Comments on: Further Thoughts On The Khalid Sheikh Mohammad Show Trial

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » Obama Administration: KSM Will Be Killed After We Give Him A “Fair Trial”

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:43:34 +0000

[...] Perhaps he got the idea from President Obama, who already declared KSM guilty, or from Attorney General Holder, who said that Mohammed will not go free regardless of what happens at trial. [...]

By: Let's Be Free

Let's Be Free — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:29:45 +0000

Of course Graham was showboating, that’s part of the job. Wouldn’t criticize him for that. The way I figure, a little bit of sugar sent his way for a good voyage can only help.

And yes, there was plenty of evidence that Holder was not going to be a good AG — hold Graham accountable for that.

By: Cargosquid

Cargosquid — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:16:39 +0000

Graham was showboating. While he made valid points, HE VOTED FOR HOLDER TO BE CONFIRMED.

So much for worrying about what Holder does.

By: Let's Be Free

Let's Be Free — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:58:33 +0000

And by the way, that was masterful questioning by Lindsey Graham, I’ve never been so impressed by the fellow. I can see why McCain respects him so much.

Graham understands that you got to look at these issues not merely through the prism of legalisms, but also through the eyes of the men and women who are out on battlefields or work for our national security aparatus on secret missions to combat radical terrorists.

Living in Northern Virginia, I have come to realize that a lot of these people are our neighbors — my hat is off to them.

By: Let's Be Free

Let's Be Free — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:51:32 +0000

Obama doesn’t care what happens to KSM if the prosecution fails. By the time all the legal wrangling is done he either won’t be President or will be well into a second term. Truth is we have a very short sighted president who views things through the prism of authority, not a fellow who knows how to think strategically. His intellectual skills are wrapped up in rhetoric. This is what inexperience begets.

By: James Young

James Young — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:48:22 +0000

Absolutely agree with you here, Doug. This is a travesty.

By: Cargosquid

Cargosquid — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:43:01 +0000

Here’s the part that’s scary. Holder did NOT say we would keep him in custody. ”
Congress has passed legislation that would not allow the release of these individuals in this country. If there is not a successful conclusion to this trial, that would not mean that this person would be released into this country”

He is saying that KSM would not be released IN THIS COUNTRY. Graham missed the follow-up. WHERE WOULD HE BE RELEASED?

By: Doug Mataconis

Doug Mataconis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:02:58 +0000

He was the commanding general in an act of war on the United States.

Trying him in a civilian court makes as much sense as trying Yamamoto in a court in Hawaii would have made.

By: John Freeman

John Freeman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:53 +0000

Doug, can you provide any reasoning for your claim that he is an enemy combatant?

Nick is right in that he was not “captured on a battlefield.” He is also not a member of a nation’s army; he is one of a group of criminals. If we are so damn certain that he was behind 9/11, then there should be NO problem convicting him in any court.

There are existing processes to present evidence that protects “national security” secrets (which is usually just an excuse to keep the government from paying for its mistakes).

There really is no reason he cannot be tried in a court of law.

Should the government be able to capture without a warrant, torture, disregard habeas corpus, and try Americans outside of a court of law because of the War on Drugs or War on Poverty? Why should it be able to with the War on Terror? Yes, I know KSM is not an American citizen, but Jose Padilla was, and I haven’t heard enough people say that the government cannot unilaterally declare a citizen an “unlawful enemy combatant” in order to disregard their inalienable rights.

By: tfr

tfr — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:11:38 +0000

So are we going to make him read a “confession” in front of the cameras too?

Correct me if I’m wrong Doug, but doesn’t KSM get to see all of the prosecution’s case against him for disclosure? I don’t know if that would include things that the gov’t currently considers national security secrets, which would not be out in the open in a military tribunal.