Those on the left may think Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama has his own underwear in a wad over the decision to treat “panty bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as a civilian and accord him Miranda rights. But Sessions, who is Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, makes some brilliant points.
First, though, a bit of background is in order.
In most cases, enemy combatants captured on the battlefield remain in some sort of detention facility until cleared for release. This practice makes logical sense because those who took up arms against us may have useful information about other enemy operations – data which could save untold lives both in the field of battle and among innocent civilians otherwise caught in the crossfire.
However, Abdulmutallab was captured in a unique venue, one which most wouldn’t associate with the shadowy war between radical elements of Islam and our nation. Instead of carrying a rifle or rocket-propelled grenade launcher, the Nigerian national who trained for his assignment in Yemen boarded the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit without luggage or a coat, but with underwear lined with explosive material. In short, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was destined to be a suicide bomber in a bid to kill hundreds of Americans on Christmas Day.
We all know what happened on Flight 253, but because the Obama administration has taken the unwise course of treating the war on Islamic terror like a civil case, the Nigerian national had a brief 50 minutes of questioning before he was informed of his Miranda rights. Not surprisingly, Abdulmutallab clammed up.
Understandably Sessions is fuming about the decision. “Instead of trying to excuse the inexcusable,” he said, “the administration should take responsibility for the dire consequences of its decision to swiftly grant civilian rights to this foreign terrorist. Civilian interrogation means that a suspect must be told he does not have to answer any questions and that he will be provided a lawyer. Captured combatants do not enjoy these same privileges.”
By changing the rules of the game and granting Constitutional rights to non-citizens, Obama and his dovish allies may cost more lives in the name of granting “justice.” Instead, Sessions is calling for, “a clear protocol…for the detention and interrogation of captured terrorists so these dangerous mistakes are not repeated.”
Apparently the only clear protocol we have now is bending over way too far backwards to those who would never even consider allowing us similar rights if the situation were reversed. Sessions is correct in pointing this out, but unfortunately isn’t in a good position to change the policies in place just yet.
This article ran on the Red County national page yesterday.
When are the right wing wacko’s going to stop lying to the American people.
They continue to misrepresent the facts time and time again regarding the Obama Administration.
“…but because the Obama administration has taken the unwise course of treating the war on Islamic terror like a civil case,……”
The Obama administration has taken the identical course of action following the identical procedures followed by the Bush/Cheny administration for eight years when prosecuting suspected foreign terrorist.
Where was the GOP …….they took all the bows and pats on the back for the “shoe bomber convicted in our civil courts” and hundreds of others.
America’s security from foreign terrorist should not be a political talking point;
that misrepresents the truth.
GOP….clean up your act.
STOP LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!