I woke up this morning trying to figure out who I could call to ask for leniency for Osama bin Ladens driver. A man with a 4th grade education. Who the governments only witness was the man who interrogated him. A defendant who openly wept when showed the pictures of the devastation of Sept 11, 2001. He has been held at Gitmo for 7 years.
I didnt think there was a chance in hell he could get a fair trial. But when I got up this evening the news was on and the story was that he got a sentence of 5 and a half years with 5 years and 1 month credit for time served.
Today was a victory for justice in the USA. It validated those 4 words above the doors to the Supreme Court. "Equal Justice Under Law."
Today in our own eyes and in the eyes of those across this planet we showed compassion and the true meaning of Justice in the USA.
This was one of those times when I am happy to say I was wrong. Justice was served and served well.
Today that old pride that comes with Born in the USA came creeping back and it felt good.
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Comments: 46
I was just reading this news story over at:
www.edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/07/hamdan.trial/?iref=mpstoryview
"After Salim Haman serves his sentence, he could still be kept as an enemy combatant at Guantanamo Bay.
He has been imprisoned at the U.S. military detention center since 2002 and has been credited with 61 months served. That means that he has five months left to serve.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said after the verdict Wednesday that Hamdan was now a "convicted war criminal" and that he was "no longer considered an enemy combatant."
But on Thursday, Whitman said Hamdan's status would revert to "enemy combatant" when his sentence is completed.
As an enemy combatant, Hamdan can be held indefinitely by the United States, although he would be eligible to appeal to an administrative review board to determine whether his status as an enemy combatant should "
I'm not trying to rain on your victory parade.......but let's just wait another five months and see what happens.................
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I'm skeptical about the whole thing, and I've already told you why, Carol.
I just don't want to make such a statement over the threads. Woooo oooo oooo.
Strange how easily he got off, huh?
Strange how some people get flown out of the Country during a 9/11 disaster.
. . . yep, and "justice for all" . . . of Osama's people.
Whatever in the WORLD would cause you to think that someone as cute, innocent, harmless, and as adorable as you would be on someone's list, huh?
You're starting to sound like Carol Channing.
Of course, if america votes to keep everything the same rather than opt for change, I fear this man will rot in a cage for at least the next four years.
T Shirts that say "Free Salim Hamdam"
Send the net profits to his family so he can get a new start in life.
Unfortunately, doing this would result in charges of financially supporting terrorism.
I agree with Nee also though, the whole thing is fishy fishy fishy fish! Maybe not this trial but the fly the Bin Laden's out of the country while all other planes are unable to fly at all after their sn is just believed to have been responsible for over 3000 deaths just doesn't smell right at all. The only trial I would like to see is the one for GWB and the boys, on war crimes and yes possibly even treason!!!
"Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said after the verdict Wednesday that Hamdan was now a "convicted war criminal" and that he was "no longer considered an enemy combatant."
But on Thursday, Whitman said Hamdan's status would revert to "enemy combatant" when his sentence is completed.
As an enemy combatant, Hamdan can be held indefinitely by the United States"
I understand your point Carol, it's just that the only thing the US Government has delivered is a Kangaroo court and Justice Denied.
The only hope this man has of obtaining true American justice is with the election of a President who believes in American justice and the rule of law.
If you want to help this man, the best way to do that is to ensure John McCain doesn't become our next President.
8 yrs ago I could have easily voted for McCain over Bush but that was then and this now and his time has passed.
I would have preferred my candidate to have been Senator Clinton but now I will actively support Senator Obama.
What is so tragic is that no one in this administration really cared to realize that cant kill or defeat an idea with a gun. But maybe they did realize that fact and just didnt care.
ps - your writing is getting better every day Ms. Carol ~j
One thing left -- close Gitmo.