Profound Comments by Judge at Richard Ried's (Shoe Bomber) Trial

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Rockrivr1

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I read this on another board and thought I'd pass it along here. It's a little long but worth it:

This is new and it's probably going to make it's way to everyone soon. It should! I didn't see this on any news programs ANYPLACE!! Why??? Subject: Terrorist Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it? His trial is over. How much of this Judge's comments did you hear on TV? Everyone should hear what the judge had to say. This is worthy of your time. The real eye opener is that the News did not report anything on it.

US District Court Judge William Young statement in sentencing "shoe bomber" Richard Reid --------------------- JUDGE WILLIAM YOUNG, SENTENCES THE SHOE BOMBER US District Court Judge William Young made the following statement in sentencing "shoe bomber" Richard Reid to prison. It is noteworthy, and deserves to be remembered far longer than he predicts. I commend it to you and anyone you might wish to forward it to. (I hope you will read every word! Pray for more judges like this one.) "January 30, 2003, United States vs.. Reid. Judge Young: "Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. "On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney "On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other. "That's 80 years. "On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. "The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. "The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment. "The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. "This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. "Let me explain this to you: We are not afraid of any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. "There is all too much war talk here. And I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, where we deal with individuals as individuals, and care for individuals as individuals, as human beings we reach out for justice, you are not an enemy combatant. "You are a terrorist. "You are not a soldier in any war. "You are a terrorist. "To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. "Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or that happens to be your view, "You are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. "We do not sign documents with terrorists. "We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court. "You are a big fellow. But you are not that big.You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist. "A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders. "In a very real sense Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were and he said you're no big deal. "You are no big deal.> "What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. "What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? "I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I asked you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty of, and admit you are guilty of doing. "And I have an answer for you.. "It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire record it comes as close to understanding as I know. It seems to me you hate the one thing that is most precious: You hate our freedom. "Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, and to believe or not believe as we individually choose. "Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea. "It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. "It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, and will go on in their representation of you before other judges. "We are about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. "Make no mistake though: It is yet true that we will bear any burden, pay any price, to preserve our freedoms."Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. "The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be forgotten. But this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice.. Justice, not war. Individual justice is in fact being done. "The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged. And juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically - to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice. "See that flag Mr. Reid? "That is the flag of the United States of America. "That flag will fly there long after this is allforgotten. That flag stands for freedom. It always will. "Custody, Mr. Officer. Stand him down."

(How much of this Judge's comments did you hear on our TV sets? ZERO! Please pass this around. Everyone needs to hear what the judge had to say.)
 
I've read that before and it is awesome!

Thank you for posting it again!

[sarcasm] Gee, I wonder why we didn't hear that on any news outlet? Just like I'm still trying to figure out why hillary's subhuman, treasonous comments to our troops in Afghanistan weren't aired on any major news network. [/sarcasm]

:scrutiny: :fire:
 
The Feds are about to release over 100 prisoners from Gitmo Bay because, basically, they figured out that they are nothing more than poor innocent saps who got kidnapped and sold to US forces as "terrorists" for the bounty money. As a result, they spent the last two years locked up thousands of miles from home with no way to communicate with their families or challenge their imprisonment. The President has steadfastly refused to answer to any court for his justification for locking those people up- and now we know that he didn't have any. I wonder how all those fine words about respect for individual freedom and justice sound to those guys?

I love my country, but fear my government- especially under the Ashcroft administration.
 
Sorry p35 but thats not the case. While many of those guys are minor terrorist functionaries, they have been crucial in stopping several terrorist plots simply by sharing the rumors from around the base. These are not stupid innocent farmers.
 
No offense to the original poster, but I'm going to copy and paste the transcript here in a more reader-friendly format.
:)

I hadn't read the actual exchange between them and reids words. Makes it better. :)



(CNN) – The following is a partial transcript of Thursday's court hearing in which Richard Reid was sentenced to life in prison for his confessed plan to try and blow up a jetliner with explosives he had hidden in his shoes. The exchange is between Reid and Judge William Young.


RICHARD REID: I start by praising Allah because life today is no good. I bear witness to this and he alone is right to be worshiped. And I bear witness that Muhammad Sa'laat Alayhi as-Salaam is his last prophet and messenger who is sent to all of mankind for guidance, with the sound guidance for everyone.

Concerning what the Court said? I admit, I admit my actions and I further, I further state that I done them.


JUDGE WILLIAM YOUNG: I didn't hear the last. I admit my actions and then what did you say?


REID: I further admit my allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah. With regards to what you said about killing innocent people, I will say one thing. Your government has killed 2 million children in Iraq. If you want to think about something, against 2 million, I don't see no comparison.

Your government has sponsored the rape and torture of Muslims in the prisons of Egypt and Turkey and Syria and Jordan with their money and with their weapons. I don't know, see what I done as being equal to rape and to torture, or to the deaths of the two million children in Iraq.

So, for this reason, I think I ought not apologize for my actions. I am at war with your country. I'm at war with them not for personal reasons but because they have murdered more than, so many children and they have oppressed my religion and they have oppressed people for no reason except that they say we believe in Allah.

This is the only reason that America sponsors Egypt. It's the only reason they sponsor Turkey. It's the only reason they back Israel.

As far as the sentence is concerned, it's in your hand. Only really it is not even in your hand. It's in Allah's hand. I put my trust in Allah totally and I know that he will give victory to his religion. And he will give victory to those who believe and he will destroy those who wish to oppress the people because they believe in Allah.

So you can judge and I leave you to judge. And I don't mind. This is all I have to say. And I bear witness to Muhammad this is Allah's message.

YOUNG: Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.


On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive one with the other. That's 80 years.

On Count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you on each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million.

The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment.

The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need not go any further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and a just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to you.

We are not afraid of any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here. And I say that to everyone with the utmost respect.

Here in this court where we deal with individuals as individuals, and care for individuals as individuals, as human beings we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or that happens to be your view, you are a terrorist.

And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not treat with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists.

We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You're a big fellow. But you're not that big. You're no warrior. I know warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal guilty of multiple attempted murders.

In a very real sense Trooper Santiago had it right when first you were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were and you said you're no big deal. You're no big deal.

What your counsel, what your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing.

And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you. But as I search this entire record it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose.

Here, in this society, the very winds carry freedom. They carry it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely.

It is for freedom's seek that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their, their representation of you before other judges. We care about it. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties.

Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms.

Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow it will be forgotten. But this, however, will long endure. Here, in this courtroom, and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done.

The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged, and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag still stands for freedom. You know it always will. Custody, Mr. Officer. Stand him down.


REID: That flag will be brought down on the Day of Judgment and you will see in front of your Lord and my Lord and then we will know. (Whereupon the defendant was removed from the courtroom.)


YOUNG: We'll recess. All rise.

_____________________________


Why aren't judges like this man President??
 
Malone LaVeigh,

My sig.

pax

The events of Tuesday, September the 11th, in New York and Washington are great on all levels. ....

The values of this Western civilization under the leadership of America have been destroyed. Those awesome symbolic towers that speak of liberty, human rights, and humanity have been destroyed. They have gone up in smoke.

.....I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed. The U.S. government will lead the American people in -- and the West in general -- into an unbearable hell and a choking life
. – Bin Laden, quoted by CNN report televised in February, 2002. Seen at http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/01/31/gen.binladen.interview/
 
pax,

I don't think saying they want to see our government take away our freedoms (such as they are) is the same as saying they "hate" our vaunted freedoms. Reid, and, elsewhere in the article you linked, bin Laden, both gave reasons they hate America:
I am at war with your country. I'm at war with them not for personal reasons but because they have murdered more than, so many children and they have oppressed my religion and they have oppressed people for no reason except that they say we believe in Allah.
... if killing those who kill our sons is terrorism, then let history be witness that we are terrorists.
We may consider those reasons to be crackpot, but I don't think simple-minded notions like those given by the judge help us understand the problem very well.
 
So Malone, if a guy raped your wife, would you try to "understand why he did it" before taking other measures?
 
Really?

How very odd....I'd always gotten the impression he was a "he."


*shrug*

Change "wife" to "daughter/son" in my post above then, Malone.
 
Malone,

In nearly every interview or proclamation ever given, the jihadists repeatedly say they hate America and Americans. They say they want to take our freedoms away from us.

Often, they point out that the specific freedom they want to take away from us is our freedom of religion. They say the reason they want to do that is because "America is against the establishment of any Islamic government." They believe that the only legitimate government is an Islamic one.

The jihadists are also angry that America won't help them to wipe out the Jews and won't step aside to let them do it either. They believe it is an utter lie to say that the Jews and the Muslims can live at peace with one another, and so they hate that in America, people of different religions do just that. They hate the fact that Jews here are treated just like any other citizen, and that Muslims here are also treated like any other citizens instead of as rulers and lawmakers over the rest of us.

They believe that one day the last Jew will be standing between a tree and a rock and the very rocks will cry out to the Muslims that a Jew is hiding there -- and that only when the last Jew is dead will there be peace between Jew and Muslim.

Since they don't believe there will be any peace until all non-Muslims are converted and all Jews wiped out, they believe it is simply "defending themselves" when they make pre emptive attacks on innocents. That the victims of their attacks fight back makes the jihadists feel justified, "look how many of our people they killed! We must fight back again and defend ourselves!" They are working for peace, after all ...

Because the jihadists preach that they must wipe out their enemies the Jews down to the last man, woman, and child, it is really irrelevant which side started whatever round of battle they are on now. The Jews can't quit, or they die. The jihadists can't quit, either, not because they will be slain but simply because it would keep them from attaining peace at last.

It bears noting that the Jews do not have a reciprocal doctrine of wiping out every Muslim on the planet; for this reason if for no other, it is the jihadists who ought to throw down their arms.

To say that America should force its allies to literally commit suicide by jihadist is simply foolish. The jihadists want us to deliver them up for literal slaughter. Because we won't do that, the jihadists hate America and our freedoms.

If observing these facts makes one a lamebrain, so be it. I think one would have to be considerably lamer of brain to fail to observe them.

pax

Wouldn't the short form have been easier? I think so, too...
 
So Malone, if a guy raped your wife, would you try to "understand why he did it" before taking other measures?
I'm trying to decide if that's a "paper tiger" argument, or just lazy thinking. What did I say to indicate I would do anything "before taking other measures?" Not that the question is worth a reply, but if a large number of men in a certain population had a high incidence of raping and threatening to rape the women of the country, it might be a good idea to have some understanding of the dynamics involved, in addition to taking "other measures." It has to do with having an effective program of response.
 
I have only one thing to say:

Muslim extremists hate our freedom.
Our freedom of religion falls under that. If thinking that way makes me a "lamebrain" I accept that title. But I do believe ignoring the facts and failing to observin who really is the aggressor here is the profile of a lamebrain. Look out beyond your safe bubble, there are people who hate us and want to take our freedom away. And to use reid and bin-laden's (names in un-caps intentionally) reasons for hating America is childish, and a pure unadultered example of ignorance. Look at the facts.
 
Not that the question is worth a reply, but if a large number of men in a certain population had a high incidence of raping and threatening to rape the women of the country, it might be a good idea to have some understanding of the dynamics involved, in addition to taking "other measures." It has to do with having an effective program of response.


could you expand a little on what you're trying to say here? I'm curious what sort of program of reponse you might take besides trying to prevent rape and capturing and punishing the offenders if it does occur.
 
I guess if the shoe fits....

But I do believe ignoring the facts and failing to observin who really is the aggressor here is the profile of a lamebrain. Look out beyond your safe bubble, there are people who hate us and want to take our freedom away. And to use reid and bin-laden's (names in un-caps intentionally) reasons for hating America is childish, and a pure unadultered example of ignorance. Look at the facts.
Jeezus, will you try to comprehend what I wrote? Where did I say to "ignore the facts"? It's you who are ignoring the uncomfortable facts in favor of a fairy tale about bogeymen who "hate our (supposed) freedoms."
I'm curious what sort of program of reponse you might take besides trying to prevent rape and capturing and punishing the offenders if it does occur.
No one said not to do those things. It's just a lot easier if your eyes are open instead of closed.
 
it might be a good idea to have some understanding of the dynamics involved, in addition to taking "other measures."


I'm still curious if you could expand on what you mean by "understanding the dynamics"

I'm assuming the prevention, capture and punishment are the "other measures"?
 
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