Afghanistan On His Mind, President Obama Begins Tour of Pacific Rim
EmailTOKYO — The president is in Japan, but it's Afghanistan that's on his mind.
The first substantive discussion he had here in Tokyo with the new Prime Minister was to thank Japan for its $5 billion pledged for Afghan reconstruction, and for a different pledge of $1 billion in assistance to Pakistan, which the president later said "underscores Japan's prominent role within a broad international coalition that is advancing the cause of stability and opportunity in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
The president told reporters Friday that a "decision will be made soon. It will be one that is fully transparent so that the American people understand exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it and what it will entail."
He said he was "pleased with how the process has proceeded. And those who participated I think would acknowledge that it has been not a academic exercise, but a necessary process in order to make sure that we're making the best possible decisions."
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Friday morning at a joint press availability with President Obama that they had "talked about Afghanistan and our support to Afghanistan,"
Hatoyama said that Japanese "will not be taking part in the refueling" of ships in the Indian Ocean headed to Afghanistan, "but instead providing civil assistance, and we are planning to mainly provide civil assistance of 5 billion yen in five years for agriculture, building of infrastructures, schools. So this is the type of assistance we want to provide. And also to improve security, we want to support the police force in Afghanistan. Furthermore, for the former soldiers, we want to provide vocational training. These are the types of things that we want to conduct."
Added Hatoyama, "We understand that the Afghans are suffering from poverty and we have to save them from poverty. Also security is something of a challenge, and we need to take new activities. And also, to the former soldiers, we have to provide vocational training so that they do not have to rely on their guns; they can lay down their guns and seek a more fulfilling life. And I believe that for Japan it is more appropriate, desirable, that we provide such civilian assistance."
President Obama said he "shared with the Prime Minister our efforts in refining our approach to make it more successful in the coming year."
Asked what was delaying his decision, the president said it was not "a matter of some datum of information that I'm waiting on. It's a matter of making certain that when I send young men and women into war, and I devote billions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer money, that it's making us safer, and that the strategies that are placed not just on the military side but also on the civilian side are coordinated and effective in our primary goal, which is to make sure that the United States is not subject to attack and its allies are not subject to attack by terrorist networks."
The president said he recognized "that there have been critics of the process. They tend not to be folks who I think are directly involved in what's happening in Afghanistan. Those who are recognize the gravity of the situation and recognize the importance of us getting this right."
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said later Friday that Afghanistan is a topic that will come up throughout the trip, with the president trying to get more international assistance and training for Afghanistan. South Korea, too, made a "robust" commitment to Afghanistan leading up to this trip, a senior administration official says, with the South Korean government pledging a provincial reconstruction team in addition to the medical and vocational training team already there.
On his way here, the president pledged to troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage that "we’ll give you the strategy and clear mission you deserve."
-jpt
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OT ~ Any thoughts on the Obama administration sending five of the 9/11 plotters, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to New York City to face a criminal trial?
I think it is madness. What say you?
Posted by: WhereWasThePress? | November 13, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am
Asked what was delaying his decision, the president said it was not “a matter of some datum of information that I’m waiting on. It’s a matter of making certain that when I send young men and women into war, and I devote billions of dollars of U.S. taxpayer money, that it’s making us safer, and that the strategies that are placed not just on the military side but also on the civilian side are coordinated and effective in our primary goal, which is to make sure that the United States is not subject to attack and its allies are not subject to attack by terrorist networks.”
Well said. Now let’s follow through.
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | November 13, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Until a real government is established in Afghanistan (I was so disappointed to see the opposition drop out), there is little that can be accomplished there, without more radical approaches than the US or any other country, is prepared to take.
It has become a lost cause, because the solution is too radical for anyone.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 13, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Mistakes of a rookie president!
Posted by: Jeff | November 13, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am
OT ~ Any thoughts on the Obama administration sending five of the 9/11 plotters, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to New York City to face a criminal trial?
I think it is madness. What say you?
GREAT IDEA…..THEN WE CAN HANG THEM AT GROUND ZERO
Posted by: today | November 13, 2009, 10:42 am 10:42 am
GREAT IDEA…..THEN WE CAN HANG THEM AT GROUND ZERO
Posted by: today | Nov 13, 2009 10:42:30 AM
From Malkin’s site:
Sgt. Tim Sumner, brother-in-law of FDNY Joseph G. Leavey, 45, Ladder 15, WTC wrote:
“We have an announcement as well: we will fight with every remaining breath in our bodies both their bringing KSM and the rest of the 9/11 conspirators to federal courtrooms within walking distance of where they slaughtered our loved ones. And whomever finds Manhattan’s federal courthouse near Ground Zero a “sentimental favorite” for the 9/11 trials is a damn fool and they ALL ought to be fired. Pass that message on, far, wide, and up and down the chain-of-command.”
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | November 13, 2009, 10:54 am 10:54 am
After months of consultations, advice from his commamders on the ground, the VP, his national security team….this president is wanting more options,..more options on what?? How to dither and destroy the Usa.. this guy is imcompentent, and completely devoid of what it means to be a leader. Impeachment proceedings should begin NOW!!!!
Posted by: No leadership in the WH | November 13, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Either you fight them there or you fight them here. Simple concept. If Al Queda comes back into Afganistan it is only a matter of time before they attack us again.
Posted by: Jack | November 13, 2009, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Either you fight them there or you fight them here. Simple concept. If Al Queda comes back into Afganistan it is only a matter of time before they attack us again.
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Not necessarily Jack. Al Qaeda actually have presented 3 reasons why they attack, and what would make them stop. These seldom get published but they exist and are worth considering . ..
1) A Palestinian State
2) Withdrawal of all western military from Islamic homelands
3) The end of the House of Saud
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Well, I’m glad to hear that Afghanistan is “on his mind”. Maybe if he cut down on the speeches and international tours, he could concentrate better. Some Commander in Chief huh ? Can’t make a decision after thinking about it for 3 months.
Posted by: Ron | November 13, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
“Al Qaeda actually have presented 3 reasons why they attack, and what would make them stop. These seldom get published but they exist and are worth considering…
1) A Palestinian State (Because there aren’t enough Muslim states in the Middle East or the world.)
2) Withdrawal of all western military from Islamic homelands (So, they can continue to enslave and murder women in isolation and peace.)
3) The end of the House of Saud (Because they are considered ‘moderate’ Muslims by the more radical imams.)
I have a bridge to sell you (real cheap) if you think that giving in to these demands will cause AQ to recall all their terror cells from around the world. They will continue to radicalize Muslims in the West and will be emboldened by the weakness shown by those who give in to their transparent demands.
Why don’t feminists stand up for Muslim women?
Posted by: WhereWasThePress? | November 13, 2009, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Why don’t feminists stand up for Muslim women?
Posted by: WhereWasThePress? | Nov 13, 2009 11:35:25 AM
Beating. Maiming. Stoning. Beheading.
All good reasons to stay away, very far away. Besides it’s much easier to berate idiot men from the United States who just sit there and take it.
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | November 13, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am
“Any thoughts on the Obama administration sending five of the 9/11 plotters, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to New York City to face a criminal trial? ”
I think some looney liberal federal judge is going to “make a statement” and toss out most of the evidence and these people are going to walk free.
I think that will end the creeping soft tyranny that has been the progressive movement of the last 40 years.
Posted by: Huh? | November 13, 2009, 11:50 am 11:50 am
All good reasons to stay away, very far away. Besides it’s much easier to berate idiot men from the United States who just sit there and take it.
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Oh, so we invaded Afghanistan to protect women’s rights now? You big brave Americans right wingers, ridiculing advances for women at home and typing away at your computers.
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 11:53 am 11:53 am
From Malkin’s site:
Sgt. Tim Sumner, brother-in-law of FDNY Joseph G. Leavey, 45, Ladder 15, WTC wrote:
“We have an announcement as well: we will fight with every remaining breath in our bodies both their bringing KSM and the rest of the 9/11 conspirators to federal courtrooms within walking distance of where they slaughtered our loved ones. And whomever finds Manhattan’s federal courthouse near Ground Zero a “sentimental favorite” for the 9/11 trials is a damn fool and they ALL ought to be fired. Pass that message on, far, wide, and up and down the chain-of-command.”
TODAY = uncle of marketing manager who died while giving a presentation at tower….”HANG THEM AT GROUND ZERO” in front of the world
Posted by: today | November 13, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
after months of advice, from top officals, this guy wants more options on agfanistan..what a friggin loser, if you can’t lead RESIGN
Care to answer those questions on lowering healthcare premiums..OH thats right You Can’t
Posted by: mickey maoist | November 13, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
“Oh, so we invaded Afghanistan to protect women’s rights now?”
Not sure how you parsed that from my comment, but whatever. I do not see much in the way of feminists, such as NOW, standing up for women’s rights abroad and for women as victims of the slave trade. Most of that comes from advocacy groups and “justice” groups – many of which are (gasp!) religious organizations.
“You big brave Americans right wingers, ridiculing advances for women at home and typing away at your computers.”
I applaud REAL advancements in women’s rights. I don’t applaud the trends over the years where men are portrayed as idiots. Hollywood, for example, revels in this type of caricature. It diminishes the efforts of hard working men, husbands, fathers. Many groups including (gasp!) religious groups are working hard for men to become better husbands and fathers. The “feminist agenda” could use some work, in my opinion. It never hurts to look at yourself in the mirror and re-evaluate.
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | November 13, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
I hope Obama continues trying to fundamentally change America.
We are going to fundamentally change his source of power starting in 2010.
And in 2012 we’re going to fundamentally change his immediate future-by giving him a new address.
Posted by: millie | November 13, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
How convenient that Obama gets out of town instead of looking Americans in the eye to explain why terrorist will be tried in NYC. Cowardly
Posted by: hank | November 13, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Mickey as soon as you are ready to go over and fight for those women with your life and your limbs, let me know. Otherwise, just keep sitting in the comfort of your home typing away.
Who would have thought the right wing would suddenly reverse and be willing to die for women’s rights?
Posted by: tierra
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Again Tierra makes another stupid post and shows her intelligence….. I have fought for this country… I served 3 years in a war zone both in medivac and class “A” explosives… so before you make a complete fool of yourself you should know what you are talking about. because of myself and other veterans YOU are allowed to make your idiotic post on here.. and by the way I am a member of the DAV
Posted by: mickey maoist | November 13, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
I have no facts to back my opinions, just Drug induced hallucinations from drinking the Kool-Aid! Wait the polls say my side is losing please more Kool-aid I need to escape reality.
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
Can Obama just stay there for the next three years. This guy is a joke and has done nothing other than run up a larger deficit and as he puts it ” he is just getting started”
Posted by: nobama12 | November 13, 2009, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
At least Obama’s admitting he’s working on his own timetable.
Posted by: MayBee | November 13, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
Again Tierra makes another stupid post and shows her intelligence….. I have fought for this country… I served 3 years in a war zone both in medivac and class “A” explosives…
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You fought for the country therefor your opinions and facts are right? I don’t think so . . .
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
Obama had to turn tail and bail because he knew what he couldn’t blame today’s news on Bush.
“The $176.36 billion gap is more than $20 billion wider than the shortfall recorded in October 2008, driven up by lower tax receipts, stimulus-related revenue reductions and consistently high government outlays.”
I remember when $176.36 was our deficit for an entire year. I guess as long as Obama’s political pals and union cronies get rich it’s all good.
Posted by: Huh? | November 13, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
Tierra: and right winger, neo-con Tea-Baggers is original? Fact is you do not have a leg to stand on your Democratic party is a Joke, From Congress to the President to Governors. Republicans will be gaining 20+ seats in 2010 and instead of listening to the people, who tell you they do not want More Government, or 1.2 trillion in Health Care bill your party responds by insulting any American who Stands up and voices disapproval.
Posted by: batesba74 | November 13, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
Posted by: batesba74 | Nov 13, 2009 12:38:47 PM
Within the past two weeks Democrats won BOTH Congressional elections. In fact the Republicans got booted OUT of one seat they had previously held.
Voters were given a chance to express their dissatisfaction with Democrats in Congress – and their policies – and the President. And what did they do?
They voted Democrats INTO Congress.
You have strong opinions and biases, but right wingers are way out of the mainstream of American society.
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 12:42 pm 12:42 pm
Let’s not be greedy… There’s plenty of hatred on all sides so everyone can have their share.
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | November 13, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
“we’ll give you the strategy and clear mission you deserve.”
aka Bush slam.
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | November 13, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
“Again Tierra makes another stupid post and shows her intelligence….. I have fought for this country… I served 3 years in a war zone both in medivac and class “A” explosives”
You know what is really disgusting?
Right wingers pretending they are vets.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
“I applaud REAL advancements in women’s rights. I don’t applaud the trends over the years where men are portrayed as idiots. Hollywood, for example, revels in this type of caricature. It diminishes the efforts of hard working men, husbands, fathers”
Geez you really are a parrot of right wing idiocy.
Do you ever think for yourself?
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Geez you really are a parrot of right wing idiocy.
Do you ever think for yourself?
Posted by: Ryan C | Nov 13, 2009 12:50:40 PM
Yup. Made that one up all by my lonesome. Breaks your heart doesn’t it.
Posted by: Visualize Whirled Peas | November 13, 2009, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
tierra | Nov 13, 2009 12:42:58 PM: Again Let me explain this to you! The “Special Elections” are only seated until 2010 then will be up for Election Again. And I will happily give you 2 seats now in return for 20+ in 2010. I will take that trade any day of the week. New Polls also show 52% of Independents say they Support Republicans and 32% are Supporting Democrats. In Ohio the Democratic Governor had a 30 point lead in the polls in February and it is dead even as of this month. So you spin all you want and avoid the facts and reality and I will be LMAO come November 2010.
Posted by: batesba74 | November 13, 2009, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
“Yup. Made that one up all by my lonesome. Breaks your heart doesn’t it.”
ROFLMAO!
Yeah the right wing hasn’t been fuming about the portrayal of men in Hollywood for years.
Its usually coupled with rants about the unfairness of prosecuting deadbeat Dads.
Add to your reliving Sandy Berger and I am guessing that you are running out of material.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Tierra: You may want to pay attention to the results in the NY-23rd they are getting closer and with over 10,000 absentee ballots still to be counted it could be changing. But if they dont I will still take a 2 seat loss for a 20 + seat pick up.
Posted by: batesba74 | November 13, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
But if they dont I will still take a 2 seat loss for a 20 + seat pick up.
__________________________________
Listen, I’m sorry you can’t crow about 2 congressional elections wins – but you LOST.
What you think might possibly happen 10 months from now is just guesswork. Guesswork is not unusual for right wingers but its not always right – weapons of mass destruction.
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
“Tierra: You may want to pay attention to the results in the NY-23rd they are getting closer and with over 10,000 absentee ballots still to be counted it could be changing.”
You do realize that Hoffman (who surged very late) would have to win tthe absentees by a 4 to 1 margin right?
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Ryan C: Anti-American? where would you ever get that idea? So if Some one points out facts you do not agree with you slam them as Anti- American? Let me see you have no tolerance for those who have a different opinion than you..Technically I think that makes you Un-American. Being allowed to have different opinions is part of what makes one an American! You need to grow up and learn what America is about.
Posted by: batesba74 | November 13, 2009, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
You fought for the country therefor your opinions and facts are right? I don’t think so . . .
Posted by: tierra
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No again I see you are imcompentent of reading a complete sentence, YOU said:
Mickey as soon as you are ready to go over and fight for those women with your life and your limbs, let me know. Otherwise, just keep sitting in the comfort of your home typing away.: I replied:Again Tierra makes another stupid post and shows her intelligence….. I have fought for this country… I served 3 years in a war zone both in medivac and class “A” explosives… so before you make a complete fool of yourself you should know what you are talking about. because of myself and other veterans YOU are allowed to make your idiotic post on here.. and by the way I am a member of the DAV….What have you done for your country? except spread left wing hatred
And Ryan you appear to be a juvenile “lmfao”? did you just come out of a teen room on AOL? maybe your mommy needs to see if you have ADD and get you medicated for it… as for my credentials as a veteran and a vet of foreign war.. what would you like to see? an AFSC?or if you were in another branch of service other than the AIr Force.. an MOS?.. When you grow up maybe a real man can explain these terms to you…until then how about going to the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio and reading up on aircraft tailnumber 60177 a c-141b and walk on to the field of honor.. about central of the park and read the accomplishments of my unit and others engraved in granite..That is… when you grow up and can appreciate the scarifices of the military…
Posted by: mickey maoist | November 13, 2009, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
What you think might possibly happen 10 months from now is just guesswork. Guesswork is not unusual for right wingers but its not always right – weapons of mass destruction.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 13, 2009 1:07:54 PM
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You are right, tierra. What happens 10 months from now is nothing more than guesswork. Hopefully our current administration will realize that when all their “projections” about how much better off we will be than we were under Bush in 10 months from now is also nothing more than guesswork.
I just want to point out as well…the liberal posters here seem to always have this penchant for attacking the conservative posters with the same words “you seem to have forgotten that Bush did (enter whatever here)”; “Bush put us in an “illegal” war and you right wingers just ignore that fact”; “the collapse of the economy was because of Bush”. Yet, I don’t see the conservative posters claiming that Bush was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Nobody is denying that Bush screwed up. The point is, Obama made BIG promises to alot of people to get in this office. He used Bush as his main “weapon”, telling Americans that he and his administration were going to be new, different, accountable, transparent, and so on. But what do we see now? Even BIGGER deficits, BIGGER spending, MORE partisanship than ever before, MORE job losses, MORE insecurity about our future, and a lack of communication by this president as to what his stance is on just about ANYTHING.
People were looking for the HOPE and CHANGE he promised. If they weren’t, he wouldn’t have gotten elected. And now, these people feel let down, and left out. People are very confused out here. No one understands the healthcare bill, no one knows when they’ll find a job (or lose the one they have), no one knows what decisions are going to be made in Afghanistan, no one understands how a Muslim in our military can open fire and kill 13 of our brave soldiers (when our president is so adamant to tell us how wonderful and peaceful Islam is). It’s scary when you do not know what’s coming next, and even more so when your leader doesn’t do or say anything than eases the stress.
We can go back and forth about what Bush did all day, but that isn’t solving anything. The focus needs to be on the here and now. From what I’ve seen so far, Obama, like every other politician, isn’t producing results, he’s producing even more questions.
Posted by: Shoe | November 13, 2009, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
“Yet, I don’t see the conservative posters claiming that Bush was the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
You missed the argument yesterday about Mission Accomplished.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
What you think might possibly happen 10 months from now is just guesswork. Guesswork is not unusual for right wingers but its not always right – weapons of mass destruction.
Posted by: tierra
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As we have seen with the Obama Stimulus plan…. right?
17.5% unemployment…massive terrorist attack on USA at Ft Hood..more guesswork by Obama huh?
Posted by: mickey maoist | November 13, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
“Ryan C: Anti-American? where would you ever get that idea?”
Michele Malkin thinks the civil rights are not sacrosanct and can be abridged by government.
If there ever was an anti american train of thought, there it is.
” Let me see you have no tolerance for those who have a different opinion than you.”
For people who think Japanese Internment was a good idea or that Muslims should be shut out of all facats of life here in America?
Yeah you’re right. I have no tolerance for those people.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
“As we have seen with the Obama Stimulus plan…. right?
17.5% unemployment…”
I do like the right wingers suddenly having a fondness of the U6 unemployment measure which takes into account the long time unemployed who may no longer be getting benefits and the under employed (ful time workers reduced to part time jobs).
I hope it stays because you guys avoided that measure like the plague during the Bush years.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
massive terrorist attack on USA at Ft Hood..
__________________________________
“massive”? you’re grasping at straws . . .
9/11 was massive – you might remember, Bush came back from holidaying at his Texas ranch just in time to get caught totally off guard by 9/11.
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
9/11 was massive – you might remember, Bush came back from holidaying at his Texas ranch just in time to get caught totally off guard by 9/11.
Posted by: tierra
========================================
And you think 13 dead, 30-40 injured is not massive…..are we to believe you do not take the loss of American lives seriously? Are you that full of Hate?
Posted by: mickey maoist | November 13, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
“And you think 13 dead, 30-40 injured is not massive”
In the scale of attacks we have seen, no that is not a massive terrorist attack.
That does not diminish the heinous nature of the attack or the innocence of those killed.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
That does not diminish the heinous nature of the attack or the innocence of those killed.
Posted by: Ryan C
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That we both can agree upon…….ok I’m off to the VA for PT.. everyone enjoy their day
Posted by: mickey maoist | November 13, 2009, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
are we to believe you do not take the loss of American lives seriously? Are you that full of Hate?
_____________________________________
No we are to believe you don’t understand the relative meaning of the word ‘massive’
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
No. Here’s what is on Obama’s mind.
I need to get the heck out of Dodge, because I’m too scared to face the massive backlash coming today.
Today Obama sided with the ACLU and the terrorist. Not with Americans or the victims/families of 9/11.
Cheney was right.
We are less safe because of Obama.
Terrorist everywhere are probably cheering.
Posted by: lonnie | November 13, 2009, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
“Today Obama sided with the ACLU and the terrorist. Not with Americans or the victims/families of 9/11.”
Yeah being held for trial with the death penalty is a slap on the wrist.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
1.) 9/11 terrorists being tried in civil court, across the street from the buildings and lives they destroyed.
2.) October deficit larger than the deficits of most years in all our history.
3.) $210B “doctor fix” snuck through, off the books, by Pelosi.
No wonder Obama got out of town.
Posted by: Huh? | November 13, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
Being that the 9/11 planners were captured, not arrested; how can they possibly tried in criminal court?
No miranda rights were given, normal police techniques were not used, top-secret international contacts were utilized, “enhanced interrogation” techniques were performed.
All it takes is 1 juror to find sympathy for 1 of these barbarians, IT IS NYC, and they will walk.
This administration has lost any ounce of credibility.
Posted by: enough already | November 13, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
“1.) 9/11 terrorists being tried in civil court, across the street from the buildings and lives they destroyed.”
Yeah on trial with the death penalty looming.
Imagine that America upholding its values while bringing its enemies to justice.
Posted by: Ryan C | November 13, 2009, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
I don’t understand all this contempt for New Yorkers. New York is a great city. It was New York that got hit by these guys on 9/11. It was New Yorkers that suffered first and foremost for the atrocities that these individuals committed. Why shouldn’t New Yorkers be allowed to judge them?
Sure, 9/11 effected us all. But what’s wrong with trying these guys in New York? Why are people so hostile to our system of justice in this country? Sure, a kangaroo court might sound like a great idea because it leaves no room for actual American citizens to determine the guilt of the accused…. But I thought that was the whole point of living in a free country.
I just cannot stand this absurd conservative idea that the only Americans who matter are those who live in small, rural towns in the South, where the population is white and Evangelical. People are actually worried that the jurors might be too open-minded to serve honestly? It’s a slap in the face to the very idea of America.
If you all hate the way we do things in America…. maybe you should listen to your leaders…. and just secede already. Because I am not going to see America sacrificed to people who have no fundamental concept of what our Constitutional Republic is all about.
Posted by: gobot | November 13, 2009, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Did anyone read the Republican tweets comparing Obama to the 9/11 hijackers?
Crazy, we actual have people elected to office who hate our President THAT MUCH.
It’s so sad that people want to see America fail. It’s even sadder that these people run around saying these things under the protection of the very Constitution they want to repeal for their little banana republic, kangaroo court…. Meanwhile, the President goes around protecting the Constitution, allowing his critics who regard him as absolute evil, to spew their hate speech with impunity.
A sad, sad irony…. But still, I’m glad that we don’t throw Obama’s critics in jail. Even though Republicans used to believe (from 2000-2008) that people who criticized the President belonged in jail.
Posted by: gobot | November 13, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Deciding to try the 9/11 planners in civil court is a huge mistake. The attacks of 9/11/2001 were an ACT OF WAR not a criminal act. Therefore they should be tried in a military tribunal. Trying them as criminals and in our civil court system is extremely problematic.
First of all, the American civil court system functions under the notion that it is far better that 9 guilty individuals be acquitted than to have 1 innocent individual be found guilty. The defendants were captured as “enemy combatants”–with an original intent to try them in military court–not as criminals and as such they were never Morandized. So nothing they said, even if not already considered inadmissible because of the interrogation techniques used, would likely be ruled inadmissible.
Second, some of the evidence in the cases may be classified information, and as such would require the federal government to choose whether to continue trying the case or declassify the information. NOTE: The declassified information and eventual publishing of that information from the first World Trade Center bombers greatly hindered the search for Usama bin Laden because it revealed some of the methods we were using to track him and other al Qaeda officials.
Third, the defendants’ lawyers will likely request a change of venue, claiming that their clients would never receive a fair trial in New York–or anywhere in America for that matter. A change of venue to another court within the United States would be a very real possibility.
Finally, if the cases are not tossed and eventually result in convictions, the appellate process could take years with a real possibility that the convictions could eventually be overtured on a technicality.
Posted by: James Danley | November 13, 2009, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
Gobot wrote: “Crazy, we actual have people elected to office who hate our President THAT MUCH.”
Where have you been the past eight years? What goes around comes around!
Posted by: James Danley | November 13, 2009, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
We elected a stupid pres. It’s not good for the country but it is good for PELOSI AND REID.
Posted by: talk from sf | November 13, 2009, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Where have you been the past eight years? What goes around comes around!
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There were times during his Presidency when almost 70% of Americans disapproved of the job Bush was doing – and some certainly despised him. Not surprising when 7 out of 10 people think you’re doing a poor job.
On the other hand, even with Obama holding 70% approval rating after the election, the Obama haters were already out running their smear and fear campaign – even during the election that hate and fear campaign was on.
Don’t try to kid us – we know where the real hate campaign is. We’ve seen it repeatedly, and it has a quality and a smell all its own.
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
Tierra, even when President Bush’s approval rating was nearly 90% shortly after 9/11/2001, there were some who claimed that Bush planned the 9/11 attacks, or at least allowed them to happen, in order to get us into war with Iraq. And that President Bush was the world’s number one terrorist. So the percentage of approval has nothing to do with the issue.
Posted by: James Danley | November 13, 2009, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
even when President Bush’s approval rating was nearly 90% shortly after 9/11/2001, there were some who claimed that Bush planned the 9/11 attacks
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Very few, not like the ongoing hate spamming on this site against the current President which started during the election, didn’t let up in the days right after the election and continues to this day.
Posted by: tierra | November 13, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
tierra,why do you always categorize any criticism of President Obama as hate?Telling the truth,while unpleasant isn’t hate.Some of us can see through the media screen and evaluate Mr. Obama for what he is.Why can’t you?Is it hate to wonder why someone who is supposed to be so brilliant will not release his college transcripts?Is it hate to wonder why such a brilliant mind would confuse the Congressional Medal of Honor with the Medal of Freedom, even after giving the Medal of Freedom personally to someone who he later claimed was awarded the MOH?Is it hate to question why he sat in Rev. Wright’s Church for ten years and never recognized the good Reverend’s racist,anti-Semetic drivel for what it was?You seem to have an almost religious zeal to ignore the very real flaws of this truly inexperienced man.Do you really think that affirmative action had nothing to do with his admission to college and law school?Open your eyes-the emperor has no clothes.
Posted by: Nephron | November 13, 2009, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
I don’t hate Mr. Obama, but I hate all the bad that he represents – weak, indecisive, false hopes and promises, lies, empty, flowery words.
Posted by: young_voter | November 13, 2009, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
I hope it stays because you guys avoided that measure like the plague during the Bush years.”
Don’t worry, Obama is doing his best to ensure that it does stay.
Posted by: ceeLeelee | November 13, 2009, 10:00 pm 10:00 pm
Tierra, I, personally, like President Obama.
However I am against his ideology, specifically his anti-capitalist and socialistic agenda. I am against cap and trade (there are reports that he may be considering dropping that–I hope he does) because that is nothing more than another tax and it will increase our energy costs (President Obama has admitted as much). And I am against the federal government’s takeover of our healthcare system.
Posted by: James Danley | November 13, 2009, 10:44 pm 10:44 pm