Obama meets families of USS Cole, Sept. 11 victims By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_guantanamo_41

Obama meets families of USS Cole, Sept. 11 victims

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press Writer Darlene Superville, Associated Press

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama held an emotional meeting Friday with relatives of victims of the bombing of the USS Cole and the Sept. 11 attacks who are still waiting for justice to be served years after the deadly acts of terrorism.

Obama promised the roughly 40 family members who attended that the meeting would be the first of many.

Some of the victims' relatives said they welcomed Obama's gesture. Still, they aren't entirely convinced that his decision to close the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, facility, where terrorism suspects are being detained, and halt legal action on their cases is the right thing to do.

Obama has expressed concerns about the fact that detainees have been held for years without trial. He has signed an executive order to close the facility within a year while the administration reviews other options for seeing that the detainees get their day in court.

Retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk S. Lippold, commanding officer of the Cole at the time of the Oct. 12, 2000, bombing, said he was disappointed when he first learned of the decision and remained skeptical. He also faulted Obama for not consulting the families ahead of time.

"In principle, his reason for closing it may be good," Lippold, a defense adviser to Military Families United, told reporters after the hourlong meeting.

Lippold said Obama's stance is "well-intentioned, but the problem I have remains that we still don't have any procedures" for what will become of the terror suspects after the detention center is closed.

Lippold was commander of the USS Cole when al-Qaida suicide bombers struck as it sat in a port in Yemen, killing 17 U.S. sailors.

The White House said Obama made clear at the meeting, held next door at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, that his most important responsibility is keeping the American people safe.

He also explained why he thinks closing the Guantanamo facility will make the country safer and "help ensure that those who are guilty receive swift and certain justice within a legal framework that is durable, and that helps America fight terrorism more effectively around the world."

The meeting took place a day after a senior Pentagon judge dropped charges against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, an al-Qaida suspect held at Guantanamo and accused of masterminding the USS Cole bombing. New charges against al-Nashiri could be brought later, and he will remain in custody for the time being.

A legal move late Thursday by Susan J. Crawford, the top legal authority for military trials at Guantanamo, marked the last active war crimes case there.

The Obama administration is reviewing the system to make sure the 245 suspects remaining there are given international and U.S. legal rights. That review largely will determine whether the terror suspects should be tried in U.S. courts or released to other countries.

The White House said the meeting was the first the USS Cole victims have had with a president.

Lippold said the meeting was very emotional, and that the discussion largely focused on how to deal with the detainees, the impact of the decision on trials and what it would mean to the U.S. image abroad.

He said he expected the families would be asked for input after the 120-day review period.

"I'm looking forward to working with them as we have never had an opportunity as families to help shape policy when it comes to keeping our nation safe," Lippold said.

John Clodfelter, an Air Force veteran who lost his son, Kenneth, on the USS Cole, said he went into the meeting with a negative attitude.

"I didn't vote for the man," he said, still emotional hours after the meeting. "But ... the way he conducts himself, the way he talks, you can't help but believe him."

Clodfelter also expressed frustration with the lack of a trial for al-Nashiri eight years after the attack.

"We should have already had this man tried and executed if that's what the case is," he said. "I can't imagine an American that's in one of our prisons for eight years without anything being done for him."

Sally Regenhard, who lost her son, Christian, during the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on New York's World Trade Center, said the families had a good experience with Obama.

"He said that he's going to make sure that justice is done regarding the terrorists," she said in a telephone interview. "And we'll have an open line of communication with the White House regarding the family members. That's revolutionary."

"He assured us that he wants the same things that we want," Regenhard added.

___

Associated Press writer Amy Westfeldt in New York contributed to this report.

Credit where credit's due

http://www.911blogger.com/blog

Jon Gold
2/6/2009

Yesterday, President Obama met with several 9/11 Family Members. Those that are familiar to us would be Sally Regenhard, Lorie Van Auken, Mindy Kleinberg, Patty Casazza, and Kristen Breitweiser.

Washington Post reports:

Lorie Van Auken, a leader of September 11th Advocates, a group headed by four New Jersey women who lost their husbands in the attacks, called the meeting "impressive," saying Obama gave detailed answers to their questions and allayed many of their concerns. She said the president did not rule out some form of military commissions in the future and acknowledged shortcomings in dealing with terrorism suspects in regular criminal courts.

"He acknowledged this was quite a mess and it really needed to be looked at by his legal team and by him," said Van Auken, whose husband, Kenneth Van Auken, was killed in the World Trade Center and whose group supports closing Guantanamo Bay. "I think everybody recognized, no matter which side of the issue they're on, that this is a quagmire that will not be solved easily."

Mindy Kleinberg, another member of the group, said Obama also made clear that "nobody is just going to get freed by the closing of Guantanamo."

"I think the point was that you have to make sure they have a system in place that can actually work," said Kleinberg, whose husband, Alan Kleinberg, also died in the World Trade Center. "I think even the people who came to the meeting who wanted to keep it open could understand his point of view."

Sally Regenhard had this to say:

"He said that he's going to make sure that justice is done regarding the terrorists," she said in a telephone interview. "And we'll have an open line of communication with the White House regarding the family members. That's revolutionary."

"He assured us that he wants the same things that we want," Regenhard added.

Now, I'm no fan of President Obama, but the fact that he was willing to give time to the families, and promised them "an open line of communication with the White House" is as Sally Regenhard said, "revolutionary." Especially when you take into account how the previous White House treated the 9/11 families.

So thank you President Obama for giving them the time of day.

This is nice to see.

It is nice to see that a line of communication and more direct contact with the President's office has been established with the Jersey girls.
NORTH TEXANS FOR TRUTH
http://www.northtexas911truth.com/
(More than 30,000 DVDs have been distributed in our area.)

It actually leaves me feeling discouraged

Sally Regenhard says Obama is 'going to make sure justice is done regarding the terrorists.'

But how can there be justice done without a real criminal investigation to determine who the actual perps were? Not a word about that.

The terrorists are on U.S. soil alright--and have been without interruption since 9/11.

I sympathize with the Jersey widows for all they've been through, but it seems, sadly, that they really believe the alleged perps are the actual perps.--and that the rest was all 'negligence.'

Summary of 9/11 Families Meeting with President Obama - 2/6/09

http://groups.google.com/group/911-list-serv/browse_thread/thread/5b15f1...

Summary of 9/11 Families Meeting with President Obama - 2/6/09 **

February 6, 2009: 9/11and USS Cole Families Meeting with President Barack
Obama
by Deputy Chief Jim Riches FDNY

President Obama met on Friday Feb. 6,2009 in the Executive Office Building
with 40 family members from the 9/11 WTC, Pentagon, Shanksville and the USS
Cole attacks.

President Obama came in and met each family member and shook hands and
talked for a little with each family.

President Obama expressed his thoughts on our great sacrifice for the loss
of our loved ones. He then explained that he had dropped the charges against
USS Cole terrorist, but that he would not let him go free and would recharge
him as he was an evil man and dangerous.

Next, President Obama told us that Guantanamo was a stain on the reputation
of the United States and that many associated it with Abu Gahraib. He told us
that the 9/11 and Cole trials were basically moving very slowly and not the
way that he thought it should be going. He said he and his team of lawyers
are looking over all aspects of cases and during this 120 day cooling off
period, come up with their selected process of prosecution. My opinion is that he
is not too happy with the Military Commissions and probably will move cases
to another process or modify them. He cited the delays and Supreme Court
decisions and then the prospect of overturn by appeal if the trials were to
continue in Military Commissions.

President Obama then took questions from the family members for about 40
minutes.

Here is a sampling of some of the Questions & Answers:

Q: Consider keeping Gitmo open , have his team go there?

A: President Obama shot that down and said it will close within a year as
per his executive order.

=====

Q: People were afraid of terrorists coming to US soil for trial ?

A: President Obama said that he was elected to protect us for the next 4
years and that he would protect our cities, twin towers, etc.

===========

Q: I told him that I, Deputy Chief Jim Riches, FDNY, picked up the bodies
at WTC in 2001 and 2002. I saw the results of their evil actions. There has
been no accountability after 8 years; I saw these thugs at Gitmo in 2009 admit
their guilt, say they were proud of 9/11 and calling for Jihad in court, I
asked him if there would there be more transparency and showing of the trials
so that all of America and the world could see the outrageous behavior of
these terrorists. I also asked him to catch Bin Laden.

A: President Obama said there would be transparency in his administration
and the trials and would hope to not let these evil men be released and
promised me SWIFT and CERTAIN JUSTICE and his job was to keep America safe.

==========

Q: concerns about classified documents getting in terrorists hands if moved
to federal court.?

A: President Obama said they would make sure we were safe and keep
classified documents away from them which would endanger America.

==============
Q: Torture evidence? What would happen?

A: President Obama said some evidence obtained by torture may not hold up
in court, but they would craft solutions to this to assure guilty parties are
not freed.

===========

Q: Can we have access to the numerous pages of 9/11 Commission reports that
have been blacked out and never released.?

A: President Obama said he would look into it.

===========

Q: USS Cole families request 9/11 type Commission and also want to know why
compensation from lawsuit that they won,has been appealed only by the Dept.
of Justice?

A: President Obama said they would look into Commission and knew nothing
about DOJ appeal and would get back to them.

=======

Q: Asked if the Hague could be involved in prosecution?

A: President Obama said probably not because it was for war crimes and very
technical concerning terrorist attacks

President Obama promised to keep dialogue with families open as his aides
will be liaisons and he took e-mail addresses and phone numbers of all in
attendance. President Obama said he hoped to have 9/11 and Cole families as part
of process.

Q & A: Again asked to keep Gitmo open and reconsider, but he said the
Detention Center will be closed within 1 year as per his executive order.

=============

There were other questions , but the main point is he is against Gitmo and
feels it is a stain on America.

Now, we must wait , he says no longer than the 120 days to find out his
plan to prosecute and bring these terrorists to justice. President Obama
promised "swift and certain justice!" President Obama said it is not the time to
look back, but to look forward.

The families were all very grateful and thanked the President for taking
time out of his busy schedule in these rough economic times while still trying
to forge an economic stimulus package, to allay our fears, to answer our
questions, console us, talk to us and let us be a part of the process.

I left the meeting feeling that President Obama was sincere in what he said.
I believe that President Obama will assure the prosecution of those who have
aided, abetted or committed acts of terrorism. Hopefully, the terrorists
will be tried with the fundamental fairness as exemplified in the history of
American justice. Only time will tell as we await justice for our loved ones who
were MURDERED on 9/11/01.

We wish President Obama every success in the stewardship of our beloved
country.

God speed. God bless America.

Deputy Chief Jim Riches FDNY father of Firefighter Jimmy Riches L114 9/11
hero

Claptrap

'President Obama said some evidence obtained by torture may not hold up
in court, but they would craft solutions to this to assure guilty parties are
not freed.'

What utter BS politician-speak.

And just how will they assure that 'guilty parties' really are 'guilty parties'?

'Crafting solutions'--Oh, they'll 'craft solutions' alright!

Meeting Is Pure Theater That Reinforces Official Myth

This meeting and alleged new White House "bridge" with the families is meaningless theater without a new inward-looking investigation.

Agreed

I also feel disappointed by the comments of these women. It's as if they really want to believe the official story as much as possible.

And so down the crapper goes

And so down the crapper goes the oft-repeated argument that if we just push the anguish and plight of the family members in seeking a new investigation -- as opposed to exposing the many glaring forensic contradictions -- we can break this thing open. Despite all the high dudgeon expressed in "Press for Truth," the women kissed ass when the spotlight was shining again. They reinforced the myth as effectively as any Fox News debunker and undermined the entire movement.

They didn't...

Kiss anyone's ass. They simply showed gratitude for Obama giving them the time of day, whereas the previous administration did not. For 7 1/2 years, these women have had to contend with the criminal Bush White House. This was a nice change for them. As far as them reinforcing "the myth as effectively as any Fox News debunker," and the claim that they "underminded" the entire movement, did you want them to scream 9/11 was an inside job? They asked Obama specifically about declassifying 9/11 information. Unfortunately, the media didn't bother to cover those requests, or, as I'm finding out, many other things that happened there as well.


Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?

That's just disgusting. Did

That's just disgusting. Did you lose any loved ones on 9/11 like these women did? Do you have any semblance or inkling as to what they have been through? It's comments like these that make this "movement" look really bad. Were you present at the meeting? Have you read a transcript? How do you know what the women asked? How do you know they "kissed ass?"

Justin A. Martell
www.formyourown.org
www.jamartell.blogspot.com

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand at the mongrel dogs who teach! Fearing not that I'd become my enemy in the instant that I preach! My pathway led by confusion boats...mutiny from stern to bow!

By reading their public

By reading their public statements. Do you have any information which demonstrates that they questioned the entire premise of the GWOT in light of the issues brought up in PFT? What would YOU have said if you'd had a microphone in YOUR face under the circumstances? There are two aspects to the situation: the meeting itself, and the opportunity to use the media when they were being interviewed afterward.

Maybe they've been drinking too much Obama Kool-Aid. But the issue of rearranging Gitmo prisoners is tantamount to Titanic deck chairs. Activists (and stalwarts like Bob McIlvane) have been spitting lungs on their behalf without a fraction of the media attention this meeting afforded.

So you tell me -- if you'd lost a loved one on 9/11, what would you have done? Your signature statement is at odds with your comment here.

As Mr. Riches pointed out,

As Mr. Riches pointed out, Obama was asked about the declassification of pertinent 9/11 information. What did you want them to do? Scream 9/11 was an inside job? They were there trying to build bridges, not destroy them before they're even built.

Also, these women don't drink "Kool-Aid," not even Obama's. They have been very critical of the official account and probably the most effective truth seekers. All they said was that they were happy that he met with them and that they agreed with his decision with regard to Gitmo. You should really think things over before you post ridiculous comments.

Justin A. Martell
www.formyourown.org
www.jamartell.blogspot.com

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand at the mongrel dogs who teach! Fearing not that I'd become my enemy in the instant that I preach! My pathway led by confusion boats...mutiny from stern to bow!