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Take This, KSM: We Bless America

By Bronwyn's Harbor on December 8, 2009 at 3:30 PM in Current Affairs

343We know, KSM, that you will use your trial as a staging ground for your evil bile. However, you cannot silence, let alone over-shout, we Americans who LOVE our country, the one that treated you once as a student guest.

The Obama/Holder decision to hold KSM’s trial in NYC has had a devastating effect on the living victims of 9/11. This story otherwise requires minimal preface or coda from this author, except to state that I am moved both rationally and emotionally — make that viscerally — to feel the rage of the 9/11 families. First, I must point you to our several key stories on the upcoming KSM trial. I urge you to read these stories, particularly Larry Johnson’s:

Permit me, simply, to be the presenter of the video as well as the list of speakers. It is a list of men and women whose accompanying heart-breaking stories brought tears to my eyes, simply because of the overwhelming memories they bring to mind. They did affect me that deeply, those speakers who last weekend rallied to protest the astonishing and highly disturbing decision of Attorney General Eric Holder and President Barack Obama to hold the trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed in New York City.

First, here’s a video of the rally:

Here is the list of those who spoke, via “Speaker List 9/11 Never Forget Coalition Dec 5 Rally, Noon, Rain or Shine” at the site of the 911 Never Forget Coalition (aka DefendOurDefenders.org), and via Memeorandum:

DAVID BEAMER
David Beamer is the father of Todd Beamer, a passenger on United Flight 93, which was hijacked on September 11.
TIM BROWN
Tim Brown is a retired, decorated 20-year FDNY firefighter and a survivor of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
DEBRA BURLINGAME
Debra Burlingame is the sister of Charles F. “Chic” Burlingame, III, pilot of American Airlines flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
BRIAN DENNEHY
Brian Dennehy is an acclaimed actor and will speak on behalf of his friend Judea Pearl, the father of reporter Danny Pearl, who Khalid Shiekh Mohammed admits murdering.
CURTIS SLIWA
Curtis Sliwa is a national radio talk show host heard in 20 cities around America. He is founder and director of the Guardian Angels.
RON AND ROBIN GRIFFIN
Ron and Robin are the Gold Star Parents of Army Specialist Kyle Andrew Griffin, 20, Bronze Star recipient killed in Iraq on May 20, 2003.
JAMES HANSON
Jim served in the US Army Special Forces and is the co-founder of the Warrior Legacy Foundation.
LEE A. IELPI
In March 2004, Lee, co-founded the Tribute WTC Visitor Center located across from the World Trade Center site in New York. He is the father of FDNY Firefighter Jonathan Ielpi, of Squad 288, who responded to the World Trade Center and perished on September 11, 2001.
DR. M. ZUHDI JASSER
Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser is the Chairman of the Board, founding member, and President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD). He is one of the moderate, anti-Islamist Muslims featured in the controversial PBS film, Islam v Islamists.
EDITH LUTNICK
Edie Lutnick is a Co-founder, Officer, and the Executive Director of The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, a 501 (c) 3 charity established September 14, 2001.
STEVE MALZBERG
Steve Malzberg, one of America’s most recognizable faces and voices on the political talk scene, is a talk show host on WOR Radio in New York City and on the WOR Radio Network.
ANDREW C. McCARTHY
Andrew C. McCarthy is a former federal prosecutor and a Contributing Editor with National Review Online.
LAUREN MANNING
Lauren Manning is a former Managing Director and Partner at Cantor Fitzgerald. On September 11, 2001, Lauren was catastrophically injured in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
GREG MANNING
Greg was most recently Partner at Cantor Fitzgerald. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller, LOVE, GREG & LAUREN: A Powerful True Story of Courage, Hope, and Survival.
TERESA MULLAN
Teresa Mullan is the mother of FDNY Firefighter Michael Dermott Mullan, 34, Ladder 12 in Chelsea, who responded to the World Trade Center and perished on September 11, 2001.
PETER REGAN
Peter Regan is an active FDNY firefighter, and U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq and is a 9/11 family member. He lost his dad, Firefighter Donald Regan, FDNY Rescue Co. 3.
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
Daniel Rodriguez is an operatic tenor from New York City. In the aftermath of September 11, he received widespread attention with his rendition of “God Bless America.”

Since the above video didn’t show Rodriquez singing “God Bless America,” I searched YouTube, and found this rendition. I defy you not to get goosebumps:

You know, I forget which show on which I heard a 9/11 family member say that President Obama never responded to the families’ letter to him. Was it O’Relly? No matter.

It was beyond infuriating that he and Eric Holder have dismissed the sincere, important concerns of this group of true Americans who have every right to speak and to be heard. It is beyond infuriating that Obama and Holder are giving KSM this platform, as well as treating him as if he is a US citizen, this man who murdered our fellow citizens. The extending of rights and privileges to KSM while ignoring the cries of those immediately affected by 9/11 defies logic, as it defies all sense of compassion and decency.

It begs this question: who does it serve to have this trial in New York?

  • Murray

    It serves the “Bring Down America” people: Obama, Holder, “GD America” Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayres and all the other organizations who seek to destroy what they see as our evil, corrupt, capitalist, racist empire.

    I hope that answers your question.

    • elizabethrc

      If anyone had any doubts that Obama and crew are hellbent on destroying the America our forefathers constructed for all of us, this should erase those doubts.
      This is a transparent (the only thing transparent in this bankrupt administration) attempt to promote the rights of Islamists over the rights of Americans. Further, it is a blatant attempt to embarrass America, to rub our noses in our 9/11 losses and to give a spotlight to the criminals who hate America, who will publicly rant and rage against us.
      It may, in the end be an action that will bite Obama and I’ve little doubt that when this fiasco occurs, it is going to turn more and more Americans against Obama, Holder, and all of those Islam loving bast**ds. I think it may well ensure him as a one term president.

    • b mathews

      dont know if its just me, but i have a terrible feeling that obama and his thugs are actually inviting another terrorist attack on the US. maybe so they can declare martial law and cancel the elections. then obama can declare himself president for life. i can see no other reason for them to hold this trial in NY.

  • Surfered

    If we have become too afraid to put terrorists are criminals on trial, then they have won.

    • andrew

      My feelings exactly. “These colors don’t run.”

      But that doesn’t play into the anti-Obama message.

      Same with Afghanistan. Obama has already doubled troop levels there since January and will have tripled them in another 8 months. But his focus on the very real threat that took us there to begin with doesn’t play into the anti-Obama message either.

  • http://www.althing.com/governuts West Virginia

    It may be possible that the administration thinks that KSM will, on day one of the trial, plead guilty, stick out his arm and say: “Just stick the needle in me.” Did I not read that KSM asked for execution last December? That would be too good for him.

    • FLDemFem

      He wants the US to kill him so he can be a “martyr for Islam”, like the suicide bombers. What we should do is stick him in SuperMax for the rest of his life, without visitation or communication with anyone besides the prison staff. Let him rot.

  • Hot Librarian

    This is a matter dear to American hearts . I am trying to follow it but also needing to filter out the emotionalism .

    So understand my statements are not anti american but just not American.

    Of course this KSM person could admit to planning it all. That way he would be credited to pulling off the most pincer attack in the whole history of warfare.

  • Sassy

    I have seen Mr. Beamer and Ms. Burlingame several times, and their courage and perseverance are inspiring!
    Senator Graham’s questions of Eric Holder exposed how ill-conceived this decision is.
    Holder sought the limelight, and this terrorist will avail himself of it as well!

  • Peggy Sue

    Bronwyn said:

    “It begs this question: who does it serve to have this trial in New York?”

    It doesn’t serve the families. It certainly doesn’t serve the dead. Or the cops and firemen and medical personnel who fought so hard to save as many as they could. It doesn’t serve NYC with the wall of security the city will need to prevent another disaster.

    We’ve been told that this serves to showcase our justice system. But how is that when the Attorney General and the POTUS make public statements saying these terrorists will be found guilty and ultimately executed?

    What in God’s name does that showcase?

    In my mind, it only serves the arrogance of the decision makers, who I can only guess thought they’d be applauded for a bad and stupid idea.

    My former college roomate is a native New Yorker. I wouldn’t even repeat the language she used when discussing this. And she’s a Democrat.

    Who does it serve? As far as I can tell only the terrorists, who will have the world stage.

    The decision is insane and disgusting.

    • Hot Librarian

      Glad you mentioned the statements of guilt & likely execution by O & H .

      THEY want the kudos , not the justice system. Could that be it?

    • http://firefox AnnieCarmel

      I hope it serves to enrage all Americans and especially New Yorkers every day of this sham trial. I am afraid there may be riots in the streets of NYC before this is over. And may they take their rage to the voting booth.

  • DaddysDarlin

    Never before have I seen a more corrupt administration. An administration that doesnt give a damn what the American people think, say or demand. Our voices are not being heard by this corrupt administration, there is no-one listening on Capitol Hill.
    The only recourse we have is to vote each and every one of those elitist bastards out of office, this most certainly will begin at the top, Obama and his minions are on notice, you will not be living in the White House or in Washington D.C., you will all be voted out by those Americans you refused to listen to.
    Put that in your crack pipe and smoke it Obama. You are a scourge to our country, you are the most anti-American president in history.
    I will not allow you to turn our country into a laughing stock to the rest of the world.
    I will do everything in my power as a citizen to insure these criminals get whats coming to them.
    IMPEACH OBAMA, IMPECAH PELOSI, AND IMPEACH REID, AS FOR THE OTHERS, THEY WILL NEVER WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAIN EITHER!!!

  • wanderer

    An impressive list of speakers who are speaking truth to power.

    Today’s Gallup Poll shows the Voting Present President at 47% approval, lower than any other recent President at this point in their careers.

    The blinders are coming off, and the wheels are coming off the bus.

  • Carlyinnj

    If this trial is held in New York then we might as well send an open invitation to attack us to all would be home grown Terrorists (like the five described in the Newsweek Article, see below). What the H*ll is are inept government doing NOW?


    Five Americans Reportedly Held in Pakistan on Terror Charges Mark Hosenball


    Five young men from the Washington, D.C., area are reported to have been detained by authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab region in connection with an investigation into possible terrorism. Information about the arrests has been reported by Sami Yousafzai, a NEWSWEEK correspondent in the region, and by at least one Pakistani media outlet. A U.S. government official, who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive information, confirmed that U.S. federal agencies are aware of the case and had already been investigating the individuals in question

    According to the Pakistani news report, five foreigners—described as one U.S.-born Pakistani, two Yemenis, one Egyptian, and one Swede—were arrested by a Pakistani anti-organized-crime squad during a raid in the town of Sargodha at the residence of an activist involved in Jaish-e-Muhammad, an Islamic extremist group alleged to have links to Al Qaeda that has been banned by Pakistani authorities. Jaish is also listed by the U.S. State Department as a foreign terrorist organization.

    The Investigative Project on Terrorism, an American group that monitors Islamic extremism, reports that the five men were last seen in the U.S. on Nov. 29 and that there is concern that they “may have been sent abroad to train for jihad.” The project says that one of the men, Ramy Zamzam, is a dental student at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The project also identifies Zamzam as the president of the D.C. council of the Muslim Students Association (MSA).

    http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/archive/2009/12/09/five-americans-reportedly-held-in-pakistan-on-terror-charges.aspx

  • Bob

    What a bunch of crap– A trial is a trial—If you can’t convict some asshole that has been held captive for the last 9 years you might as well hang you’re shit up It will be about as fair as Sadam’s trial