In fact, Congress did this twice, in order to satisfy the Supreme Court when it set aside parts of the first version of the law).

So, in addition to the practical disadvantages of bringing KSM and others to federal court, the President and AG Holder are failing to take care that the law on military commissions is faithfully executed (the Pres.'s constitutional responsibility).

Both our political parties are guilty of ignoring laws they don't like, which is why I don't belong to either one. That is also the reason I don't get too angry about any of this.

However, some in Congress might well go to federal court to insist that Pres. Obama's Justice Dep't. follow the law on military commissions. Who knows? It will all take years.

[dragon8me]

So, there afraid there not guilty? That would make their heros, Bush & co look like liers. Oh, they are. I mean, come on, where the hell do you think they should be tried for 911? China?

[rickwar]

Republicans are always "outraged" over something. They seem to be outraged when we follow the laws of the country, even as they spout we are a nation of laws.

As to what happened on 9/11 and having Obama watch, we all know what happened on 9/11 including the president. Most of also know by now the lawlessness of the Bush administration in regard to international law, American law and attempting to work under war rulings when in fact we are not at war. Only Congress can declare war and in case the far right nut cases haven't noticed, they haven't.

So Republicans don't trust American law and a jury? You don't trust we can secure the courthouse? You don't believe we can secure our borders even after all the noise made and money the Bush administration spent? It's all still in place.

A conviction in an open American court proves what we stand for as a country and that we really mean all the things we say, otherwise it's all window dressing.

Repuplicans, keep this in mind, if the trial fails it's on the evidence YOUR ex president and advisors got. Also in question will be how was that information obtained?

Republicans----wasting more time complaining when they have no plan for anything themselves.

[WiseWidget]

What a crock. Our very own war criminals are trying to obstruct justice again-yes, they are Republicans and yes, they lived in the White House. Now who could that be? LOL. Is anyone surprised that a war criminal would use something like obstruction of justice to continue enjoying all those benefits we give our retired war criminals?

[nearl451]

Under what venue would you have them tried? The Tribunal system is a kangaroo court. The whole enemy combatant, hold byour military on a technically foreign ground, other-than -criminal classifying, torture, extraordinary rendition, try but don't try system has been a make it up as you go farce from the beginnning.

YAAAWN! Yeah this really poses a threat.

These fellows will be convicted and executed under our system just as in any other.

So let's get emotional about it.

[Xamkr]

I'd like to see an acquittal just to watch New York tear that building apart to get at those guys.

[icanseeyou]

Leave it to Republicans and these jihadists would be publicly beheaded, chopped up, and slivers of them sold to the highest bidders on Constitution Avenue. Radical Islam would then rejoice resoundingly, because we would then be like them and they would have achieved their real goal.