US Attorney-General Eric Holder’s decision to prosecute Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and 5 others held at Guantanamo charged in the 9/11 attacks (collectively referred to here as “KSM”) in United States federal court as criminal defendants grants them the full panoply of rights granted to all criminal defendants in US federal trials.
The decision to try KSM in federal court by US attorneys rather than under military law by a military war crimes tribunal automatically relegates them to the status of criminal. KSM will be treated no less fairly under American justice than a bank robber, white collar inside trader, kidnapper or murderer. A federal criminal trial open to the public and the media puts our justice system on display around the world, a statement by the Obama administration that America delivers on its promise of transparent justice for all. The possibility of American justice allowing KSM to be acquitted and released was deemed impossible by administration spokesmen. [Exactly how that will go poses questions suited to a separate article.]
There are SO many things wrong with this picture.
Assurances from our government that KSM will be convicted and executed make a trial nothing more than a show trial with the outcome predetermined. The Soviet Union did show trials; Iran still does. Ah, you say, what about the jury? After all, the Constitution mandates that the jury shall be of KSM’s peers. Well, not so much. KSM has no peers in the Manhattan jury pool or any other jury pool outside of Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran. Will he have at least an impartial jury willing to listen to the evidence before reaching a verdict? A jury drawn from the Manhattan jury pool in a courtroom blocks from Ground Zero already told by the government that KSM will be found guilty and die? No, I don’t think so. Impartial jurors will be impossible to find. Maybe a jury which won’t jump out of the jury box to strangle KSM, but not an impartial one.
Recent news is that KSM will plead not guilty and exercise his right to act as his own attorney. Ah – now there’s a scene we’d like to broadcast to the world: KSM blathering Jihadist nonsense with virtual impunity under the protection of the American justice system in a federal courtroom blocks from the destroyed WorldTradeCenter site. But as a criminal defendant in the US criminal justice system, KSM is entitled to act as his own attorney and the international media have the right to report it.
The blathering Jihadist scenario plays right into the hands of KSM. Having consistently expressed his wish to die and become a martyr for the cause, he gets a bonus from the Obama administration – the opportunity to blather his Jihadist nonsense to the world from the protected forum of a federal court.
The public debate on whether the US mainland has prisons secure enough to hold KSM is inane. Of course it does. Top flight US maximum security prisons are no less and probably more secure than Gitmo. The more pertinent question is whether there is a top flight US maximum security prison (penitentiary) within daily travel distance from downtown Manhattan. There isn’t. So, where will KSM be locked up during trial? Obviously in a less than maximum security facility. And how will he be moved from a detention center to court? By bus and police motorcade. I’d imagine that highways will be closed, air cover will be provided, snipers on rooftops, etc. Great. Just what New York City (or any city) needs – a daily security risk inviting terrorists from around the world to take their best shot against our best.
While it is difficult to imagine much that would make New York City a greater target for terrorism, the KSM trial would succeed in doing just that. Any venue where KSM is tried in federal court automatically becomes a target. The effort by local law enforcement, i.e., the NYPD, state and federal law enforcement to keep the court and public safe will be nothing short of monumental. Why should any local or state government bear the expense of trying KSM? While there is a certain element of pride, satisfaction and revenge by trying them in New York City where their war crimes were committed, those are not compelling enough to take on the attendant issues and risks such a trial would create. I say this despite being a native New Yorker and knowing our incredible resolve and resilience.
Fundamental to this issue is whether KSM is a run of the mill criminal defendant or a war criminal. KSM proudly admits committing terrorist acts killing thousands. We are fighting a global war on terror. Therefore, KSM is a war criminal – not your kidnapper/bank robber common type of criminal. It follows logically that a war criminal should be tried by a military war crimes tribunal as were war criminals of World War II and the genocidal ethnic purification war in Kosovo. Let such a military war crimes tribunal convene in the security of a high max prison with federally funded ground and air military protection during the trial.
KSM is a war criminal properly tried by a military war crimes tribunal. To label and try him as anything else denies the global war on terrorism.
Recommendations by the United States Preventive Service Task Force that women under age 50 need not have regular mammograms, as well as downplaying the role of self-examination, have created a firestorm of confusion and debate. It is important to note here that despite including “United States” in its name, the Task Force is an outside, independent panel of “experts” which merely makes recommendations. Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius made it clear that the Task Force neither sets policy nor determines what services are covered by the federal government.
The recommendations did not say that detection doesn’t happen under age 50, just that it doesn’t happen as often. Guess that’s because the older one gets the greater the risk, making over 50 prime time for mammograms. Those struck with breast cancer at an earlier age would, according to these guidelines, not be diagnosed at an early stage thus dramatically decreasing their chances for survival. The panel played the percentages, statistics so loved by insurance companies.
The result of these guidelines is that women would be visiting their doctors less frequently. Less frequent visits mean fewer doctor and radiology claims for the insurance companies to pay. That certainly wouldn’t please doctors and radiologists, but would enrich the monopoly of health insurance companies as premiums are paid yet claims are not.
Not only are women confused and angry but also worried about insurance coverage for under-50 mammograms if the health insurer monopoly relies on Task Force guidelines to evaluate, i.e., deny, mammography claims. Even more money to the insurance companies.
So, you ask – why would a panel recommending treatment for breast cancer cut preventive care and save money for insurance companies? Well, it seems that were no breast cancer oncologists on the Task Force, but 3 Task Force members were insurance company executives.
Watergate source Deep Throat said “Follow the money”. Question answered.
The ball finally made it into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Yes, that ball – the ubiquitous round thing that comes in so many sizes and weights. It was found worthy of the Class of 2009 along with Game Boy and Big Wheel.
Original inductees (1998-99) to the Hall, part of Rochester, NY’s Strong National Museum of Play, include Barbie, the hula hoop, crayons, Lincoln logs, Monopoly and other old favorites. Somehow ball missed that first class – a class usually larger than future ones in order to catch up with the greats. Ball didn’t make it.
Stick didn’t either. Stick got in with the 2008 class. More injury – kite was a 2007 inductee. Adding insult to injury, cardboard box won a spot in 2005 – a full four years before ball.
After a year long campaign Raggedy Ann was a 2002 inductee. After 5 years she was joined by Raggedy Andy, yet Barbie still yearns for Ken.
Ball (and stick while we’re at it) are as basic as toys get – cross-cultural toys going back thousands of years – the Adam & Eve of toykind. As cultures became more sophisticated toys evolved to suit the tastes of the people, yet ball and stick remain fundamental to play despite the mankind’s advances.
On behalf of ball and stick I resent their shoddy treatment at the hands of the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) proclaimed that he cannot in good conscience allow a healthcare bill with any form of public option to reach the Senate floor. Conscience? Losing 2000 Democratic VP candidate, failed 2004 Democratic presidential contender, loser of his own state’s 2006 Democratic primary, enthusiastic campaigner for Republicans Sarah Palin and John McCain in 2008, and current chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Senator Joe Lieberman has a conscience? No, Lieberman’s opposition to a public option does not display conscience. It displays his idiosyncratic, insidious political posturing and greed.
To Joe Lieberman: Shut up! You who shocked the Democratic caucus by campaigning for Sarah Palin to be president were John McCain’s health not to allow him a full term. In good conscience you were OK with placing the United States in the hands of Sarah Palin? What did you expect from a McCain administration, Secretary of Defense?
Lieberman will join the “just say no” Republican senators to filibuster a healthcare bill with any type of public option. His reason: sounds like the first step in the government takeover of healthcare. And that, of course, would lower the profits made by the full panoply of healthcare industries. Yes, a public option may cut into profits as the insurance companies would be facing good old-fashioned American competition. Yes, health insurers are exempt from federal antitrust laws. They get to agree on pricing across the health insurance industry. Introduce a modicum of competition via a public option and the insurance companies’ panties are in a wad. No wonder healthcare is so expensive!
The healthcare industry’s vast, well-paid cadre of lobbying firms has made the line between those passing legislation and those subject to it as fuzzy as it gets. Joe Lieberman has healthcare industry connections sprouting like those on an old fashioned switchboard. That Lieberman is “in bed” with the healthcare industry is well known. It’s the extent of the relationship which is unknown. What is known is that his wife Hadassah Lieberman works for the powerful lobbying firm Hill & Knowlton with connections to the healthcare industry. What is known is that Connecticut is rife with healthcare firms who are all vehemently opposed to healthcare reform. What is known is that Lieberman takes healthcare industry campaign contributions.
So where is your conscience, Joe Lieberman? With the thousands of Americans dying every year for lack of reform, or with personal, power seeking self interest?
Senator, you are no Democrat. Make a clean break with the Democratic caucus before the Democratic leaders grow balls and throw you out, committee chairmanship and all. You’re better suited to the Republican caucus so make a deal with those knuckleheads and join them. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
