John Brennan
As you know – I typically will only comment against one or two statements made by one of our bumbling political bureaucrats – but – John Brennan’s entire post is so ridiculous that I am printing it in it’s entirety!
Why is it ridiculous?
First – with a few name changes - it could have been written during the Bush administration. Almost every “excuse” you give – was utilized by the Bush administration – and the Democrats LOVED criticizing & screaming at Bush for it. From the expense of the War on Terror, to the handling of these so called enemy combatants to the lack of information flowing to congress. Now that it’s YOUR responsibility – what Bush did wasn’t so off the wall now…is it?
Second - and this is what REALLY get’s me – Bush and his administration, time and time again stated that it was better to fight the terrorists in their home town – then in ours! Of course, the Democrats never bought into that – but here they are, saying the exact same thing – and expecting everyone to simply agree? Do you have some kind of amnesia on this issue – or do you think you came up with the idea all by yourself? I’ve got news for you – you heard it over and over and over again during the Bush administration! So again – now that it’s YOUR responsibility – for some reason the same “story” is justifiable.
Third - I think you misspoke when stating that there is VERY little difference between a civil court and a military court. I seem to remember that there are some very BIG differences in the way state secrets are handled, the kind of information that the defense is allowed access to, the coverage in and outside the court room…penalties, the votes necessary to obtain particular verdicts…etc, etc, etc…
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh – I almost forgot…from what I understand – there is this cost thing! You’re offering the city who get’s the trials $250 million dollars per year to cover expenses! With an expectation of the trials lasting 4 years – that’s quite a chunk of change!!! Where as if you held the trials at…oh…I don’t know…let’s just say…GITMO…the cost would be $50,000.00 for ALL of the trials – combined!
No difference huh?
Last and not least – Mr. Brennan states – and I quote…
This administration’s efforts have disrupted dozens of terrorist plots against the homeland and been responsible for killing and capturing hundreds of hard-core terrorists, including…
REALLY? Sir – I have no doubt that our men & women in uniform have been doing a great job over there – but tell me – were are keeping these “hundreds” of hard core terrorists? Obviously NOT at Gitmo…and I haven’t heard of any other prisons opening up their hearts & doors to these enemy combatants…so please tell me…where are they? Are WE interrogating them? Or if in a foreign country – is that country interrogating them?
You do realize that IF they are being held in a foreign country – and they are tortured – that by the Democrats interpretation of the law – that the U.S. Government is liable / responsible for any harm? Or did you forget all about that when you moved to DC?
So, all in all – I personally don’t think you or the administration needs a lecture on the topic – however, I do believe that you need to stop drinking from the the well of those wishing to re-write history. You obviously know the facts – you state portions of them very well – however, you misrepresent the surrounding factors, leave them out, and/or simply gloss over some VERY important surrounding issues. You’d make a very good lawyer for the defense – but don’t volunteer for any lie detector tests any time soon.
Please, please realize how foolish you and the Obama administration look, when using the tragedies & tactics AND the same excuses as the previous administration – yet you claim to be different, better, more “global” in your thought processes and actions. Sorry to have to tell you, but from where we are sitting – it’s simply SOSDD!
So with that – I give you John Brennan, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counter terrorism – showing everyone in the world just what he knows about the War & Terrorism.
We need no lectures
Administration disrupts terrorists’ plots, takes fight to them abroad.
By John Brennan
Politics should never get in the way of national security. But too many in Washington are now misrepresenting the facts to score political points, instead of coming together to keep us safe.
Immediately after the failed Christmas Day attack, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was thoroughly interrogated and provided important information. Senior counter terrorism officials from the White House, the intelligence community and the military were all actively discussing this case before he was Mirandized and supported the decision to charge him in criminal court.
The most important breakthrough occurred after Abdulmutallab was read his rights, a long-standing FBI policy that was reaffirmed under Michael Mukasey, President Bush’s attorney general. The critics who want the FBI to ignore this long-established practice also ignore the lessons we have learned in waging this war: Terrorists such as Jose Padilla and Saleh al-Mari did not cooperate when transferred to military custody, which can harden one’s determination to resist cooperation.
It’s naive to think that transferring Abdulmutallab to military custody would have caused an outpouring of information. There is little difference between military and civilian custody, other than an interrogator with a uniform. The suspect gets access to a lawyer, and interrogation rules are nearly identical.
Would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid was read his Miranda rights five minutes after being taken off a plane he tried to blow up. The same people who criticize the president today were silent back then.
Cries to try terrorists only in military courts lack foundation. There have been three convictions of terrorists in the military tribunal system since 9/11, and hundreds in the criminal justice system — including high-profile terrorists such as Reid and 9/11 plotter Zacarius Moussaoui.
This administration’s efforts have disrupted dozens of terrorist plots against the homeland and been responsible for killing and capturing hundreds of hard-core terrorists, including senior leaders in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and beyond — far more than in 2008. We need no lectures about the fact that this nation is at war.
Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda. Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. They will, however, be dismantled and destroyed, by our military, our intelligence services and our law enforcement community. And the notion that America’s counter terrorism professionals and America’s system of justice are unable to handle these murderous miscreants is absurd.
John Brennan is Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.
This article original appeared February 09, 2010 in USA TODAY Editorial Pages
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