Innocent Does Not Mean Innocent If You Are An Acquitted Terrorist

When the Senate Judiciary Committee recently asked our Attorney General what would happen if Kahled Sheikh Mohammad -- the 9/11 orchestrator, was acquitted of charges in the upcoming New York trial, he had some interesting comments:



Per MSNBC:

Seeking to allay acquittal concerns, Holder insisted the suspects will be convicted, but even if one isn't, "that doesn't mean that person would be released into our country."



So let me get this straight...we are willing to move about 200 of these detained terrorists to a prison in Illinois permanently or at least while they await trial, but if one of the most disgusting ones (Kahled Sheikh Mohammad) is found innocent, he'll be kicked out of our country after we gave him a red carpet in the American civil court system?



This makes no sense. I thought if people were innocent, they should go free? Why would we hesitate to treat him with anything but graciousness if he were found innnocent? Afterall, that is why we have been told the military tribunals would not be used for trying the Guantanamo terrorist detainees -- because it was unfair. If someone is found innocent, isn't that person "free" to live wherever his peaceful heart desires? ...apparently not, Mr. Holder, if it means you would have to sacrifice your political aims in favor of honesty and logic. Shameful...

Does Obama Know That We Are Actually Paying Attention?

In June 2007 according to the Washington Post Obama stated: "While we're at it," he said, "we're going to close Guantanamo. And we're going to restore habeas corpus. ... We're going to lead by example _ by not just word but by deed. That's our vision for the future."
Habeas corpus is a tenet of the Constitution that protects people from unlawful imprisonment.

Wait...is anyone else confused? Giving them rights they are not entitled to per the international (and most appropriate set of) laws is somehow consistent with Mr. Obama's comments below?
Obama said. "Al-Qaida terrorists and their affiliates are at war with the United States, and those that we capture – like other prisoners of war – must be prevented from attacking us again."
...so they are prisoners of war, but they are being tried in civil courts -- not military ones? Oh, and giving them habeas corpus will prevent them from attacking us again. I'm not sure I agree.

Recall Mr. Obama's committment to providing habeas corpus to the detainees. Yet in an interview with NBC News in November 2009 , Obama said those offended by the legal privileges given to Mohammed by virtue of getting a civilian trial rather than a military tribunal won't find it "offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him."

This sounds like a mixed message to me. We're closing GTMO to ensure that people aren't unlawfully imprisoned, but we're going to give the death penalty to them? ...and all of this was stated prior to any trial being carried out? Does Mr. Obama support terrorists by stack the odds in their favor with civil trials when it will help him get elected into office and then support condemning them to death before their trial when it helps him deflect political criticism that may jeopardize his re-election?

This doesn't sound like the kind of behavior that reflects the "moral high ground" that CNN quoted Obama to have been seeking in January 2009 when he signed the order to close GTMO.

Another ridiculously transparent and unconvincing contradiction:

When signing his executive order to close GTMO Obama stated:
Guantanamo... (is) "a mess, a misguided experiment"
"There is also no question that Guantánamo set back the moral authority that is America's strongest currency in the world," he said.

Then he later stated about Veteran's Benefits:
"When our young men and women have served this country, I don't care if you were for the war or against the war, but they have served our country. They have done every single thing that we have asked of them, with bravery and valor, they should not have to beg when they come home to get the services they need," Obama said.

So Mr. Obama, do you support the troops or not? You've painted them out to be a disgrace in how they ran the operations at GTMO, but then defended them in terms of their benefits.

Does Mr. Obama know we are actually paying attention to his politically motivated, disingenuous rhetoric? Does he realize that those service members who "set back the moral authority that is America's strongest currency" are also the same ones who served AT GUANTANAMO with "bravery and valor"?

Our Attorney General Must Think We Are Stupid

Attorney General Eric Holder's statements today: "We need not cower in the face of this enemy," he said. "Our institutions are strong, our infrastructure is sturdy, our resolve is firm and our people are ready."

Holder's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee today directly addressed critics of his decision, some of whom suggest that the move signals a return to a pre-9/11 mind-set that considered terror suspects more like criminals than enemy combatants.

The contradictions are dizzying. I thought the reason they wanted to try them in the US was because it was much more fair than the military tribunals. -?- So how is that reasoning consistent with Mr. Holder's statement above?

I hate to hold you to your own words, Mr. Holder, but if they are terrorists being tried for war-related crimes, then why are civil laws and processes (i.e., a trial in the jurisdiction of a NY Court) being used to try detainees such as Kahled Sheikh Mohammad?

GTMO Rumors Dispelled

Comedian Stephen Crowder speaks the words that our troops at GTMO are forbidden to speak. Having served at GTMO myself, Mr. Crowder is completely accurate in his description of the place and comparison to American prisons. You must see this video clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtrzcBMbVXs&feature=player_embedded

Terrorists Get Swine Flu Shot

The terrorists at Guantanamo Bay absolutely receive humane care and custody that far exceeds what other countries would do, and what is specified in the Geneva Conventions.

In fact, they will be receiving the swine flu shot that many Americans will not receive if they are not in the "high risk" category as categorized by the US Center for Disease Control.

I hope my fellow Americans are able to obtain swine influenza (H1N1) vaccinations since the terrorists are being provided this medical treatment on behalf of American taxpayers.

It is undisputable that those being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are being treated well. There is absolutely no reason - other than for public relations, to close the detention center.

See this link for more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/01/AR2009110102171.html

Recording of Dr. Miner's Most Recent Interview

Hear recordings of The Burnie Thompson Show from 9/11 here:
http://www.talkradio101.com/podcasts.shtml

Dr. Miner's interview begins at about the 20th minute in the segment named:
AM-Fri-09-11-hour__02 (Running time: 60:00 - 10.3MB)

See Inside GTMO's Detention Center

Here is an interesting excerpt from a recent National Geographic Documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Enec6lnKEc

Abu Ghraib

Here's one and only one reason psychologists must continue to serve at GTMO on the Behavioral Science Consultation Team (BSCT). The BSCT is a team of psychologists who consult to support safe, legal, ethical and effective interrogation and detention missions. Here's the tragic reality of what happens when they are not utilized:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8199168.stm

Another Radio Interview

Listen to Dr. Miner speak more about the themes presented in his book Sipping Tea With a Terrorist. He will be interviewed on the Burnie Thompson Show at 9 am EST (8 am CST) on September 11, 2009. You can listen to the show live over the internet by following this link:
http://burniethompson.com/

"X" Marks the Spot

In some of the prison blocks at GTMO, the floors are composed of large metal plates suspended by metal beams. Due to the way they are constructed, they develop weak spots in various places that bend when stepped upon, and then "pop" after one's foot lifts from the metal. This creates a loud "thump" when guards walk on these areas. Detainees living on these blocks have complained about this noise and have even thrown cups of bodily fluids (including, but not limited to feces, urine, mucous, and blood) on guards who have stepped in those spots on the detention block floor. The detainees have called this sound "torture" and "abuse." GTMO detention guards now mark every area that "pops" with a large, black "X" in order to help all the guards avoid stepping on these areas. This enables the terrorists housed in these blocks to have peace and quiet. It also enables the US to evade any additional false claims of abuse and torture at GTMO.

Is this really what the Global War on Terror has become? It sounds like we are helping our enemies gain peace of mind by tiptoe-ing around their cells. Is this a war or a library?

Are these the reasons why GTMO must be closed down according to the Obama Administration? Is this the "harsh treatment" that gives the US such a bad reputation?

Sadly, this is no joke. It is the reality of what has become of GTMO. The US military is forced to cater to the detainees in order to avoid internal and external accusations of abuse and torture that the public would be likely to believe - despite the fact that neither abuse, nor torture are occurring there. Pitiful...

Radio Interview

Hear Dr. Miner discuss the themes presented in his book.

August 24th, 2009 at 10:10 EST.

You can listen online to his interview on The Francene Show. Click on the following link and then click on the link "Listen Live" on the right side of the page under "On Air Now."
http://www.whas.com/main.html

If you are near Cincinnatti; Louisville, KY; Memphis or Indianapolis you can tune in via radio to The Francene Show on WHAS.

Your Future Neighbor May Be The Shoe Bomber

The Wall Street Journal recently printed an article by the sister of the American Airlines Flight 77 pilot. This is the plane that was flown into the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001.

It's very interesting how an admitted terrorist (The Shoe Bomber) can file a lawsuit against President Obama and win it.

Wait a minute, I thought this was the "War" on Terror. Doesn't that mean those who are the enemy fighting against us (terrorists) should be handled through military procedures rather than civil ones? The only thing that could make this lawsuit more ridiculous is if the case was presided over by Judge Judy.

It wouldn't be surprising if this terrorist showed up on Judge Judy. Detainees continue to receive more privileges than the convicted rapists, murderers, and sex offenders who are in American prisons. What'll be next? -- A guest appearance on Deal or No Deal? American Idol?

Read the article to learn more.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203609204574317090690242698.html

Fun Fact

The library for the detainees at GTMO holds over 12,000 titles. This means about 50 titles per detainee. In 2004, on average, private secondary schools in America had the most books compared to public schools - about 28 books per student. The average number of books and serial volumes in America’s public libraries in 2005 was 2.8 titles per capita. It looks like the literary resources at GTMO per capita not only exceed the American public library system, but our public and private school systems too.

Sources:
Detainee Library - Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/ch_7.asp
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009020_7.pdf

Did You Know?

According to The Church Report (the results of a US government investigation into detainee abuses) 3 cases of interrogation-related abuse have been discovered since 2002, when the detention operation opened. This equals 0.000125% of the total interrogations completed at GTMO between 2002 and 2005. Zero incidents of abusive interrogations have been discovered since 2005 at GTMO.

Did You Know?

Over 12 members of the current US Justice Department were involved with defending detainees at GTMO, including our Attorney General.
http://www.911familiesforamerica.org/?p=1228

Did You Know?

The detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba received over 20,000 pieces of "fan mail" last year.