by Jim Kouri
Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, accused the Obama Administration of an "Alice in Wonderland" approach to the nation's anti-terrorism strategy.
Lieberman and other senators on both sides of the aisle are critical of President Barack Obama's decision to try terrorists in civilian court in New York City as well as the Obama Justice Department decision to process the so-called "Underwear Bomber" captured on Christmas Day in the civilian criminal justice system.
Lieberman urged the Administration Monday to move Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from civilian to military custody because "he is an enemy combatant and should be detained, interrogated and ultimately charged as such."
"Though the President has said repeatedly that we are at war, it does not appear to us that the President's words are reflected in the actions of some in the Executive branch, including some at the Department of Justice, responsible for fighting that war. The unilateral decision by the Department of Justice to treat Abdulmutallab - a belligerent fighting for and trained by an al-Qaeda franchised organization - as a criminal rather than a UEB and to forego information that may have been extremely helpful to winning this war demonstrates that very point," Lieberman wrote in his letter to Attorney General Eric Holder.
Holder’s decision to prosecute murderous, fanatical terrorists
—including the 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- in civilian courts continues to infuriate many Americans, but to no avail.While President Barack Obama claims that he sees American intelligence, homeland security and law enforcement systems working together seamlessly. He wants the professionals in these areas to collect, share, integrate, analyze and act on intelligence "as quickly and effectively as possible to save innocent lives, not just most of the time, but all of the time," he said. "That's what the American people deserve. As president, that's exactly what I will demand."
But not everyone believes the president is serious about intelligence gathering and analysis during a time of war.. Some security experts believe that it wasn't the intelligence people who failed in the prelude to the Christmas Day attempted airline bombing, but a clear lack of leadership.
"You have a Homeland Security Secretary who believes returning war veterans are extremists and an Attorney General who's biting at the bit to prosecute intelligence agents," said former NYPD detective and US Marine intelligence officer Mike Snopes.
"And when they get caught with their pants down, right away they blame the people -- the intelligence community -- whom they denigrate with their usual vitriol," he added.
"We and many others have already expressed serious concerns about whether a trial in civilian court might compromise classified evidence, including revealing sources and methods used by our intelligence community," said Senator Lieberman.
"We are also very concerned that, by bringing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other terrorists responsible for 9/11 to the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, only blocks away from where the Twin Towers once stood, you will be providing them one of the most visible platforms in the world to exalt their past acts and to rally others in support of further terrorism," he said.
"The moment [Abdulmutallab] was given Miranda [warnings], the guy lawyered-up. Which means investigators will have to negotiate with him and possibly trade intelligence for a lighter prison sentence or other break," said political strategist Mike Baker.
When asked about his motives for not allowing the military justice system to try Gitmo detainees, Attorney Holder and his supporters blame President George W. Bush's failure to try Gitmo terrorists in the so-called military tribunals.
However, the real reason there were so few military trials was that lawyers were continuously working to derail the military courts martial by challenging them in the civilian courts. And far too many of those lawyers are now working for Holder at the Justice Department, according to Holder and Obama's critics.
In fact, during the Bush Administration, Holder's law firm, Covington & Burling, provided pro-bono services for about 20 of the enemy combatants held at Gitmo. In lawsuits Holder and his firm brought against the American people, Covington contributed more than 3,000 hours of free, top-flight legal assistance to these violent terrorists.
"From a political standpoint, Holder reserves his vitriol and passionate opposition for US intelligence officers and those law enforcement leaders who fight terrorists, or police commanders who are tough on criminal aliens," said Mike Baker.
Yet, Obama and Holder appear to enjoy immunity from any investigative journalism by the elite media, including questions regarding Holder's ties to defending enemies of the United States in the past.
"My read of Holder and his boss Obama is that they are perfectly comfortable befriending and defending terrorists. Obama's close friend -- and ghostwriter -- William Ayers was a bomb-maker for the fanatical Weather Underground. And Holder possesses a history of beneficence to terror organizations such as when he brokered a deal for releasing FALN bombers in New York just as Hillary Clinton began her campaign for that state's US Senate seat," claims former NYPD detective and US Marine Sidney Frances.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a columnist for The Examiner (examiner.com) and New Media Alliance (thenma.org). In addition, he's a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (kgab.com). Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.