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[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx9GHynbO8k]YouTube - USS Cole Families Outraged—Obama Drops Charges Against Terror Planner[/ame]USS Cole Families Outraged—Obama Drops Charges Against Terror Planner
Statement From CDR Lippold on Decision to Drop Charges Against USS Cole Bomber | Military Families UnitedStatement From CDR Lippold on Decision to Drop Charges Against USS Cole Bomber
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 5, 2009
STATEMENT FROMCDR KIRK LIPPOLD USN (Ret.), Former Commanding Officer of the USS Cole
In Response to the Obama Administration’s Decision to Drop Charges Against USS Cole Bomber
Washington, D.C. – February 5, 2009 – Today, Commander Kirk S. Lippold, Former Commanding Officer of USS Cole and Senior Military Fellow at Military Families United, the nation's premier military family advocacy organization, released the following statement regarding the decision to drop all charges ‘without prejudice’ on Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the terrorist responsible for the USS Cole bombing, which killed 17 American sailors.
“By dropping the charges against a terrorist responsible for the deaths of 17 American sailors, the Administration has disregarded the legitimacy of the Military Commissions process. It is a lawful process that has undergone extensive judicial and legislative review and provides greater legal protections to detainees than prisoners of war have received in any previous conflict.
Justice delayed is justice denied. It appears that the Obama Administration, without consideration for its immediate impact or long-term effects, will use a legal maneuver to prevent these detainees from receiving due process and being held accountable for their heinous acts. The families of the USS Cole sailors and all military families have waited too long for justice to be served.
The President must consider the impact of his policy decisions on the military and their families who bear the burden of their sacrifice to protect our nation. To do any less demeans their service and sacrifice.”
CDR Kirk S. Lippold, USN (Ret.) was the Commanding Officer of USS Cole when it was attacked by al Qaeda terrorists in October 2000. He subsequently served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff crafting detainee policy in the initial stages of the war on terror. He currently serves as a Senior Military Fellow at Military Families United.
America’s Military Families Send Thousands of Letters to President Obama on GITMO | Military Families UnitedAmerica’s Military Families Send Thousands of Letters to President Obama on GITMO
Washington, DC – February 3, 2009 – Over the weekend, thousands of military families from around the nation inundated the White House with emails and letters voicing their concern about the unconfirmed reports that the President is considering dropping all charges on as many as 20 terrorists being held at the terrorist detention facility on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The reports allege that the President’s plan is to drop charges on terrorists including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks; Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, accused of planning and executing the bombing on the USS Cole, which killed 17 American sailors; and Omar Khadr, accused of killing an American soldier, two Afghani soldiers, and wounding several others in a firefight in Afghanistan.
“Over the last four days, the President has heard from thousands of Gold and Blue Star families, urging him to put national security at the forefront of this issue. Our troops have laid their lives on the line, some of which have paid the ultimate sacrifice, to capture these terrorists. America’s military families will not tolerate letting the sacrifices of our mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, to be in vain,” said Military Families United President John Ellsworth, whose son Lance CPL Justin Ellsworth was killed in Iraq in 2004. “By dropping the charges on even one of these terrorists, the Obama Administration is putting America at risk.”
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Terrorism: Politicians and Victims: Why We Chose Not to Meet with President ObamaFriday, February 6, 2009
Why We Chose Not to Meet with President Obama
Yesterday we were driving back from Houston, Texas from obtaining a passport for my daughter so she could attend the arraignment of al-Nashiri who had helped in the Cole Bombing. We were expecting to leave for Gitmo no later than this Saturday. I knew that Obama would no doubt dismiss the charges against al-nashiri. Our government has repeatably found excuses so as not to take any action against the Cole bombers and or those who support them. Like the countries of Yemen and the Sudan. So it came as no surprise to me when an Obama's aide called to tell me that we had an invitation to attend a meeting where president Obama would explain his reasons for dismissing the charges against the terrorists. I told him that it was on a short notice and that we would not be attending.
Why attend a meeting when you already know the inevitable outcome. And President Obama has already signed the order to close Gitmo, and a request to stop the trials. Which they did. With only one judge who had the strength, courage and conviction to stand up for the murdered sailors and say that al-nashiri's arraignment would go forward. So anyway I asked the aide if he would please get my letter to Obama instead. He said he would if I faxed it. I had wrote Obama a letter the previous week pleading with him to change his mind. I faxed the letter later that same day. I knew that I would have to tell my wife later on when we got home that our murdered son's trail had become a victim of petty politics. And that she would be upset and hurt yet again.
I wish that our government would not play the head games that they have played with the victims families. Its extremely disrespectful of the victims and their families. The government could have stopped this charade that there was going to be a trial after Obama had requested that there would be no trials in the first place. But instead my daughter took time off from work to make a 400 mile round trip to purchase a passport that she will probably never need. And of course she had to experience another let down when Obama's aide called. And my wife as well.
The trials of our son's killers have become a heated political debate, and a political weapon that the liberals are using to get back at the past Bush administration, and the republican party. While the victims murders go unanswered, and the feelings of their families are taken on a emotional roller coaster ride.
While my family, myself and a good majority of Americans are wondering how can the Military Commissions Tribunals which were approved by congress can be overturned a by a President who does not agree with them. That's not a democracy. That's more like how President Saleh in Yemen acted after our son's killers were tried in their courts. Saleh intervened for the killers and Al-Qaeda and then reduced their sentences, and pardoned others. And had the other Cole Bombers tried on unrelated charges, and then freed. As victims we had hoped that our own government would show us a little more respect. Wrong!
Back in 2000 right after the attack on the Cole we refused to meet with President Clinton, and I also refused to speak with Vice President Gore. For that decision we were housed in a different BAQ at Norfolk than the other families. And the next day we were not allowed in to the Memorial Services for the sailors of the Cole attack. It took the Commanding Officer of the base to get us in to the services, and up front with the rest of the families. I relate that story because I was not going to tell the news at first why we did not go and meet with Obama. But my wife insisted that I tell someone, and that our son deserves a trial. Its long overdue. So I did. I am not saying that Obama would react as childish as Clinton did. I don't think he would. But I did not want to see anymore head games on the part of the government. And by the way I have plenty of witnesses for that fiasco, plus a letter of apology from the base commander. And our Escort officer was there too at the time, and did her best to try and get us in with the rest of the families.
I am sick to death of all the support that these terrorists have here in America. From Human Rights Groups to the far left loonies. I am working at obtaining a lawyer to find out if we the victim's families and the actual victims have any constitutional rights. Are if those rights are only reserved for the terrorists who murdered our son. I have grown weary and tired of watching my sons mother and sister be hurt by their own government time after time again.
I like to think that if President Obama was in my shoes, and one of his own children had been murdered by a terrorists that he as the father would go to any lengths with in the law to make sure that his murdered child received justice. And God forbid that such a thing should ever happen to him, and his family. I would never wish such a thing on any person.
We chose not to meet with Clinton because we had no respect for the man. We knew he had done nothing for the victims of the Embassy bombings, and expected that he would make only empty promises like he had after all the other bombings on his watch. We were right. My decision as not to meet President Obama was not because I disrespected the man, but that he had already made his decision quite clear to everyone. Maybe Obama will have the terrorists tried at a later date. We hope so. We also hope that he will not return anymore Yemenis from Gitmo back to Saleh of Yemen to be freed. Not until he tells Saleh to turn over the Cole terrorists for a trial here in America. But then again would they ever go to trial even if they were extradited back to America?
I just read where the White House speaker for Obama stated "the president is interested in swift justice". 8 friking long years to bring one of the terrorists to trial to only have the charges dismissed on the terrorist! And that's Obama's idea of swift justice? Oh please!
p.s. Diane McDaniels voted for Obama....Diane McDaniels, whose son was killed in the Cole bombing, also declined an invitation to meet the president, saying she was too disillusioned with Obama for dropping the charges.
"My son was blown up along with 16 others. I buried body parts for three years," she told FOX News. "I'm still suffering and now he's withdrawing the charges?
"There's nothing he can say to make me feel better," she explained, adding that Obama is sending the wrong message to the American people. "He may be the president but he's wrong."
Families of Cole Victims Worry White House Meeting Is Window Dressing - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com
Great minds think alike.
