Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder
The Obama Administration and its FBI and DOJ have come under fire again, from other American federal agencies and Congressional Republicans, for their handling of foreign terrorist suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
Many still contend the FBI were not the best choice to interrogate him, he should not have been read Miranda Rights as he is an "enemy combatant" and should be sent to the U.S. prison, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
The most qualified team should have interrogated him and according to expertise and government rank, it is not the FBI. However, the FBI claims they gained useful intel from Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
I find it hard to believe a radicalized young man that went as far as he did is just spilling his guts, especially when he knows he is not likely to see freedom again. I don't believe the account being given in the press. Several pieces of this story are missing.
The Judiciary Report is of the belief, it is okay to try and convict terrorists on U.S. soil, provided it is done in a remote region of the country, away from civilians. However, the more qualified interrogators should get the ball rolling first.
As for reading Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab his Miranda rights, that is dependent on the type of trial he is to face. If the government is going to try him under the U.S. criminal system that civilian lawbreakers face, then it is a matter of law. If he is tried on U.S. soil under the military system for criminals, that's another story.
Side Bar: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's dad must be so disappointed, as he's had a distinguished career and paid good money to send his son to prestigious schools in Nigeria and London, only for him to take this devastating route. It's another reason people should avoid becoming radicalized terrorists - the hurt and disappointment it causes one's family.
Holder: I made decision to charge terror suspect
Wednesday, February 3, 2010; 3:52 PM
WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday he made the decision to charge the Christmas Day terror suspect in civilian court rather than the military system, with no objection from all the other relevant departments of the government.
In a letter to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, the attorney general wrote that the FBI told its partners in the intelligence community on Christmas Day and again the next day that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab would be charged criminally.
Holder's letter was the latest volley in a vigorous counterattack by the Obama administration to Republican charges that the arrest and FBI interrogation of the Detroit suspect was a mistake that cost a chance to learn key information.
The letter followed less than 24 hours after senior administration officials disclosed that the suspect had resumed talking to U.S. interrogators last week after breaking off his discussions the day of his arrest...
FBI Director Robert Mueller testified Tuesday that FBI agents questioned Abdulmutallab until he entered surgery, and that the suspect was not advised of his Miranda right to remain silent until after he emerged from surgery. A federal law enforcement official, requesting anonymity to discuss an ongoing case, said the suspect made clear upon emerging from surgery he was going to stop talking and then was given his Miranda warning.
"Neither advising Abdulmutallab of his Miranda rights nor granting him access to counsel prevents us from obtaining intelligence from him," wrote Holder "On the contrary, history shows that the federal justice system is an extremely effective tool for gathering intelligence."...
http://www.washingtonpost.com
