Giuliani Criticizes Plan to Try 9/11 ‘Mastermind’

[TomCADem]

Source: NY Times

Rudolph W. Giuliani, mayor of New York at the time of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said on Sunday that the Obama administration’s decision to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the attacks, in a civilian court in Manhattan would unnecessarily cost millions of dollars for security, create legal advantages for the defense and symbolically deny that the United States is at war with terrorism.

It gives an unnecessary advantage to the terrorists and why would you want to give an advantage to the terrorists, and it poses risks for New York,” Mr. Giuliani said in an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” He also interviewed on ABC’s “This Week” and “Fox News Sunday.”

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced on Friday that the United States would try Mr. Mohammed in the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, just blocks from where the World Trade Center towers were brought down by the attacks, which killed almost 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Mr. Holder said that a military commission would try five other detainees held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, because they are accused of committing crimes overseas.

Mr. Giuliani, a former prosecutor whose national profile rose after Sept. 11, ran a short-lived campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination and is being talked about as a leading prospect in the 2010 New York gubernatorial race. On “This Week,” Mr. Giuliani said that he would soon decide whether he would run for governor.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/us/politics/16giulian...

---

Of course, Giuliani had previously said with respect to the 1993 WTC bombers:

'It should show that our legal system is the most mature legal system in the history of the world,' he said, 'that it works well, that that is the place to seek vindication if you feel your rights have been violated.'"

[Windy]

1. the GOP is just afraid of what is going to come out at the trial.... nt

[No Elephants]

2. Rudy explained away his prior remark by saying that was pre-911.

[TomCADem]

3. So, Rudy Is Saying That Our Legal System Has Degraded Since Then?

Did anyone dare ask him a follow-up question?

[MadMaddie]

29. The Repugs are insanse

Rudy is saying pre-9/11 terrorist weren't as fearful and threatening as the actual 9/11 terrorist?

They are idiots!

[D-Lee]

34. Rudy would be salivating over press coverage if he were still the prosecutor for the trials

Yup. You betcha!

[Historic NY]

4. once again all the major terrorist trials have been in NY

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/13/world/111...

Its still going to cost money and the Southern District seems to be the most likely place, since 9/11 was centered here.

[earcandle]

18. its just one broken man. give me a break, money for security. what for? somebody gonna break him

out?  

[Raster]

5. Giuliani has attempted to re-write history about his "leadership" during 9/11,

even though the deliberately obscured facts say otherwise. Rudy has much invested in the "approved" version of 9/11.

[struggle4progress]

6. I guess this diverts attention from Giuli's former bodyguard Kerik:

Kerik Confesses to Cheating I.R.S. and Telling Lies

By SAM DOLNICK
Published: November 5, 2009

WHITE PLAINS — Bernard B. Kerik, a former detective who rose to lead the New York Police Department through the 9/11 attack before his career crumbled in scandal, pleaded guilty Thursday to eight charges including tax fraud and lying to White House officials ...

The prosecution and the defense recommended that the judge, Stephen C. Robinson, sentence Mr. Kerik, who faced up to 30 years in prison on the most serious charge, to 27 to 33 months. The judge, who is not bound by the recommendation, set sentencing for Feb. 18. Mr. Kerik was also ordered to pay restitution of nearly $188,000 ...

Mr. Kerik was a police detective when Rudolph W. Giuliani chose him as his bodyguard and chauffeur during his first mayoral campaign. The two men forged a connection that lasted throughout Mr. Giuliani’s mayoralty and beyond.

Mr. Giuliani appointed Mr. Kerik to a senior position in the Correction Department, where he went on to be commissioner, and even have a prison named after him in downtown Manhattan. (The name has since been removed.) In 2000, Mr. Giuliani selected him as the city’s 40th police commissioner even though he lacked a college degree, normally a qualification for the job ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/nyregion/06kerik.html

[havocmom]

7. Consider: NY city's emergency command center was in 7 World Trade Center,

That tower, you will recall, was not hit by a plane. Being the site of the official city emergency command center, wasn't it visited by NY officials prior to its collapse? It was reported that some fires had broken out in that building. Photos did not show much damage at all, then it came down.

Rudy made lots of money after that day, and rose to a very prominent position in national political scene.

One wonders just what Rudy Giuliani and other GOP movers & shakers are afraid might come to light in a normal, open trial held on US soil. What might be brought up in this public trial that the GOP is so afraid of? Who, exactly, is protected by the GOP wish that trials involving 9/11 be held off shore and in secrecy? They sure seem jumpy now that the trial has been normalized and moved to a big ol city in America.

Being a foolish optimist, I wonder about the big ruckus re health care reform that has held most GOP pols and patrons attention for months. Could it be that this very important and divisive issue was also utilized as a diversion while Holder and DOJ laid the groundwork for this trial on US soil? Could it be that team Obama used the Right's favorite tactic against them?

Put me in the column of the guardedly optimistic that this trial is a gate to more important revelations, leading to real investigations, perhaps even some real prosecutions of movers & shakers who somehow profited so well from the national tragedy.

I am glad I am not Rudy's colon. He is probably shitting bricks these days.

And, where's Dick?

[Raster]

20. Another little tidbit about Rudy: He was lauded because he was immediately out in the street

...during 9/11, being the "Paternal Mayor." The spin would have us believe that Rudy took to the streets to guide and direct the emergency efforts. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rudy was out in the streets because his dubiously placed executive command center, which was in 7 World Trade Center had been destroyed in the building's NO HIT collapse. And the truth be told, Guiliani had been advised by *numerous* parties NOT to locate the city's emergency command post next to the most famous terrorist targets in New York City. Believe me, the LAST FUCKING THING Giuliani wants is any fair, factual, in-depth investigation into 9/11.

[Odin2005]

8. 9/11iani can go fuck himself.

I want the fucker paraded in chains by where the WTC was.

[orbitalman]

9. STUPID. No matter what Obama does...

Giuliani would find fault with it; the old 'damned if you do, damned if you don't. What a crock.

[lxlxlxl]

10. who the hell cares...

go away guiliani, and stop reposting whatever moronic 'opinions' this guy has.

[CatWoman]

11. when I think of Rudy, two words come to mind:

Bernie Kerik.

And therein lies Rudy's credibility.

[Turbineguy]

12. Mr. Giuliani,

Remind us again how better prepared New York was for the 2001 attack than in 1993 as a result of your leadership?

[ooglymoogly]

13. Rudy, Rudy, Rudy....why don't you just

try selling your tired shpeal by getting yourself up in drag ...again...though I guess putting lipstick on a pig didn't work then and it won't work now.

[Rozlee]

17. I'd forgotten about that

but he sure did like tottering around on his four inch heels. One other thing that I recollect. During the Rethug Primary, Media Matters produced a one minute media clip about Fux News' plugging Rudy over and over by constantly referring to him as "America's Mayor" by several anchors and pundits. They were really trying to push their listeners to vote for him in the primary. Sadly, my computer won't let me paste and copy the web address at this time, but, going to the Media Matters website and clicking on Fox News and "America's Mayor" will turn the You Tube video up. I seriously doubt that he'd be the Fox darling now. They have tilted so far to the right, that they won't plug anyone but Bitch McConnell or Sarah Palin.

[Hubert Flottz]

14. Roto Rudy gassed his own people!

No more votes than Rudy got he needs to STFU!

[johnfunk]

15. Translation: Rudy "Surrendermonkey" Giuliani Caves Into Terrorist Goal of Destroying Rule of Law

If Rudy runs for governor, I sure hope Andy Cuomo (yes, i predict he gets the nod) runs "Surrender Monkey" commercials, especially upstate -- and doesn't forget to mention that rudy put the antiterrorist bunker AT GROUND ZERO so it would be within walking distance of City Hall. What an idiot...

[JDPriestly]

16. You never know what might come out or be said at a trial.

Maybe Giuliani is afraid of the revelations that might be permitted. Personally, I think the trial will be very focused with only a narrow range of very relevant evidence permitted. That is what I expect.

As for the cost of security, etc., what is the cost of keeping Guantanamo open with all the military personnel and food shipped in, etc.? That's not cheap either.

[earcandle]

19. True, dat.

[SF342]

25. I am hoping...

Maybe we could use this as a little leverage.....for a little 'Quid pro quo'

[BumRushDaShow]

21. His buddy Kerik pleaded guilty and is headed to jail and he should be next. n/t

[Solly Mack]

22. Blech

[marias23]

23. Who Cares What He Thinks?

or Palin for that matter.

[Amonester]

24. Oh... now I hope we will not see the administration

CAVE on that too... above every other retardlican crimes they've already caved in before... (like the infamous 'torture pics' shameful episode).

[Jefferson23]

26. Rudy 9/11, who had Norman Podhoretz and Ed lasky as part of his

foreign policy team when running for president is surprised by this? Fuck you Rudy and shut the hell up.

[onehandle]

27. He should be on trial for moving essential service ops into NYCs biggest target. nt

[Politicalboi]

28. It just might mean Ghouliani

Might have to take the stand. Ah yes Rudy who told you the towers were going to collapse? And why does that video now get edited so that remark is removed. Fuck You Rudy. I hope this case brings them all down 10 stories a second like the WTC's.

[lib_wit_it]

30. Fuck that motherfucker, Giuli! He is more reptilian than McCain. (Sorry, reptiles.) And, yeah,

what the other DUers have said here. Was there ever a bigger, slimier opportunist?

Man, so many fucking Rescumlicans must thank god for 9-11 every day. And, led by Dickhead Cheyney, pray for the next attack to save them from the evils of (slightly) improved and expanded health care.

[Lucky Luciano]

31. Giulianus is such a tool. nt

[unkachuck]

32. "It gives an unnecessary advantage to the terrorists..."

....and rudy ought to know about providing 'advantages' to terrorists....

....rudy and bush, asleep at the switch on 9/11, gave the terrorists the greatest 'advantage' they've ever had in our country....

[DU GrovelBot]

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[alp227]

35. DoodooDUMB. What was he expecting, an acquittal?

C'mon, Rudy, you love American just as you did back in 9/11 and just as any Republican would, right? Just because a Democrat is president means you needed to find a reason to criticize him on one of his administration's most critical decisions...putting the mastermind of the worst tragedy in America this decade to justice. I wonder what Rudy was thinking, that the court would rule this case like the OJ Simpson one. (Fact: ~91% of terrorism cases decided in federal court led to convictions.)

[stevietheman]

36. He's playing politics. That's all there is to it. n/t

n/t

[MidwestRick]

37. How will he get a "fair" trial?

How will a fair jury be able to be selected in NYC? This has decades of appeals written all over it.