Obama Justice Department Rejects Mitch McConnell's Valid Idea To Try Bowling Green, Kentucky's Iraqi Al Qaeda Suspects At GITMO. How SAD!
Government defends federal system
In response to McConnell, Department of Justice says alleged terrorists will not be tried in Guantanamo facility
By ANDREW ROBINSON
The U.S. Department of Justice released a statement this morning challenging a call by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to send the two Bowling Green men arrested on terrorism charges to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, instead of trying the men in federal court.
“We are prosecuting these two alleged terrorists in federal court because it is the most proven method for keeping our country safe,” the Department of Justice statement said.
Waad Ramadan Alwan, 30, and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi, 23, were arrested in Bowling Green on May 25. A federal grand jury returned a 23-count indictment against the men May 26. Both entered the country legally as refugees, receiving funded public housing assistance and health care.
Tuesday on the U.S. Senate floor, McConnell said the men needed to be sent to Guantanamo Bay, urging President Barack Obama’s administration to transport the men to the facility in Cuba.
“Get these terrorists out of the civilian system - and out of our backyard,” McConnell said.
McConnell will be in Bowling Green on Friday to meet with local elected and law enforcement officials to discuss Alwan and Hammadi.
The Department of Justice said its criminal justice system provides all the authority and flexibility it needs to effectively combat terrorist threats from individuals living within U.S. borders.
McConnell, however, said Kentuckians don’t want to be subjected to possible reprisals associated with these types of cases, including reprisals against civilian judges, jurors and the broader community where trials are held.
“Since 9/11, there have been hundreds of defendants convicted in our federal court system of terrorism or terrorism-related violations,” the department said. “In none of these cases has a judicial district suffered retaliatory attacks. On the other hand, there has never been a military commission prosecution at Guantanamo Bay of a terror suspect arrested on American soil.”
McConnell said in his speech that he believes Kentuckians don’t want people accused of terrorism to be treated like common criminals in their own cities.
“They don’t want foreign fighters to be afforded all the legal rights and privileges of U.S. citizens,” McConnell said.
The Department of Justice said the two men are not accused of being common criminals.
“The bulk of the conduct at issue in the charging documents is alleged to have occurred within the United States,” the department said. “Law enforcement officials conducted extensive interrogation of these suspects for several days after their arrests to gather intelligence and other information after both defendants waived their Miranda rights and right to a speedy presentment before a court.”
Both men also waived their rights to have detention hearings last week in Bowling Green. Alwan was brought to Bowling Green on June 8, but decided to sign a waiver giving up his right to a detention hearing.
Among the allegations against Alwan is attempting to provide material support to terrorists and to al-Qaida in Iraq. However, it is unclear how deep Alwan’s involvement with the organization was. Alwan also allegedly discussed his previous activities as an insurgent in Iraq from 2003 until 2006, according to the federal investigation.
The Department of Justice also pointed out that the successful investigation, arrests and interrogation in the case show the effectiveness of intelligence and law enforcement authorities in bringing terrorists to justice.
“Abandoning those proven methods would do nothing but risk the safety of the American people,” the statement said.
In response to McConnell, Department of Justice says alleged terrorists will not be tried in Guantanamo facility
By ANDREW ROBINSON
The U.S. Department of Justice released a statement this morning challenging a call by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to send the two Bowling Green men arrested on terrorism charges to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, instead of trying the men in federal court.
“We are prosecuting these two alleged terrorists in federal court because it is the most proven method for keeping our country safe,” the Department of Justice statement said.
Waad Ramadan Alwan, 30, and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi, 23, were arrested in Bowling Green on May 25. A federal grand jury returned a 23-count indictment against the men May 26. Both entered the country legally as refugees, receiving funded public housing assistance and health care.
Tuesday on the U.S. Senate floor, McConnell said the men needed to be sent to Guantanamo Bay, urging President Barack Obama’s administration to transport the men to the facility in Cuba.
“Get these terrorists out of the civilian system - and out of our backyard,” McConnell said.
McConnell will be in Bowling Green on Friday to meet with local elected and law enforcement officials to discuss Alwan and Hammadi.
The Department of Justice said its criminal justice system provides all the authority and flexibility it needs to effectively combat terrorist threats from individuals living within U.S. borders.
McConnell, however, said Kentuckians don’t want to be subjected to possible reprisals associated with these types of cases, including reprisals against civilian judges, jurors and the broader community where trials are held.
“Since 9/11, there have been hundreds of defendants convicted in our federal court system of terrorism or terrorism-related violations,” the department said. “In none of these cases has a judicial district suffered retaliatory attacks. On the other hand, there has never been a military commission prosecution at Guantanamo Bay of a terror suspect arrested on American soil.”
McConnell said in his speech that he believes Kentuckians don’t want people accused of terrorism to be treated like common criminals in their own cities.
“They don’t want foreign fighters to be afforded all the legal rights and privileges of U.S. citizens,” McConnell said.
The Department of Justice said the two men are not accused of being common criminals.
“The bulk of the conduct at issue in the charging documents is alleged to have occurred within the United States,” the department said. “Law enforcement officials conducted extensive interrogation of these suspects for several days after their arrests to gather intelligence and other information after both defendants waived their Miranda rights and right to a speedy presentment before a court.”
Both men also waived their rights to have detention hearings last week in Bowling Green. Alwan was brought to Bowling Green on June 8, but decided to sign a waiver giving up his right to a detention hearing.
Among the allegations against Alwan is attempting to provide material support to terrorists and to al-Qaida in Iraq. However, it is unclear how deep Alwan’s involvement with the organization was. Alwan also allegedly discussed his previous activities as an insurgent in Iraq from 2003 until 2006, according to the federal investigation.
The Department of Justice also pointed out that the successful investigation, arrests and interrogation in the case show the effectiveness of intelligence and law enforcement authorities in bringing terrorists to justice.
“Abandoning those proven methods would do nothing but risk the safety of the American people,” the statement said.
Labels: Civil War, Crime, Middle East, Military, Punishment, Terror
posted by KYJurisDoctor at 8:07 PM
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