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Obama advisers say bin Laden can appeal to U.S. courts: YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!?!
Examiner ^ | 2008-06-18 07:00:00.0 | Bill Sammon, The Examiner

Posted on 06/18/2008 6:21:12 AM PDT by RaceBannon

Obama advisers say bin Laden can appeal to U.S. civilian courts

Barack Obama has expressed support for the Supreme Court’s decision in favor of civilian prosecution of terrorism suspects, and his advisers said Tuesday that if Osama bin Laden were captured, he too should face civilian prosecution. – AP Bill Sammon, The Examiner 2008-06-18 07:00:00.0 Current rank: # 13 of 6,452

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama’s foreign policy advisers said Tuesday that Osama bin Laden, if captured, should be allowed to appeal his case to U.S. civilian courts, a privilege opposed by John McCain.

Responding to questions from The Examiner, Sen. John Kerry and former White House counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke said bin Laden would benefit from last week’s Supreme Court decision giving terrorism suspects habeas corpus, the right to appeal their military detention to civilian courts.

“If he were to be brought back,” Clarke said of bin Laden, “the Supreme Court ruling holds on the right of habeas corpus.”

Kerry, who applauded the Supreme Court ruling, said it will be carried out by whichever candidate wins the presidency.

“The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that they have those rights,” he said. “If John McCain were president, he would have to give them those rights.”

Randy Scheunemann, McCain’s senior foreign policy adviser, said those rights should not be extended to bin Laden or the hundreds of terrorism suspects being held by the U.S. military at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“The individuals we hold at Guantanamo are very, very dangerous people,” Scheunemann said. “To give them full access to the federal courts and the criminal justice system is fraught with danger, moving forward, and likely to make America less safe, unlike Senator Obama’s claim of supporting the decision that it made America safer.”

On Monday, Obama applauded the civilian prosecution of terrorists before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“In previous terrorist attacks — for example, the first attack against the World Trade Center — we were able to arrest those responsible, put them on trial,” he told ABC. “They are currently in U.S. prisons, incapacitated.”

Obama said President Bush has relied too heavily on military prosecution of terrorists, which has “given a huge boost to terrorist recruitment in countries that say, ‘Look, this is how the United States treats Muslims.’ ”

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Obama wants “to take a step back to the failed policies that treated terrorism solely as a law enforcement matter, rather than a clear and present danger. Barack Obama appears to believe that terrorists should be treated like criminals — a belief that underscores his fundamental lack of judgment regarding our national security.”

The attack sounded familiar to Kerry, who was the Democratic presidential nominee four years ago.

“This is exactly what they tried to say back in 2004, and the record absolutely contradicts it,” Kerry told The Examiner. “Every Democrat voted to go to war and attack the Taliban and al Qaeda, the people who attacked us. That is not a [legalistic] approach.”

bsammon@dcexaminer.com

Examiner


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: appeal; cicobama; courts; defeatocrats; enemycombatant; gitmo; issues; johnkerry; obama; obamatruthfile; osama; sammon; scotus; surrendercrats; treason; unfit; usefulidiots
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To: RaceBannon
RUSH:... If, ladies and gentlemen, Osama Bin Laden is brought to the United States under these new Supreme Court rules -- as supported by the haughty John Kerry and Richard Clarke and everybody else in Obama's foreign policy apparatus -- and we bring Osama in under the presumption of innocence, somebody explain to me why we are trying to kill him? Why have we sent out Special Ops, SEAL teams, drones? Why have we sent the best we've got into those mountainous regions since 2001 to kill Obama if, in our court system, he would be presumed innocent? And, why is it that so many Democrats, lo these many years, have proclaimed the war on terror a failure because we have not killed Osama? We haven't captured Osama or killed Osama. But it's okay to nuke the guy on the battlefield. Why are we trying to kill Osama Bin Laden if he will be assumed innocent in an American courtroom? (cont.)



Should Bin Laden Be Presumed Innocent, Senator Obama?
141 posted on 06/18/2008 2:47:21 PM PDT by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: Miss Didi

hello—am I the only conservative in this room who knows about the Nuremburg Trials? We had Nuremburg trials for a reason. Had Adolf Hitler not burned himself to death, he would have stood trial at Nuremburg, under a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

We try to kill our enemies in the field. But when they are captured, they are subject to due process—either in military courts or civilian courts or international courts. But they must be subject to SOME kind of court and SOME kind of due process. Even if no innocents have been swept up into the net, a free nation of laws must have due process even for the lowest scum.

Conservatives do not allow Presidents to imprison people for life just because they’re said to be an enemy. Can you imagine how a President Hussein might use that power?


142 posted on 06/18/2008 3:02:19 PM PDT by TINS
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To: TINS

The Nuremberg trials were held before special military tribunals. They had nothing to do Constitutional habeas corpus or due process.

I see no reason why foreign terrorists who commit atrocities are entitled to the use of U.S. courts.


143 posted on 06/18/2008 3:52:56 PM PDT by popdonnelly (Does Obama know ANYONE who likes America, capitalism, or white people?)
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To: RaceBannon

I have this mental picture of Osama in the eye of a Predator camera, holding up a sign that says, I Demand to See a Lawyer!


144 posted on 06/18/2008 3:56:28 PM PDT by popdonnelly (Does Obama know ANYONE who likes America, capitalism, or white people?)
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To: manc
Exactly. All of those enemies are rooting for Obama. They are doing so because they know his election will be good for them. If he will be good for our enemies, it is clear he will not be good for us.

This, then, is the change he brings (among others, all equally repugnant).

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

145 posted on 06/18/2008 3:57:33 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: RaceBannon

We know what drives Body Odor. What is more troubling is that the SC even took up this issue and changed the rules of the road. This is most troubling. The SC sent the wrong message to the world of Islamic Terrorist.


146 posted on 06/18/2008 4:20:02 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter was our best choice...Now where left with a bunch of idiots.)
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To: NordP

Who says he can’t “go on tour”?

Bush could always hang him from the porch on January 15th, 2009, then drag the body out of town on the 20th, chained to the trailer hitch of his pickup truck. Whatever’s left by the time he gets to Crawford could be sent to a taxidermist, the end product set on his mantlepiece, photographed, and pictures sent via email all over the ME with the caption “Allah Couldn’t Save Him; Allah Can’t Save YOU, Either”

Ahhh, but it’s a nice dream, though.


147 posted on 06/18/2008 4:39:23 PM PDT by HKMk23 (Public school is child abuse on a 13-year installment plan.)
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To: RaceBannon

Just keep talking, Barry. And encourage your people to talk too. We want to hear all about it.


148 posted on 06/18/2008 4:46:39 PM PDT by mojito
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To: HKMk23
Your post was FABULOUS!!!
149 posted on 06/18/2008 4:48:03 PM PDT by NordP ((Rev Wright ) - Hey, Obama... Looks like YOUR "turrr-key" has come hoooome to ROOOOST!)
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To: deep
Excellent bumper sticker...see tagline for mine.

Obama is an anti-capitalism, marxist, racist, islamic empty suit.

150 posted on 06/18/2008 4:50:35 PM PDT by NordP (Barry HUSSEIN Obama says he's for change...well AMERICANS LIKE DOLLAR BILLS!)
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To: Marine_Uncle

sad thing is, the man will still win 200+ electoral. he’s insulated by the built in “blame america first” ilk. it’s going to take a lot more than this to sink him


151 posted on 06/18/2008 5:13:51 PM PDT by LTS1
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To: Miss Didi

SO TRUE

Maybe republicans could point this out, we are out to kill hiim yet the libs and Obama say he should have the right to our court system which is innocent to proven guilty

We really are doomed if this idiot get into power, I ma just hoping that the majority of Americans see who he really is.


152 posted on 06/18/2008 7:03:32 PM PDT by manc (a natural normal marriage is between a man and a woman a sham perv unnatural marriage is what Ma has)
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To: Miss Didi

one thing is for sure we cannot expectt he media to report the truth about Obama, they have been disgusting this election process.

I really have neevr seen the media so biased and so supportive of anyone and that is saying something, what is sad that many actually believe the media too


153 posted on 06/18/2008 7:07:57 PM PDT by manc (a natural normal marriage is between a man and a woman a sham perv unnatural marriage is what Ma has)
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To: TINS

Did you ever serve in combat?


154 posted on 06/18/2008 7:17:00 PM PDT by Lumper20
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To: RaceBannon

BO is just such a D-Ass, he thinks he is running for emperor of the world......Just say no to BO


155 posted on 06/18/2008 7:28:13 PM PDT by Fred (The Democrat Party is the Nadir of Nilhilism)
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To: manc

Thankfully, there is still time. Barry Hussein exposes his true colors more and more each day.


156 posted on 06/18/2008 7:28:20 PM PDT by Miss Didi ("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)
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To: Lumper20

no—does that matter? trying them in a court doesn’t mean they’ll go free. It didn’t mean that in Nuremburg. And I’m not entirely certain that absolutely everyone in GTMO is guilty, and not just somebody in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Most importantly, I just think it’s crazy that we want to give this power to Hussein. “Terrorist” is a changeable definition—who’s to say the Libs won’t turn around and say that people who cling too hard to their guns aren’t terrorists once they’re in power? Hussein and his John Edwards-led justice department could put you away for life without a trial of any kind.

That doesn’t sound like liberty to me—or like security.


157 posted on 06/18/2008 7:30:32 PM PDT by TINS
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To: Miss Didi

You are certainly correct Miss Didi.

Maybe that is why Obama is refusing to do town hall meetings.

Take away his little speeches and the real Obama comes out more and more

We have to get the message out about this man , even today , not like a day passes I let people know about Obama, even strangers like at the Doc’s office today

most have never heard about all these negative factual things about Obama and are surprised that they have never heard about them


158 posted on 06/18/2008 7:36:42 PM PDT by manc (a natural normal marriage is between a man and a woman a sham perv unnatural marriage is what Ma has)
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To: popdonnelly

And the Nazis weren’t being held on U.S. soil, or soil controlled entirely by the U.S.

I’m not saying the Supreme Court was right. But the government isn’t right, either.

I think we need a new legal framework for dealing with these people in a way that doesn’t give them access to U.S. courts like citizens, but also doesn’t allow the President and the Pentagon to just throw someone in a dungeon without a key without any civilian oversight.

The big complication arises in that, unlike Nuremberg, the arguments and reasons for convicting these people may be state secrets or national security issues—in which case, redact the arguments and only make them available to a very few members of congress on the intelligence committee (or hopefully, a national security committee if they ever get one organized).

But again, the idea that Hussein, his My Little Phony Edwards Justice Department, and his Shinseki/Clarke Pentagon can simply decided who gets to rot for life without anyone ever knowing the facts is simply unthinkable.

When you want to give a President powers, the question you always have to ask yourself is “would I be comfortable with Hillary/Obama having this power?” If the answer is no, then it’s probably a bad idea.


159 posted on 06/18/2008 7:47:44 PM PDT by TINS
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To: RaceBannon

It is starting to be a bit like that twilight zone epi with the cookbook.

I just hope that fool Obama keeps blowing the dust off the dang title.


160 posted on 06/18/2008 8:34:49 PM PDT by modest proposal (Obama 08: all aboard for the Moron Train to Hell)
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