Obama To Meet Victims, Relatives Of 9/11 Attacks

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Obama Talks to Sept. 11, USS Cole Families About Guantanamo Prison

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

By Peter Finn and Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, February 7, 2009; Page A03

President Obama assured relatives and victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the bombing of the USS Cole that he is keeping an open mind about how to handle the approximately 245 detainees held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, according to participants in an hour-long meeting yesterday at the White House.

The president met with about 40 family members and victims, who hold different views on his decision to close the prison in Cuba within a year. The exchange, which was sometimes passionate but never acrimonious, left some who were deeply skeptical of the administration's decision to suspend military commissions at Guantanamo Bay satisfied that the president has not yet decided to abolish the current system of prosecuting suspected terrorists.

Obama told the group that he was only hitting the "pause button" when he sought the suspension of proceedings against 21 detainees, including Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks. And he assured the group that he wants the swift prosecution of those responsible for the terrorist attacks and their facilitators.

"It was evident he was genuinely conflicted about the best approach," said Hamilton Peterson of Bethesda, who lost his father and stepmother on United Flight 93 and thinks Guantanamo Bay should be kept open. "All of us were impressed with his sincerity and the amount of time he spent with us."

The White House press office said Obama wanted yesterday's meeting "to be just the beginning of a dialogue."

"The President started the meeting by thanking those in attendance for serving as the nation's conscience and continuing to speak out about these tragic events," the White House said in a brief statement describing the session. "The President made it clear that his most important responsibility is to keep the American people safe. He explained why he believes that closing Guantanamo will make our nation 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 administration is examining the profile of each Guantanamo Bay detainee to determine who can be released, who can be prosecuted and how. Officials have not settled on a legal strategy for prosecution, which could involve reforming the current system of military commissions or, as human rights groups advocate, shifting trials to federal courts or military courts-martial.

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."

Kirk S. Lippold, former commanding officer of the USS Cole, which was bombed in Yemen in 2000, emerged from the White House sounding much more open to Obama's decisions than he had earlier.

"The most important thing that came out of this for me and for many of the families there was the fact that the president agreed to have an open door," he said outside the White House.

"There was passion and emotion, but it was enormously respectful," Peterson said. "I was extremely satisfied and impressed with his facility with the issues and his genuine commitment to take into consideration the views of family members who want to see Guantanamo rehabilitated, not dispensed with."

[Gold9472]

I Have To Give Credit When Credit Is Due

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.

[Gold9472]

9/11, Cole victims' families pleased after visit with President Obama over Gitmo

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...ed_after_.html

BY James Gordon Meek
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Saturday, February 7th 2009, 6:24 AM

WASHINGTON - President Obama vowed "swift justice" for the 9/11 plotters when he met with relatives of the 2001 attack's victims Friday, calming them about his plan to shut down Guantanamo Bay's prison and delay some terror trials.

When the emotional and dramatic White House meeting was over an hour later - double the alloted time - Obama looked at photos of slain loved ones brought by their families and signed copies of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

He asked each of the 40 who attended for their names and shook hands one by one with the 9/11 kin, as well as relatives of 17 Navy sailors slain in the October 2000 Al Qaeda attack on the destroyer Cole in Yemen.

"This is just the start of our dialogue," Obama told them gently, promising future meetings with his aides. "This is not a goodbye - it's a hello."

Some begged the new President to keep the prison at the U.S. naval base in Cuba open and expressed fear of more delays caused by his order to halt military commission prosecutions for four months.

Carol Ashley, whose daughter Janice was killed on 9/11, told the Daily News, "He gave us time to hear our concerns."

Obama heard them out, but explained that the military trials were "flawed" and Gitmo has "tarnished America's image," said Lorie Van Auken, whose husband, Kenneth, died in the World Trade Center.

"It was an amazing meeting," she swooned.

"I feel okay - I'm gonna give him a chance," said retired FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches, whose firefighter son Jimmy was killed in the twin towers and who has been wary of Gitmo closing.

"He's not stopping it," insisted Jamal Gunn, whose brother Cherone was murdered when the Cole was bombed.

Obama just wants to get the prosecutions right and feared losing appeals of military cases, Gunn said.

Most of the terrorists at Gitmo's Camp Delta will land in prisons inside the U.S. and be tried in civilian courts, the President said, according to those in the room.

"His goal is swift justice," Ashley said.

Asked by a reporter afterward if any feared the release of thugs like 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a dozen relatives replied in unison: "No."

"This gave us hope we can one day trust our government again," said Mindy Kleinberg, the widow of World Trade Center worker Alan Kleinberg. "I think he was able to allay everybody's fears."

Kleinberg and Van Auken were half of the outspoken team of New Jersey widows known as the "Jersey Girls," who, along with Ashley and others, pressed Congress to create the 9/11 Commission.

Most at Friday's meeting never got an audience with ex-President Bush.

"We didn't have that opportunity with President Bush," said 9/11 activist Mary Fetchet, whose son Brad was killed.

At one point, her husband, Frank, choked up as he spoke to Obama, she said. But most emotions stayed in check.

The day brought together for the first time 9/11 kin and families of Cole sailors who died days before the 2000 election. The Cole attack was "swept under the rug ... and it created a big monster," said Mona Gunn, Cherone's mom.

Van Auken reached over and wrapped her arm around the Gold Star mother as they stood in front of the White House.

"Bush tried to sweep 9/11 under the rug, too," she said.

[Gold9472]

OBAMA PROMISES ACTION IN MEETING WITH VICTIMS' KIN

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02072009..._vi_153943.htm

By CHARLES HURT
Last updated: 3:04 am
February 7, 2009
Posted: 2:36 am
February 7, 2009

WASHINGTON - President Obama held an emotional meeting yesterday with family members of 9/11 victims and told them he wants "swift and certain justice" for the jailed terrorists.

The family members gave the president high marks for his forthright attitude during the hour-long session in the Old Executive Office Building about his plan to close Guantanamo Bay prison and halt trials there.

"I didn't want this to be, 'Obama schmoozing 9/11 families' - and he didn't do that," said Debra Burlingame, whose brother was a pilot aboard the hijacked American Airlines jet that hit the Pentagon on Sept. 11.

About 30 to 40 people, including relatives of sailors who died in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, another al Qaeda target, attended.

"He was very knowledgeable about the issues and was very engaged and asked a lot of questions," said Lorie van Auken.

When one family member said he hopes Obama gets down to see Guantanamo firsthand before he closes it, the president acknowledged with a smile that he had not been there, witnesses said.

Burlingame, who wants Gitmo to remain open, said the meeting didn't change her mind, but helped her understand Obama's point of view.

[Gold9472]

Obama provides comfort -- but no assurance -- on 9/11 prosecutions

http://blog.nj.com/njv_bob_braun/200...rt_but_no.html

Posted by Bob Braun/Star-Ledger Columnist February 08, 2009 8:21PM

Representatives of families who lost relatives to the 9/11 attacks are satisfied with the new president's handling of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.

For now. But expectations may be too high.

"After years of having doors shut in our faces, he opened the doors to us, and it was wonderful," said Diane Horning of Scotch Plains, one of 53 family members who crowded into a small conference room in the old Executive Office Building next to the White House to meet President Obama Friday. She lost her son Matthew in the attacks.

"I was delighted by how he spoke with us, and he promised this was just the beginning," said Sally Regenhard of the Bronx. "We're going to have a continuing relationship with him." Her son Christian, a New York firefighter, was killed.

Mindy Kleinberg of East Brunswick, whose husband Alan died that day, said she believed Obama "would get it right this time"-- in his handling of terror suspects.

Kleinberg is one of the so-called "Jersey girls," five women who pressed early on for an investigation into the 9/11 attacks.

Other family members -- including relatives of those killed in the attack on the USS Cole in October 2000 -- told other media outlets they were satisfied with the session.

Although family members follow an unwritten code never to criticize each other publicly, the groups are split along the same partisan lines as the rest of the nation -- but their private differences often are intensely felt.

The meeting included some who campaigned for George Bush in 2004 -- Debra Burlingame -- and John Kerry supporters, like Kleinberg and Monica Gabrielle. Yet relatives reported the session was free of contentiousness. Obama, said Horning, "was a calming influence."

"You could feel his compassion," she said, noting he greeted each family member individually and paused to look at pictures they brought of victims. "He didn't talk down to us, and he made an effort to explain his views."

Obama didn't say much he hadn't said before, participants reported. He is determined to close Guantanamo because, to allies and enemies alike, it is tied to abuses in places like Abu Ghraib, the military prison outside Baghdad.

He asked for time to find a way of handling the cases -- ranging from hundreds of detainees taken from Afghanistan who may or may not be dangerous to a man like Khalid Sheik Muhammad, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

"He said he would find a way to bring swift justice to them," Regenhard said.

Not easy. Despite his assurances, Obama, a constitutional law professor before he entered politics, knows the constraints that may seem mere technicalities to families.

Regenhard, for example, believes the admissions of guilt by some -- including Muhammad -- counter confessions secured by torture. "They had a chance to recant."

Kleinberg said she believed that, despite Obama's best intentions, it is too late to create any sort of trial mechanism that could provide fair trials that would pass constitutional standards once reviewed in appeals courts.

"The previous president created this quagmire -- I'm not sure we can ever get out of it, at least not with real trials," Kleinberg said. She said she believed members of the previous administration should be held accountable for the failure of the system to work.

Obama told the relatives he would prosecute any official found to have violated the law in dealing with detainees, but few participants believed that would happen.

The Bush administration created military commissions that processed few prisoners, some held for seven years without trial or even charges. Only one, Salim Hamdan, was convicted -- and he is now free in his native Yemen; another, David Hicks, pleaded guilty, and he, too, is free, in Australia. Neither was convicted of serious charges and spent a few months in confinement afterward.

Conventional federal courts have a better record, including the conviction and life imprisonment of Zacarias Moussaoui, at one time believed to be a hijacker who was dropped from the 9/11 plans before they were executed.

Obama left the participants, not only with the hope he would find a way to try 9/11 defendants and other terrorists, but also would -- through his staff -- maintain interest in a variety of causes the family members embrace.

Horning, for example, left him with photographs and other materials dramatizing her efforts to bring the ashen remains of 9/11 victims out of the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island. Regenhard, who heads groups dedicated to building safety and the health of firefighters, said she believes Obama will be concerned about those issues.

"I am convinced he will follow through," Regenhard said.

[Gold9472]

Terror victims deliver dueling messages over Obama meeting

http://www.miamiherald.com/1218/story/897516.html

BY CAROL ROSENBERG
crosenberg@MiamiHerald.com

Days after President Barack Obama heard from victims of al Qaeda at the White House, some participants are issuing dueling press releases on the president's plan to empty the prison camps at Guantánamo.

Retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold fired the first rhetorical shot across the bow Monday with a challenge to the president to include military families in national security decisions.

Lippold, now a fellow at the advocacy group Military Families United, lost 17 American sailors under his command to a suicide bombing of the USS Cole off Aden, Yemen, in October 2000.

In addition, he had a role as strategic planner at the Pentagon when the Bush administration set up detainee policy -- and he opposes emptying detainees from Guantánamo and abandoning the Bush formula for Military Commissions.

''We look forward to working with him to craft policies on the future of the Guantánamo Bay detainees, the completion of our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and providing the funding that our military and veterans deserve,'' he said.

Tuesday brought a reply from the so-called Jersey Girls, widows of men who died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and consider the prison camps ``an enormous stain on America's reputation:

''The Military Commissions System, which allowed evidence obtained through torture and coercive interrogation tactics, has been a dismal failure both legally and practically,'' wrote Patty Casazza, Monica Gabrielle, Mindy Kleinberg and Lorie Van Auken.

The women were among 40 or so relatives of men and women killed on Sept. 11, 2001 and at the USS Cole who met with Obama on Guantánamo policy Friday, along with Lippold.

The White House arranged the meeting to enlist survivors' support for the 120-day pause in the trials, which they called an attempt ``to fix the quagmire that was created by the previous administration.

Obama held the meeting a day after a Bush appointee at the military commissions withdrew Cole conspiracy charges against a Guantánamo captive, Abd el Rahim Nashiri, a Saudi, to give the new administration time to study the best way to prosecute accused terrorists and war criminals.

Lippold was especially angry about that decision -- ''the families have been through enough,'' he said -- because the Pentagon had already lined up family members to travel to Guantánamo for a pre-trial hearing.

One issue in the Nashiri case is that the CIA waterboarded him in secret custody somewhere overseas before his September 2006 transfer to Guantánamo. Attorney General Eric Holder considers waterboarding torture, meaning evidence gleaned that way would not be admissible at trial.

''If, ultimately, the detainees held at Guantánamo Bay are unable to be properly prosecuted because of the fatal flaws in the system, then those in the Bush administration who were responsible for creating that failed system should be held accountable,'' the widows' statement said.

Moreover Nashiri told U.S. military officers at a status hearing in Guantánamo in March 2007 that he concocted a confession to please his CIA captors. ''From the time I was arrested five years ago, they have been torturing me,'' he said then, according to a Pentagon transcript.

That hearing was closed to the media, meaning only attorneys assigned to defend him and delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross have actually seen him -- in addition to the CIA and his U.S. military jailers.

[Gold9472]

September 11th Advocates Statement Regarding Guantanamo Quagmire and Accountability

For Immediate Release
February 10, 2009

The Military Commissions System at Guantanamo Bay was an attempt by the Bush Administration to create an “extralegal zone”, wherein the rule of law was ignored. Many Guantanamo detainees were subject to detention without charges, rendition and illegal torture. The Military Commissions System, which allowed evidence obtained through torture and coercive interrogation tactics, has been a dismal failure both legally and practically. The Supreme Court has rejected the policies of this system each time it has reviewed them. Because of the Bush Administration’s mistaken belief in its ability to craft a new legal system, which clearly created avoidable moral and legal challenges, justice may never be served.

President Obama has paused all proceedings at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days in order for his legal team to attempt to design a system in which the verdicts will withstand the scrutiny of the inevitable appeals process. He is rightfully attempting to fix the quagmire that was created by the previous administration.

If, ultimately, the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay are unable to be properly prosecuted because of the fatal flaws in the system, then those in the Bush Administration who were responsible for creating that failed system should be held accountable.

# # #

Patty Casazza
Monica Gabrielle
Mindy Kleinberg
Lorie Van Auken