Clinton Pardoned Terrorists Mr Clarke

Senator Charles Grassley ^ | 3/27/04 | jwalsh07

[jwalsh07]

The Word On: Presidential Pardon with SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY

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Q: Why was the President able to offer clemency to convicted terrorists?

A: Under Article 2, Section 2 of the federal Constitution, the president is granted the authority to "grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States." On August 11, 1999, President Bill Clinton offered an executive grant of conditional clemency to 16 Puerto Rican militants for their involvement in some 130 bombings starting in the late 1970s. A month later, 14 accepted. In the meantime, the president's pardon power has become a political hot potato. Reports indicate the FBI, the Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. Attorney's office which prosecuted the terrorists apparently advised the President not to grant leniency. The First Lady's political aspirations in New York, home to 1.3 million Puerto Ricans, added a peculiar twist to his decision. Be that as it may, the clemency offer sends the world and would-be terrorists the wrong message. It says the U.S. is softening on its stand against terrorism. And it's a slap in the face to the victims who lost life and limb in the militant group's acts of terrorism. What's more, the victims were never even contacted about the possibility of a pardon.

Q: Do you support his decision to free members of the FALN?

A: No. In fact, I joined an overwhelming majority of my colleagues in Congress and supported a resolution condemning the president's decision to grant clemency to the convicted members of the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN). On a vote of 95-2, the resolution put the U.S. Senate on record against their release. Americans believe that violent acts should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Making concessions to terrorists is deplorable. It runs counter to established U.S. counter terrorism policy, which the State Department clearly outlined last year: "First, make no concessions to terrorists and strike no deals. Second, bring terrorists to justice for their crimes." In the first sweeping analysis of the U.S. military since World Word II, members of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century identified terrorism as the ultimate menace to American society in the next century. "Americans will become increasingly vulnerable to hostile attack on our homeland, and military superiority will not entirely protect us." By granting clemency, the president watered down U.S. efforts aimed at deterring future terrorist acts. The chief executive of the United States must stick to a tough, consistent counter terrorism policy: to deter, pursue, bring to justice and punish to the full extent of the law those who wreak terror on American citizens. On this important matter, the president has failed the American people.

106-38-99

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[jwalsh07]

I have sent a copy of this to the 9/11 Commission asking why it has not been addressed and what input Richard Clarke had in the decision.

No reply yet nor do I expect one.

[jla]

fyi

[Texas Eagle]

Check effing mate!

[SENTINEL]

I have go to know who the abstaining 3 and the traitor 2 senators were...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Where does Clarke figure into this?

[cyncooper]

I have sent a copy of this to the 9/11 Commission asking why it has not been addressed and what input Richard Clarke had in the decision.

Excellent point, excellent question.

[South40]

Clinton Pardoned Terrorists Mr Clarke

He also spent more time and money prosecuting Bill Gates than he did prosecuting terrorists.

[jwalsh07]

He stated, paraphrased, that Clinton was good on terrorism and Bush, Bush and Reagan sucked.

I only know one idiot who pardoned cop killing terrorist scum.

Clarke figures in because he is a lying political operative scumbag.

[rocklobster11]

Wellstone (MN) and Akaka (HI) voted against. Gregg (NH), McCain (AZ) and Graham (FL) abstained.

I was really hoping it was Kerry ;)

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/09/15/senate.faln

[SENTINEL]

Ahh, Wellstone...I had almost forgotten about him. I hope he is enjoying his stay in hell with all of the jihadists he supported.

Remember the illegal Gore pep-rally at his funeral ?

[Texas Eagle]

And don't forget that a frequent guest to the Clinton White House was Gerry Adams (sp?) of the Irish terrorist group Sinn Fein (sp?).

[jwalsh07]

My email to the commission:

Senator Kerrey and Secretary Lehman,

In 1999, after the bombing of the World Trade center, the bombing of our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the bombing of Khobar Towers and right before the bombing of the USS Cole President William Jefferson Clinton pardoned 16 FALN cop killing terrorists.

At the time Mr. Richard Clarke was the Counter Terrorism Czar for the United States of America.

I have several questions relative to these circumstances.

1. Was Richard Clarke consulted prior to the pardoning of these terrorists?
2. How could the Counter Terrorism Czar judge the Clinton Administration to have done a better job than the Ronald Reagan, GHW Bush and GW Bush administrations vis a vis terrorism when the Clinton Administration was pardoning terrorists?
3. Did the pardoning of terrorists embolden same?
4. And finally, why were none of these questions posed to Richard Clarke and others in your public hearings?

Regards,
jwalsh07
FreeRepublic.com

[BenLurkin]

So just how ineffective was Clarke that (according to him) neither Clinton OR Bush paid him any attention?

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[South40]

The Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN, 16 of whose members were pardoned by President Clinton in August, poses an "ongoing threat" to national security, according to a September report by Attorney General Janet Reno...

Link

[jwalsh07]

Debate on SJ 33, Senate Joint Resolution Condemning President Clinton for Pardoning Terrorists

Here's a sample:

Ms. MIKULSKI(D). Mr. President, I oppose the President's decision to grant clemency for the FALN terrorists.

I oppose clemency for two reasons. First of all, this clemency decision violates the tenets of our counter terrorism policy. (Paging Richard Clarke and the 9/11 Commission) Terrorism is one of the greatest threats facing our nation. We say that we will fight terrorism with every tool that we have. We say that we will make no concessions to terrorists. We say that we'll track the terrorists down--no matter where they are, no matter how long it takes. We say that we'll hold them accountable--and punish them to the fullest extent of the law. By granting clemency to terrorists, we are saying that these tenets don't always apply. What kind of message does it send to offer clemency to those who are guilty of the most heinous and cowardly crimes?

What kind indeed?

[jwalsh07]

Do you think I'll be hearing from the Commission? :-}

[I still care]

So glad you posted this. I had forgotten that Clinton actually pardoned terrorists.

Well, I guess he couldn't have been too obsessed with stopping terror, could he? At least, not when it stood in the way of votes.

[lainde]

BTTT!

[VOA]

He also spent more time and money prosecuting Bill Gates than he did prosecuting terrorists.

You've got the start of a good bumpersticker with that line.