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    Senate rejects GOP effort on terrorist trials

    By DONNA CASSATA - Associated Press | AP – Fri, Oct 21, 2011

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted early Friday to reject a Republican effort to prohibit the United States from prosecuting foreign terrorist suspects in civilian courts, handing a victory to President Barack Obama.

    By 52-47, senators turned aside a proposal by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (AY-aht), R-N.H., that would have forced such trials to occur before military tribunals or commissions. The Obama administration has fought to continue bringing such cases in federal courts, with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Attorney General Eric Holder writing Senate leaders on Thursday that the measure would deprive them of a potent weapon against terrorism and increase the risk of terrorists escaping justice.

    Obama has had numerous clashes with Congress over the handling of war on terror detainees. Congress has voted to prevent the transfer of detainees from the naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the U.S. Obama has sought to close that detention facility but has been opposed by Republicans and some Democratic lawmakers.

    Ayotte said it would be dangerous to let terrorists exercise the protections against self-incrimination and other rights of civilian courts that they might use to avoid surrendering critical information to investigators. Republicans cited last November's acquittal by a federal jury in New York of all but one of hundreds of charges brought against Ahmed Ghailani for his role in destroying two U.S. embassies in Africa, in which 224 people were killed.

    "Enemy combatants are not common criminals who just robbed the liquor store," she said, adding, "The priority has to be on gathering information to protect Americans."

    Democrats said since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 10 years ago, 300 terrorist cases have been successfully prosecuted in federal courts, compared to just three before military commissions. They also pointed to last week's guilty plea in a federal court in Detroit by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab for trying to destroy a jetliner with a bomb in his underwear and the FBI's successful interrogation of Abdulmutallab.

    "Give the president the power he needs to keep America safe," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.

    Ayotte fell well short of the 60 votes she needed for her amendment to prevail. The vote came as the Senate debated deep into the night over a wide-ranging spending bill that it will not complete until it returns next month after a one-week recess. .

     
    • Douglas
      Douglas  •  7 mths ago
      Congress is going on another recess? They just got back from vacation. Fire the lazy bastards.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  7 mths ago
      Enemy combatants are NOT American citizens. I don't understand how this is even an issue. They should NOT be tried in Federal courts.
      • Fukushima Prefecture
        Fukushima Prefecture 7 mths ago
        "All persons are entitled to due process of law." Go back to school and take sixth grade civics again.
      • asfasdf
        asfasdf 7 mths ago
        Dear P-O-S,

        1st: not sure where you are getting that quote (please reread your source before responding)

        2nd: military trial = due process
      • xx'x
        xx'x 7 mths ago
        "pos" are the right initials...jacka$$
    • Andrew PW
      Andrew PW  •  Mililani, United States  •  7 mths ago
      I would post a factual comment, but what's the point? You can't change anyone's mind on here anyway. Nobody is open to anyone else's point of views.
      • Christopher
        Christopher 7 mths ago
        that's not true...what is your point? The facts are a cilvil trial is expensive and not a slam dunk to prosecutre the terrorist and he gets a platform to speak out his hatred ! A military tribunal is more controlled and financially responsible and we get to rid ourselves of the terrorist without giving them a platform, The out of contriol lawers, ACLU are far left Liberal activist because they make their money from this legal charade...simple... I want the terrorist killers tried in a militaery tribunal...I do not agree with Obama or the democrats on this issue..and I plan to vote in 2012 to resolve many of the obstructionist issues the Democrats have pulled off in the last two years. That's the fact Andrew PW
      • Fred
        Fred 7 mths ago
        Christopher, you mentioned the word obstructionist,are you really paying attention what is going on in congress? The Republicans are blocking everything that has to do with moving this country forward and putting people back to work like teachers,firefighters, policeman, and fixing up our infrastructure.What so wrong about spending taxpayers money wright here in our own home instead of giving our money to countries that hat us. People need jobs not handouts,in turn they will pay taxes put money back into the system.Christopher! tell me my friend,what is so wrong with that? People are hurting and hungry! Thanks to non other than greed.We need to join together as Americans,don't you think?
      • CJ
        CJ 7 mths ago
        I would have to agree here, extreme partisanship is coming from both sides of the aisle these days. Childish rants and the intelligence, or lack thereof, it belies seem to be the norm regarding comments. Then again, it might be my own fault for holding others to a higher standard and expecting at least some sort of serious exchange of ideas that don't involve the typical lib-con bickering. It's like watching two children who never learned to share fight over a toy....
    • QWAZZY
      QWAZZY  •  Washington, United States  •  7 mths ago
      Attorney General Eric Holder writing Senate leaders on Thursday that the measure would deprive them of a potent weapon against terrorism and increase the risk of terrorists escaping justice.
      What a friggin joke. I would bet anything Eric Holder has turned loose more terrorist than any military tribunals or commissions.
    • OK
      OK  •  Harrisburg, United States  •  7 mths ago
      We are becoming what the founding fathers rejected. Those who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them.
    • Rich-D
      Rich-D  •  Philadelphia, United States  •  7 mths ago
      U.S. Constitution: Fourteenth Amendment
      `
      Section. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
      `
      NOTE: The Constitution has never applied to enemy combatants operating outside of the jurisdiction of the United States
      • Fukushima Prefecture
        Fukushima Prefecture 7 mths ago
        ""nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection""of the laws. What is a person? It doesn't say citizen. Try again.
      • ridgeman66
        ridgeman66 7 mths ago
        yes it did, read it again...plainly states citizen..typical liberal interpetation...make it read as you want it to.
      • Louis Cipher
        Louis Cipher 7 mths ago
        If you want to try it that way 'Plate of Soup', then you should also note that a good case can be made that the 14th applies to STATES, not the FEDERAL Government. And because these are Federal Prisoners not state, its a moot point.
    • smart
      smart  •  Minneapolis, United States  •  7 mths ago
      dangerous to let terrorists exercise the protections against self-incrimination and other rights of civilian courts that they might use to avoid surrendering critical information to investigators. Republicans cited last November's acquittal by a federal jury in New York of all but one of hundreds of charges brought against Ahmed Ghailani for his role in destroying two U.S. embassies in Africa, in which 224 people were killed.

      "Enemy combatants are not common criminals who just robbed the liquor store," she said, adding, "The priority has to be on gathering information to protect Americans."
      • A Yahoo! User 7 mths ago
        I already read that in the story. What's your point?
    • Thomas
      Thomas  •  7 mths ago
      Our Constitution and our justice system afford rights and protections for AMERICAN CITIZENS. Enemy combatants (for you libs that means non-americans who are trying to kill us) are not legally entitled to those rights and protections. They should be tried in military courts and disposed of. King Barack Hussein and his cronies are ignorant. This is only a victory for those people (foreign and domestic) who hate or resent the American way of life...which, I guess, describes this current socialist administration.
      • VeteranGamer
        VeteranGamer 7 mths ago
        You, sir, are a bigot and an idiot. "Disposed of"? You sound exactly like the Nazis. Are the courts thus only for while males of northern European descent, so you can "dispose of" minorities next?
      • RobB
        RobB 7 mths ago
        @VeteranGamer - Typical racist comment
      • Fukushima Prefecture
        Fukushima Prefecture 7 mths ago
        Article V, constitution of the US, "No PERSON shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law." Where does it say citizen? Where does the constitution provide for military courts? You need to quit making things up!
    • Fukushima Prefecture
      Fukushima Prefecture  •  7 mths ago
      @Baron..."""If you are a suspected terrorists of any nation including USA you do not have the rights to our court system."""Show us where that law or statute is? We have a Constitution that says "All persons are entitled to due process of law" Quit making things up, America hater!
    • Douglas
      Douglas  •  Clemson, United States  •  7 mths ago
      Yeah, let's bring these deadly terrorists onto American soil and deal with them in civilian courts and house them in civilian prisons (only in the districts where the democrats that voted against this bill live).
      Thanks again, democrats!
    • Gene
      Gene  •  7 mths ago
      What a comment by Durbin. Give Obama the tools to keep america safe. He is taking america apart block by block and you want to give him more tools.
    • .45
      .45  •  7 mths ago
      This is a joke…right? These people are fighting a war against us. Since when does that qualify them for the right to be brought to American soil so they can be treated with the luxury of a criminal trial in front of one of our panty waist judges?
    • Upyours Government
      Upyours Government  •  7 mths ago
      Can we please return to a laser like focus on the economy? the economy is going down in flames and the government is doing everything except address it
    • BOP_Mojo
      BOP_Mojo  •  Shreveport, United States  •  7 mths ago
      what happens when those crazy wall street protesters decide they want to do away with the president are ya gonna just let it happen here since our president thinks it is such a good idea to violently overthrow the government and kill the leaders. well that is what this is ,same thing. or would our president start killing americans to keep his power. this all stinks of hypocracy.
    • Gary
      Gary  •  7 mths ago
      We bring the terrorist here for trial. They get convicted and sentenced to federal prison. May I ask who picks up the tab for their lawyers and room and board? Obama - no; Holder - no; Democrats - no; Republicans - no; Bingo - we the tax payers provided them with things that they have never dreamed of. Hell with the virgins, they get more than our elderly and poor get. Thank you our government for looking out for the tax payers.....
    • aeneuman
      aeneuman  •  7 mths ago
      once again the party of "NO" the democrats, block a common sense bill only to pander to the aclu and the extreme left wing of their party.
    • Politicians all lie
      Politicians all lie  •  7 mths ago
      democrats protecting terrorists at the expense of american citizens....
    • Dean
      Dean  •  Augusta, United States  •  7 mths ago
      The Democratis Senators from NY were opposed to trying them in NYC and now have voted against the bill. It's all politics. You cannot believe much of what they say and even what they do is suspect because the next time they might do the opposite.
    • Michael
      Michael  •  7 mths ago
      How funny, the democrats had a cow when Holder suggested New York city. Now I guess it's OK. How do these slimeballs sleep at night? I think they should all be prossicuted in DC.
    • hadenoughyet
      hadenoughyet  •  Chicago, United States  •  7 mths ago
      President Obozo's henchmen, screw over america once again.
     Post a comment
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