We ARE watching, Mr. President!

From the 9/11 families:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2009

Member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
will Join other 9/11 Relatives In Meeting with President Obama
at the White House to Discuss Closing Guantanamo

Contact: Valerie Lucznikowska cell: 917-757-7031
Adele Welty ph: 718-461-8837

Valerie Lucznikowska, a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, will be among the relatives of 9/11 victims meeting with President Obama at 3:30pm today in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of The White House. Ms. Lucznikowska will be delivering a letter signed by over 100 people who lost relatives on 9/11 who support the President's actions to shut down Guantanamo.

In the letter, 157 signers call for a full return to the American justice system for prosecutions of terrorism suspects so that due process can be restored. They write: "As 9/11 family members we care deeply that justice be served in these prosecutions, which are often perceived by others as vindication for our loved ones."

The full text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Mr. President,

As people who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, we support your decision to close the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and to end the Military Commissions that are being conducted there. It is our belief that these proceedings violate not only our own Constitution, but the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law, putting into question the validity of any verdict. It is especially egregious to us that the detentions, torture and trials have been conducted in the names of those family members we lost on 9/11.

We are deeply troubled that the Guantánamo proceedings have not only denied the detainees their rights as human beings, they have tainted the reputation of this country around the globe. We hope that the evidence against these defendants will be presented in Federal Court in compliance with due process of law under the Constitution. After consulting with Constitutional lawyers, we are confident that it can be done. As 9/11 family members we care deeply that justice be served in these prosecutions, which are often perceived by others as vindication for our loved ones.

We look forward to continuing our conversation with you on this issue.

Peaceful Tomorrows was founded, in 2002, by family members of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. who have united to turn their grief into action for peace and justice. Their founding mission statement called for "a multilateral, collaborative effort to bring those responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks to justice in accordance with the principles of international law."

We are ALL watching you, Mr. President. Do the right thing.

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Unfairness Doctrine

Michael Calderone, at Politico, posted a transcript of a Bill Press interview with Senator Debbie stabenow.

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

• accountability
• transparency
• responsible
• standards

Meaning what, exactly? How do those terms apply to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and other talk radio hosts? The core issue is subject & content. Mainstream talk radio discusses politics, economics, morality, sports & entertainment. It presents a mixture of fact and opinion in an entertaining format designed to attract and retain audience share. Without an audience, they would be out of business. Most attempts at building Liberal national talk show networks have failed because they were not sufficiently entertaining to attract and hold an audience.

Liberals are offended by exposure of their hypocrisy, conflicts of interest, scandals and policies. Conservative talk radio contributed to the defeat of amnesty for illegal aliens and is contributing to a significant reduction in the popularity of the "Economic Stimulus" scam.

It has been said that the antidote to offensive speech is rebuttal. But free expression implies the right to choose what we listen to. Nobody can forbid us to listen, neither can they compel us to listen. The Liberals seek to monopolize the debate by erecting artificial barrios to Conservative broadcasters.

Issues such as the "Economic Stimulus" scam which threatens to saddle the next generation with insurmountable debt without real short term economic benefit and the "National Health Care" scam which threatens to make medical treatment a rare commodity, subject to rationing, need to be carefully examined for both intended & unintended consequences and hidden costs. They should be subject to open debate, not rammed through in a hurry, unexamined, as urgent business.

The "public airwaves" shibboleth needs to be exposed. "Airwaves" are a fantasy concept. Acoustic transmission of sound operates through waves in the air. Radio does not require air, it operates by electromagnetic radiation, which is privately generated, by each broadcast station. Government's involvement should be limited to allocation of frequency ranges and setting power limits to prevent interference between transmitters. In an open free market, driven by consumer demand, there is no need for content control.

The Liberals seek to outlaw effective opposition to their power grabbing schemes and lock themselves in power for the long term. Their "fairness doctrine" is not about fairness, it is about excluding their opponents from the debate.

In a free and open market, without government interference, the listeners will decide what they want to hear and broadcasters will either provide it or lose market share & advertising revenue and change format / content or go out of business. In a closed, regulated market, listeners will either accept the government approved drivel or turn off the radio. Without full and open debate, the Liberals will be able to impose their fascist plans without effective opposition.

“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” George Washington

If that is not what you want, now is the time for you to get organized and make your voice heard. Let Nancy Pelosi, Debbie Stabenow & Chuck Schumer know that their current course will lead them out of office in the next election cycle.

There is another factor to consider: conflict of interest. Senator Stabenow is married to a man involved in a major Liberal talk radio failure.

Athans, co-founder and former CEO of Democracy Radio, is an interesting figure who may stand to benefit if the federal government mandates the sale or breakup of media properties. Athans, who also served as an official of the liberal Air America radio network, is the husband of Michigan Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow. He developed and produced the liberal Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller radio shows. [Cliff Kincaid - The Liberal Plan to Take Over Talk Radio]

Do you want the voices of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin and other Conservatives to be available on the radio? Now is the time to take action, before power mad Liberals railroad censorship through the Congress & FCC. Sign and promote the MRC's petition in support of the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

This subject is hot, on the back burner right now, ready to be brought forward at any time. Yesterday at 5:21 p.m., someone in the office of the Sargent at Arms of the United States Senate viewed snooper.wordpress.com/2008/06/17/broadcaster-freedom-act/. Please act without delay. Sign the petition linked above. Then go to http://congress.org, enter your zip code and click the Federal Officials link. Tell your Representative & Senators that you want the Broadcaster Freedom Act passed and enacted into law immediately. Tell them that your next vote will depend on how they vote on this bill.

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GITMO, 9/11 families, and trials

*cross-posted from Assoluta Tranquillita*

Remember a few days ago when Judge Col., James Pohl refused to halt the trial of USS Cole suspect Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the 2000 Navy destroyer bombing that killed 17 U.S. sailors in Yemen? It was one of my B*N*S*N pieces last week.

That story is here:

Judge refuses to delay Gitmo detainee's trial

Rejection of Obama request could complicate effort to close prison

updated 3:46 p.m. PT, Thurs., Jan. 29, 2009

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A military judge at Guantanamo on Thursday rejected a White House request to suspend a hearing for a USS Cole bombing suspect, creating an unexpected challenge for the Obama administration as it reviews the U.S. war-crimes trials process.

The judge, Army Col. James Pohl, said his decision was difficult but necessary to protect "the public interest in a speedy trial." The ruling came in the case against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the 2000 Navy destroyer bombing that killed 17 U.S. sailors in Yemen.

It seemed to take the Pentagon completely by surprise.... [Go read the rest here.]

It seems the President was not happy with the Colonel's decision, and just now comes this story:

President Obama Likely to Order Military Commission Charges Dropped Against Terrorist Suspect Al-Nashiri Friday

February 05, 2009 5:46 PM

ABC News has learned that on Friday, President Obama will likely order the Department of Defense's Military Commission to withdraw charges against terrorist suspect Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. The charges may later be reinstated in a military commission or pursued in a civilian court. Al-Nashiri will remain in custody.

The announcement will not be made until after President Obama meets with the families of victims of terrorist attacks on 9/11 and on the U.S.S. Cole, where he will assure them that this step is not being done to be lenient towards al-Nashiri. The move is being done to stop the continued prosecution of al-Nashiri in a court system that his administration may ultimately find illegitimate, not for any other reason, sources told ABC News.

President Obama has expressed concern about whether the military commissions set up by the Bush administration are the proper way to go forward in pursuing charges against the U.S. detainees, and on January 22 he asked all the judges supervising the trials of detainees for a continuance of 120 days, so a team of administration officials could review the best way forward.

In almost the cases, that continuance request was granted. But last week the judge supervising the al-Nashiri trial -- Army Col. James L. Pohl, the chief judge at the Guantanamo Bay war crimes court -- said he would not heed President Obama's request for a 120-day continuance, or delay, in prosecutions of terrorism suspects. Pohl called the president's request "not reasonable" and not "in the interests of justice."

The arraignment of al-Nashiri is scheduled for Monday, February 9.

Al-Nashiri has been identified as the former Persian Gulf Operations Chief for al Qaeda and the mastermind of the attack on the U.S.S. Cole. In March 2007 he testified in military court that he only confessed to certain crimes because he has been tortured for the previous five years.

Asked for reaction to the news, Commander Kirk Lippold (Ret.), former Commander aboard the U.S.S. Cole when it was bombed on October 12, 2000, told ABC News that "I am concerned about the President considering dropping the charges because it may be indicative that the president does not intend to follow the military commissions process which has undergone extensive legal and legislative review."

"For some reason the administration says what's been expressed through the legislature is not sufficient," Lippold said of the military commissions. "They need to allow the process to go forward."

The 26-year Navy veteran said he found the decision to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay "disappointing," but he seemed willing to hear the president out...[read more on this here]

I have actually been following a story today of the 9/11 families and the USS Cole survivors families expecting to meet the president at the White house today:

OBAMA INVITES 9/11 KIN TO WHITE HOUSE

By CARL CAMPANILE

Last updated: 4:58 pm
February 5, 2009
Posted: 12:52 pm
February 5, 2009

President Obama - under fire for suspending trials of suspected terrorists and phasing out Guantanamo military prison in Cuba - has invited family members of victims killed on 9/11 to the White House for a meeting tomorrow.

The White House sit down is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room.

Attendees told The Post they will urge Obama to swiftly prosecute the terrorists responsible for the evil 9/11 slaughter.

Relatives said they will grill the new president over his controversial plans to close Gitmo and temporarily suspend the trials against Gitmo detainees - including those who bragged of plotting to blow up the World Trade Center.

Retired Deputy Fire Chief Jim Riches - whose firefighter son Jimmy died at Ground Zero - was ticked off when Obama ordered those actions. Riches last month visited Gitmo and attended the trial of Khalid Sheikh Muhammed and other alleged 9/11 plotters, who stood up and admitted their guilt.

"We saw these people face to face. I want to tell the president what happened at Gitmo. That these detainees were laughing about what they did. I wish these trials were on TV. Americans would be outraged."

"I don't want what happened to my son happen to anyone else," Riches said.

Riches said he was pleased that the White House agreed to meet 9/11 families and hopes the president shows up at the meeting. It was unclear if he would personally attend the staff meeting.

Debra Burlingame, whose brother, Charles, was the pilot of hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 that crashed into the Pentagon, said she was eager to hear from the new commander-in-chief.

"I'm hoping it's a substantative meeting," she said. (here)

I have checked the White House site for mention of this. Apart from the Press Secretary Robert Gibbs repeatedly answering questions with "I don't know", or general bafflegab (you can read today's briefing here if you are having trouble sleeping tonight,) there was no mention of this meeting taking place today.

From all I have read today, the 9/11 families and the USS Cole families are very upset about the plans to stall the military trials, and the closing of GITMO.

One I read:

9/11 Families Urge Obama to Continue Guantanamo Terror Trials

Three families of firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 want "a firm commitment" from Obama to prosecute suspects in the 2001 attacks.

NEW YORK -- Three families of firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 want to meet with President Barack Obama to urge him to reverse his decision to suspend the trial of five detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who admit roles in the terror attacks.

In a meeting with reporters at their attorney's office on Sunday, the families deplored what they called "delays and confusion" in the former Bush administration's effort to prosecute suspects in the 2001 attacks, which killed about 3,000 people, saying they want "a firm commitment" that the same process won't continue under Obama.

"Seven and a half years is a very long time for 3,000 families to wait," said Maureen Santora, whose son was among the 343 firefighters killed when the twin towers collapsed after being struck by two hijacked jetliners. Nearly 2,800 people were killed at the World Trade Center, another 184 when a third hijacked jetliner struck the Pentagon and 40 when a fourth plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pa. The totals don't include the 19 hijackers.

Along with Santora and her husband, Al Santora, a retired deputy fire chief, the delegation included retired deputy chief Jim Riches and his wife, Rita Riches, whose son was killed on Sept. 11, and Sally Regenhard, whose son also perished at the trade center.

The families' position was spelled out in a brief letter mailed Sunday to Obama, requesting a meeting "at your earliest convenience."

There was no immediate comment from the White House on Sunday...(more here at FOX )

Chuck Norris has some opinions on where GITMO should be IF BO insists on closing it:

Top 10 Reasons Gitmo Should Be on Alcatraz

by Chuck Norris

02/03/2009

When I heard about the possibility that the terrorist detention camp at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (Gitmo) will move to Alcatraz Island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, I got excited. Ideas from economic stimuli to renewed patriotism started flooding my mind.


Here are the top 10 reasons I believe Gitmo should be moved to Alcatraz:


10. D-Block. Not the hip-hop group, but the row of solitary confinement cells at Alcatraz. Need I say more? (Of course, "Gitmo and the Golden Gates" might make a hit rap song, too.)


9. It is rumored that "Dirty Harry" (Clint Eastwood's notoriously tough San Francisco cop character) still roams the streets with his .44 Magnum. Would terrorists really try to escape if he were across the bay? Do they feel that lucky? Well, do they?


8. It would give Congress something better on which to spend those hundreds of billions of dollars in bailout money than the absolute waste of more Wall Street bonuses and partisan pork.


7. My buddy the Governator needs a bailout, and the new "Hasta la Vista, Alcatraz" tour could be a gigantic boost for California tourism.


6. It's about time for a sequel to "Escape From Alcatraz," called "Bet Your A-- That You Better Stay on 'The Rock.'"... [go read the rest of this here]

Need I tell you that Nancy Pelosi has something to say about Alcatraz?:

Pelosi Shrugs off Alcatraz as Possible Terror Detention Facility

Republicans opposing an Obama administration order to close Guantanamo Bay prison facility within a year suggest sending terror detainees to House Speaker Pelosi's district.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday shrugged off Republican suggestions that the federal government reopen Alcatraz prison in her San Francisco district to house detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

President Obama this week signed an executive order calling for the closure of the prison at Guantanamo within the year. Republican Rep. Bill Young then suggested to White House counsel Greg Craig that the prisoners who could not be released back to their home countries or sent to a third country be put up in "the Rock," the famous military installation and prison that closed down in 1963 and is now part of the National Park Service.

Asked whether that was a serious proposal, Pelosi said, "It is -- no."

"Perhaps he's not visited Alcatraz," Pelosi said of Young while displaying little sense of humor. "Alcatraz is a tourist attraction. It's a prison that is now sort of like a -- it's a national park."

That explanation didn't stop House Minority Leader John Boehner from repeating the suggestion on Sunday, making that point that closing down Guantanamo by year's end may not be the best plan considering the recidivism rate of terrorist detainees is about 12 percent.

"If liberals believe they ought to go, maybe we ought to open Alcatraz," Boehner, R-Ohio, told NBC "Meet the Press." Being reminded that Alcatraz is a national park, Boehner responded, "It's very secure."...[more here]

Yes, Alcatraz would be very secure, and with Chuck patrolling? Never mind, we'll always have Harry - Reid that is. No such thing as NIMBY for him.

The insanity continues.

[Update: MoveAmericaForward has something to say on this, via Michelle Malkin here:

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Mitchell is coming to stay

By Findalis

It seems that special Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, wants to reside in Jerusalem. At least keep an office there.

US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, fresh from his first trip to the region this past week, will be headed back at the end of the month.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who might also make a visit sometime in the near future, announced his return trip at an event welcoming him back Tuesday.

Clinton described Mitchell's efforts as consolidating the cease-fire, and praised Egypt for its role in working on the issue, with an eye toward an eventual settlement.

"We are looking to work with all of the parties to try to help them make progress toward a negotiated agreement that would end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, create an independent and viable Palestinian state in both the West Bank and Gaza, and provide Israel with the peace and security that it has sought," Clinton said, also stressing the need to address current humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

For there to be a cease-fire, the PalArabs have to stop firing rockets. Something they have refused to do. Cease-fires are one-sided to them.

Not for the first time since the "ceasefire" with Hamas terrorists went into effect two weeks ago, Western Negev residents awoke at around 7:00 a.m. to the wail of the Color Red alert siren as another attack was launched from the region.

Within seconds, a long-range Grad-type Katyusha rocket slammed into a residential center in the center of Ashkelon, landing between a group of buildings. Ashkelon is the 13th largest city in the country.

One woman was lightly injured in the attack, and three others suffered severe emotional trauma. They were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in the city.

According to an eye-witness, "the entire back part of the bus," referring to a line #5 bus in the city, was damaged by the blast just after setting out from the Central Bus Station. Several cars in the area were also damaged, and windows in nearby buildings were shattered.

Initial reports that classes were cancelled for the morning in the city's schools were denied by Mayor Shlomo Cohen, who said city officials would meet during the morning to determine further action. He noted that there was a lot of confusion in the city due to the attack. "Although there was certainly an air raid siren to alert people, there was no prior warning [from the home front command] of an impending attack," he noted.

Monday evening, Gaza terrorists fired a short-range Kassam rocket sounding off the Color Red siren in the Sha'ar HaNegev region and in the Gaza Belt town of Sderot. The missile hit a kibbutz in the Sha'ar HaNegev region, but caused no damage. No one was injured in the attack.

"We didn't finish the job," complained a listener bitterly on the local Radio Darom. "We didn't finish the job because of the elections, and this is the result. Motivation among the troops and the people was very high, we could have done it, but it didn't get done. And we still have attacks."

So Mr. Mitchell, when are these rocket attacks going to end? The Israel of 2009 is not the Israel of 2000 that you knew. It is leaner, stronger and more willing to fight for what it believes right.

Dear Senator Mitchell,

We were very happy to see you arrive and wished you a productive visit. A long time has passed since you left us with the report named after you, in May 2001, and we wish to inform you that we sobered up since then. We’ve sobered up greatly.

That report was complied several months after the outbreak of the second Intifada, when buses were exploding on our streets and suicide bombers were detonating themselves in our coffees shops. We were helpless at the time and Ariel Sharon’s new government did not know how to cope with the terror.

You arrived and left us with an orderly heritage and plan for resolving our problems with the Palestinians, who less than a year earlier refused Ehud Barak’s generous offer in Camp David and embark on the murderous Intifada.

Along with your colleagues, you declared that violence will not resolve the region’s problem and that a mechanism must be created to put an end to violence, rebuild trust, and renew the diplomatic talks aimed at bringing up a permanent agreement and peace between the sides. However, you did not find any evidence proving that Arafat and the Palestinian Authority planned or initiated the “uprising.” If you wish, we can provide you plenty of such evidence today.

Oddly, you compared the terrorists and their victims, while demanding the halt of violence on both sides. Back then already we were surprised to discover that you immorally adopted the same attitude to raging Palestinian terror and to Israel’s response, aimed at curbing and averting terrorism

In that report, you also demanded to curb the “natural growth” in the settlements, at the heart of the Land of Israel, as if the settlers’ babies were the terrorists preventing peace.

Your successor, CIA Director George Tenet, detailed the recommendation and wrote that the Palestinians must completely end the violence, detain terrorists, cooperate with Israel in thwarting terror, siege illegal weapons, and prevent arms smuggling. We won’t deal with all the other recommendations here, yet we wish to inform you that none of these Palestinian obligations was met.

Ceasefires blew up in our faces. However, we Israelis learned a lesson.

In the IDF we say that “safety instructions are written in blood.” You should know that this lesson cost us plenty of blood. We listened to you, we tried many ceasefires, and all of them blew up in our faces.

For a long time, too long, we refused to admit the failure of the Oslo process. However, by now almost every child in Israel knows that Oslo failed. We learned the hard way that Fatah and Abbas cannot be trusted and that they cannot be “given guns,” just like the Israeli rightist camp shouted 15 years ago.

The reports prepared by you and by Tenet are premised on the fundamentally flawed assumption that the Palestinians will fight terror, and that Arafat or Abbas’ troops will prevent the launching of Qassam rockets from Tulkarem to Tel Aviv or the mortar attacks from Qalqiliya on Kfar Saba.

Well, you should know that this never really happened. In the few cases where terrorists were detained, they were jailed for a brief period and later released in line with the “revolving door” policy. All those times it was done just to pretend, in order to appease you, the Americans, and only to deceive us, the innocent Israelis who so badly want calm.

We tried in the past the brilliant idea you proposed – “joint patrols” by IDF forces and Palestinian security forces. These patrols ended when Palestinian forces firing at their Israeli “colleagues.”

Our sobering up process continued when our Navy stopped the Karin A arms smuggling ship that was about to transfer tons of explosives and machine guns to Fatah “moderates” in the Palestinian Authority, so that they can defeat the Israeli enemy.

So, George, we first ask you to examine the results of the previous ideas you proposed. Meanwhile, we had no choice, and in operation Defensive Shield the IDF restored our security control in the towns of Judea and Samaria.

Our sobering up process was long and painful. It also included a rain of Qassams and Grad rockets fired at all southern towns in the wake of the Road Map and the disengagement, which led to the recent war in Gaza.

We hope that during your visit here you were reacquainted with reality and with the sobering up process we personally experienced, so that you won’t force us to repeat the mistakes of the past.

And Israel is will willingly restart Operation Cast Lead in order to finish the job, your presence in the nation or not.

It is just too bad that Mitchell and his team have been bought and paid for by the Saudis. Neither he nor his team is impartial, they are will definitely favor the Palestinians and try to force Israel into concessions that it cannot make. But this is Obama's plan all along. The destruction of the State of Israel. I just pray that Israel elects a leader with the balls to stand up to Mitchell, Clinton and Obama.

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Where's the even-handed President now?

Remember how the world blamed Israel for FINALLY defending themselves against continuous rocket attacks from Hamas? Remember the deafening silence when it was proved that Hamas was using the school as a base from which to fire the rockets? You know, the same incident that the world headlines screamed that Israel was deliberating targeting, killing children and innocent civilians? No? Guess we forget already about Hamas stealing ambulances which Israel was sending into Gaza. Oh, and the outrage has been deafening about Hamas' interpretation of "ceasefire", as they continue to rocket Israel. Never mind.

Today, comes this:

Hamas Police Steal Humanitarian Aid from UNRWA Warehouse

by Hana Levi Julian

(IsraelNN.com) Hamas police raided an UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) warehouse in Gaza Tuesday evening, stealing thousands of blankets and hundreds of food parcels from local staff at gunpoint....

There is more over at Assoluta Tranquillita, plus other posts too! Go over here to read this one. Second post down, (with a link to Israeli Soldier's Mother, too!)

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