Before we get started:
NO. DO NOT DO THIS.
OK, wanted to get that out of the way.
[UPDATE: Full background here.]
Anyway: I will admit to being highly skeptical about the initial report that the “U.S. State Department is actively considering negotiations with the Egyptian government for the transfer of custody of Omar Abdel-Rahman, also known as “the Blind Sheikh,” for humanitarian and health reasons.” It seemed absolutely insane that any administration would do this. Everybody knows that Abdel-Rahman would be released just as soon as he ended up in Egyptian custody. This is what happened to the Lockerbie bomber, and it would happen to that guy. So I didn’t believe that this was going to happen – a belief that even survived the sight of six house Chairs (Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Appropriations*) and two subcommittee chairs formally telling the Attorney General and the Secretary of State not to do this (although I will admit that said belief took a battering in the process).
The Obama administration is weighing the release of blind Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman — the spiritual adviser to the 1993 World Trade Center bombers — in a stunning goodwill gesture toward Egypt that has touched off a political firestorm, officials said yesterday.
The Egyptian government “asked for his release,” an administration source told The Post — and Rep. Peter King (R-LI) confirmed the request is being considered.
Pete King is the Homeland Security Chair, and he’s one of the people who signed the aforementioned letter – which, by the way, was asking about rumors that the ‘transfer’ of Abdel-Rahman was being considered, and not a confirmation that it actually was being considered. If this is actually happening, then… it needs to stop. Abdel-Rahman did not stop being a terrorist mastermind when he got old and sick; and I don’t want him released.
Neither do the American people.
Moe Lane (crosspost)
*Yup. The heavy hitters.
Let me be plain, releasing psychotic thugs into society only increases the instance of psychotic thuggery. We shouldn’t parole them or turn them over to custody of other governments.
I have a hard time believing anyone could be that dumb.
So this would possibly be scheduled for, say, November 7, right?
If any President not named Carter would do this, it would be Obama. Can we just start calling him Neville Chamberlain and be done with it?
Given Rahman’s record, this is the kind of act that breaks the compact with the government. Further, it would not make anyone overseas any safer — rather, it would show that we will cave and release their precious jihadis. Violence would increase — though there might be a short pause to give the illusion that the Danegeld was honored.
You’d be late to that party, Trent.
I am no longer surprised by anything Obama does. Infuriated and disgusted, but not surprised.
His alien upbringing shows itself again, “give the radicals what they want and they’ll burn someone elses’ house” is not an American reaction, “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute” is. I would also accept the shorter “Nuts!”, but don’t think any politician since Cooledge understands the power of brevity.
Mew
Obama has informed that he will hand over the blind sheikh to them after the election, when he has “more flexibility.”
I’ve got a finif says he does it, whether he wins or not.
I have a counter offer. We shoot the son of a bitch in the back of the head and dump his carcass in the NYC sewers for the rats to gnaw on.
I have a counterintuitive take on this. The most important goal right now is defeating Obama! Were Obama to release the Sheikh, not even the MSM could cover for him and there would be a swell of support for Romney. So, I say do it!
Nomadic100: No. Do not advocate that here again.
Darin, I like your proposal .. but I would suggest the Cairo sewers. Saves having to fill out the EPA impact report ….
Mew
Could also save the cost of the bullet by delivering the Sheik to Cairo + 10,000 feet … He can walk the rest of the way.
Mew
Iowahawk rejoined that we could compromise and just send back half of Omar Abdul Rahman.