So it finally arrived. The First Guantanamo Detainee went on trial today in a New York Court. Ahmed Khalfan, a Tanzanian man accused of co-conspiring and participating in terrorist activities against the United States, sat as his lawyer made is opening arguments before a jury .
After all this time, since former President Bush duped congress into signing the Patriot Act, which suspended Habeas Corpus for terrorists, your very right for a fair and expedient trial, and since all these detainees have been sitting almost endlessly in that Federal prison so many miles outside the US Boarder, the first prisoner in a long line of prisoners who will all get their chance for trial, has finally been given his day in court. Hooray for Justice! Right?
Wrong !
Americans have once again been given the slight of hand by President Obama and his democratic party. You ask, what could be so bad about bringing a terrorist to justice? What could be so bad about beginning the end of the prison in Guantanamo Bay that is infamous worldwide as being the prison where the USA practices torture on inmates? What could be so bad about cleaning up the political mess left by former President Bush.
While President Obama held the the front page of every newspaper across the country back in February 2010 with his plan to try the Guantanamo prisoners in public courts, people all over the country, all over the world, had their attention diverted from the important facts. Mayors and governors across the country were making public statements about President Obama's plan, claiming how the trials should not be held in their own local cities. "Not Here" and "Not Here either" were words being tossed. Elsewhere, one local politician even made the statement "Our city would be good for these trials" Up and down, yes and No, Not here, not there, maybe somewhere.
And while the Obama proposition for trying accused terrorists in civilian courts had the whole country in an uproar, hopping from one foot to another, EVERYONE was overlooking the MOST IMPORTANT FACT. If the Guantanamo prisoners were tried in civilian courts, they stood a MUCH better chance of getting found not guilty of the accused crimes and having their trials dismissed.
Ever get that nautious feeling from bad news?
It's true, Military courts are MUCH TOUGHER to win a battle, when within. They have a completely different protocol between the prosecution, defense and the Judge. The defense does not have as many opportunities to convince the court of it's innocence. Also, there are Far Fewer lawyers available that have been trained in this military protocol, and therefor, a less suitable and less charismatic lawyer would have been chosen to defend the accused party, due to the unavailability of lawyers. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, there is NEVER a bleeding heart Jury to be hand picked and then swayed. Instead, Military officers and Judges fill the role of the Jury. A prisoner on trial usually does NOT Stand a Chance in a Military Tribunal.
Do you think President Obama knew these facts about Military Courts BEFORE he decided to change where the Guantanamo prisoners would be tried? Remember, President Obama is a Lawyer himself. YES, He knew for sure.
President Obama HAD TO KNOW, indubitably, that these prisoners stood a much better chance of getting away with their crimes if they WERE made to stand trial in civilian courts.
... they stood A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING AWAY with their crimes.
So then really, the Question IS; Why would the president RISK giving these war criminals a better chance at getting away with their crimes? Why would he risk the lives of more American citizens if these prisoners were to get set free and commit new terror acts? Why would he WASTE the millions and billions of US dollars, spent on our war machine, that as an end result, captured these prisoners for trial, where if they were freed, the war would be pointless? Why ? Why ? Why?
WHY?
As a citizen, I am OUTRAGED this was even allowed to be Suggested, let alone actually put into motion? If it were up to me, I would have this President Impeached solely on this travesty of the law! Who gave the president this authorization? YES, he is Commander in Chief of the armed forces, But, is he Commander in Chief of the Military courts? Is this a grey area for politics and legalities? A loophole in the law that gives a President of this country, the ability to circumvent the criminal process without ruining his reputation directly with a Presidential Pardon?
Well, getting back to the Why.... There are only two reasons I can think of, the President, any President would do such a thing, to place at risk ALL that which we have fought for. And this is just my opinion....
The first reason; to get around the Bush Patriot Act. Was this even an obstacle?
The second reason, and take a breath; Because he wanted to prisoners to be freed.
If you can think other reasons why President Obama may have made this decision to try these prisoners in civilian courts, Please share them in the comments section. I bet there aren't so many plausable reasons, maybe even none, more plausable.
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