American Justice Under Obama: Banana Republic

Posted on 02. Feb, 2010 by James in Political Commentary

By Rachel Land for MainStreetRadical.com

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was on State of the Union Sunday, on CNN. Reporter John King asked, “Republicans and a growing number of Democrats in Congress say, ‘Number one: We don’t want these terrorists tried on American soil,’ and a lot of those lawmakers also say, ‘Number two: That this should be done in the military justice system, not in the federal court system.’ What’s Plan B if you need one?”

GIBBS: Well, let me tell you what Plan A is for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is going to meet justice and he’s going to meet his maker.uhh –

KING: In a federal courtroom or in a military commission?

GIBBS: He will — He will — He will be brought to justice, and he’s likely to be executed for the heinous crimes that he committed in killing — in masterminding the killing of — 3,000 Americans.

This kind of legal presumption just doesn’t happen in the United States of America. You don’t say, “We’re going to try this guy, we’re going to execute this guy, and he’s going to meet his maker.” Prosecutors can do it, but Press Secretary Gibbs is not the prosecutor. Mr. Gibbs works for the President. Robert Gibbs has just tried, convicted and executed Khalid Sheikh Mohammed before the trial. Here’s another question by reporter John King where Gibbs won’t commit to a civilian trial.

GIBBS: The Attorney General believes that the best place to do this is in an American courtroom.

KING: Let me try one more time: No way in New York City –

GIBBS: Ummm –

KING: — and are you sure it will be in a federal courtroom or is it a possibility, because of this controversy, you may go back to the military?

GIBBS: I will say this, John. We are talking with the authorities in New York. We understand their logistical concerns and their security concerns that are involved. We’ll work with them and come to a solution that we think will bring about justice for those that lost loved ones on such a horrific day in (sic) 9/11, and I think again, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be executed for the crimes that he committed.

If this case is going to actually be tried in an American civilian court, this is now the fourth or fifth time the Administration has pronounced Mohammed’s guilt and his deserved sentence; specifically the death penalty. No judge wants it on her record that she released a suspected 9-11 terrorist. In the US civil justice system, however, the Administration’s actions are what is commonly referred to as ”tainting the jury.” The President of the United States, himself, as well as his press secretary have prejudiced the American people, and on national TV! Gibbs made it a point to say twice: “I think, again, Mohammed will be executed for the crimes he committed.”

One might say, “Maybe he is trying to appeal the majority of Americans who would like that outcome.” I don’t think this is the case. KSM is going to be coached by lawyers (at taxpayer expense, no doubt) to retract his confession because he wasn’t given his Miranda rights, which is required when dealing with a U.S. civil trial. On the other hand, if his trial were held in a military court of justice, there’s much less chance that the case would be thrown out on a technicality; the military is much less interested in providing Constitutional rights to war criminals. But in the U.S. civil court system, the Administration’s comments are the types of rhetoric that become fodder for countless appeals or worse, get cases thrown out.

You cannot bestow Constitutional rights on these terrorists without bestowing the presumption of innocence; it is the essence of the American justice system. But the White House seems to want one without allowing the other: civil, Constitutional rights, but without the presumption of innocence. It’s completely contradictory to American values; but it fits nicely if you want to “change” this country, to say, Zimbabwe.

Tags: American Soil, American Values, Constitution, Constitutional Rights, Mainstreet, Obama, Press Secretary, Rhetoric, Robert Gibbs, Security Concerns, United States