Rep. Peter King: ACLU Is "Tearing Down The United States"
Representative Peter King (R-N.Y.) said that by opposing military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay and by advocating for the release of photographs of torture committed upon detainees, the American Civil Liberties Union is "tearing down the United States," during a heated debate with the ACLU's executive director, on Face the Nation Sunday.
The Obama administration's decision to go forward with the trials of terror suspects held at Gitmo, and to try to block the declassification of photographs of abuse, were flashpoints this week, with the president being accused by some of reneging on campaign promises to roll back the Bush administration's policies on interrogation and the shutdown of the American prison at Guantanamo Bay.
King (left) admitted that "in every war there are going to be abuses," but added that he is not sure "what purpose the ACLU serves in constantly tearing down the United States, constantly attacking our government."
To make his point, King evoked the loss of 9/11: “To see this great compassion and concern that Mr. Romero and the ACLU have for Khalid Sheik Mohammed and others, and the venom they have towards presidents of the United States, I wish that was reversed a bit.”
In response, ACLU executive director Anthony Romero said that he thinks President Obama is "being ill-informed" when making the decision not to release pictures depicting torture and abuse of detainees — photos a court had declared must be released, and which Mr. Obama had previously said he would allow.
Romero said despite the White House's attempt to revamp the tribunal system created under President Bush, that "there is no way to resurrect" the trial system at Guantanamo, which he called a "debacle of justice."
Romero said going forward with the military tribunals will actually delay justice, due to partisan squabbling on Congress over legislative changes and further litigation by defendants over the rules of the tribunal. "This is not going to render swift justice for the 9/11 families or for anyone," he said.
He also said the trials should be under the jurisdiction of the Justice Department, not the Defense Department — "the same Department of Defense that authorized, enabled and allowed torture to occur. It lacks the credibility to undertake that effort.
"We have the best system of justice in the world, and rather than jerry-rig or fix an already broken system, we ought to use the one that works," he told host Harry Smith.
"It's like a toxic waste dump," Romero said of tribunals. "You can't just build a new house on a toxic waste dump; you have to move the house. And we have the best system of justice. Our courts are well-equipped to handle this."
King argued that to try Guantanamo detainees on United States soil is “insanity … it just won’t work,” and advocated for the tribunals. He also called the president's decision to close Guantanamo Bay by next January a mistake, and said he expects Mr. Obama will reverse that order. "I think he's going to keep it open at least until we find out where [the suspects] can go.
"He made a mistake by setting an arbitrary deadline, as they're realizing how dangerous this is to be releasing dangerous people into the United States, into a court system that cannot accommodate them."
In response, Romero said that by American legal standards, “You do not change the rules to have a pre-ordained outcome.”
King argued that the military tribunals at Gitmo give “more rights to defendants than were given at Nuremburg.”
He charged the ACLU with committing "libel" by accusing the military of committing torture, and claimed that what abuses there were, were not sanctioned by higher chains of command in the Bush administration.
"It is absolutely wrong to say this was approved at the highest levels of government," he said.
More from Face The Nation (5.17.09):
A Tortured Debate Over Abuse Photos
Read The Complete Transcript (pdf)
To watch Peter King and Anthony Romero's debate click on the video player below.
To watch a discussion on the selection of a new Supreme Court Justice with CBS News political consultant John Dickerson and Joan Biskupic of USA Today click on the video player below.
The Obama administration's decision to go forward with the trials of terror suspects held at Gitmo, and to try to block the declassification of photographs of abuse, were flashpoints this week, with the president being accused by some of reneging on campaign promises to roll back the Bush administration's policies on interrogation and the shutdown of the American prison at Guantanamo Bay.
(CBS)
To make his point, King evoked the loss of 9/11: “To see this great compassion and concern that Mr. Romero and the ACLU have for Khalid Sheik Mohammed and others, and the venom they have towards presidents of the United States, I wish that was reversed a bit.”
In response, ACLU executive director Anthony Romero said that he thinks President Obama is "being ill-informed" when making the decision not to release pictures depicting torture and abuse of detainees — photos a court had declared must be released, and which Mr. Obama had previously said he would allow.
Romero said despite the White House's attempt to revamp the tribunal system created under President Bush, that "there is no way to resurrect" the trial system at Guantanamo, which he called a "debacle of justice."
Romero said going forward with the military tribunals will actually delay justice, due to partisan squabbling on Congress over legislative changes and further litigation by defendants over the rules of the tribunal. "This is not going to render swift justice for the 9/11 families or for anyone," he said.
He also said the trials should be under the jurisdiction of the Justice Department, not the Defense Department — "the same Department of Defense that authorized, enabled and allowed torture to occur. It lacks the credibility to undertake that effort.
"We have the best system of justice in the world, and rather than jerry-rig or fix an already broken system, we ought to use the one that works," he told host Harry Smith.
"It's like a toxic waste dump," Romero said of tribunals. "You can't just build a new house on a toxic waste dump; you have to move the house. And we have the best system of justice. Our courts are well-equipped to handle this."
King argued that to try Guantanamo detainees on United States soil is “insanity … it just won’t work,” and advocated for the tribunals. He also called the president's decision to close Guantanamo Bay by next January a mistake, and said he expects Mr. Obama will reverse that order. "I think he's going to keep it open at least until we find out where [the suspects] can go.
"He made a mistake by setting an arbitrary deadline, as they're realizing how dangerous this is to be releasing dangerous people into the United States, into a court system that cannot accommodate them."
In response, Romero said that by American legal standards, “You do not change the rules to have a pre-ordained outcome.”
King argued that the military tribunals at Gitmo give “more rights to defendants than were given at Nuremburg.”
He charged the ACLU with committing "libel" by accusing the military of committing torture, and claimed that what abuses there were, were not sanctioned by higher chains of command in the Bush administration.
"It is absolutely wrong to say this was approved at the highest levels of government," he said.
More from Face The Nation (5.17.09):
To watch Peter King and Anthony Romero's debate click on the video player below.
To watch a discussion on the selection of a new Supreme Court Justice with CBS News political consultant John Dickerson and Joan Biskupic of USA Today click on the video player below.
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See all 86 CommentsPosted by hetup-2009 at 5:42 AM : May 18, 2009
Since I am a church going Christian, you really think you know me, right?
Posted by helloall34
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Just like the Republicans are doing right now and have done for the past 8 years.
And like a typical war mongering neo, cannot explain just why it won't work.
If he truly believed in the American system of justice as he says, then he should have no problrm with trying those accused of crimes in America, in America.
As for crimes committed outside America, America shouldn't have interfered and kidnapped those people.
Using our name Bush broke it, and those who supported him now own it.
It's no wonder you oppose them.
Posted by hungry1968-15
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The ACLU is for destroying this country. And I now wonder about you and your type.
rights" quoted above is from the Declaration of Independence,
not the U.S. Constitution!
Posted by helloall34
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Sounds like what the democratic party does as well. But hey as long as they have the letter that you like next to thier name then people think they are ok.
They can move in next door to me, I would feel much safer than having stupid cops with tazers living next door.
These are real people with real convictions, not like the fools who attend church.
....who conveniently make it up 'on-the-fly' as they go along, moment to moment!
Heaven forbid, Mr. KING! That we should become a lawful country once again! Don't fret, so! It'll take more than the ACLU to undo what you and the GOP have destroyed about America!
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