Most alarming

Vice President Joe Biden was on Meet the Press this past Sunday. The topic came up on very quickly about the hot topic in our country today, how to deal with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Here is part of the transcript between Mr. Gregory (the host) and our own Vice President.

MR. GREGORY: Let me turn to some of the issues that you and, of course, the rest of the administration are dealing with. Let me start with terrorism and the controversy surrounding the proposed trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The attorney general ordered a civilian trial to be held in New York. Now it appears that that decision has been withdrawn. It's unclear what's going to happen. The reason for a civilian trial as given by the president and others was a question of perception, that it was very important that the rest of the world see that we'd treated Khalid Sheikh Mohammed fairly. But hasn't the administration already made the decision that even if he were to be acquitted that he would never be released?

VICE PRES. BIDEN: Look, there's no doubt that he would not be acquitted; the facts we have are overwhelming. We're absolutely confident he will be convicted in whatever for he is tried. The attorney general made the decision that he should be tried in the court of the greatest jurisdiction, which was in New York City. There has been significant response coming from the city and congressional delegation requiring the president to have to take a look at this again. That decision as to where he's going to be tried and exactly when is something that is being considered right now. But he will be tried...

MR. GREGORY: But Mr. Vice President...

VICE PRES. BIDEN: ...he will be held accountable.

MR. GREGORY: But wait a minute, you--but the question I asked is whether a decision has already been made that even if he were to be acquitted, he would never be released.

VICE PRES. BIDEN: David, I'm not going to speculate on that. He will not be acquitted; he will be found guilty. He will be in jail, and he will stay there.

MR. GREGORY: But here is what the attorney general said last November on this question of what would happen if he were acquitted. This is what he said:

(Videotape, November 18, 2009)

ATT. GEN. ERIC HOLDER: If there were the possibility that a trial was not successful, that would not mean that that person would be released into, into our country. That, that would--that is not a possibility.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY: It's rather clear what he's saying: If he were acquitted, he's not going to be released in America. I can't imagine the United States is going to release him somewhere in the Middle East or elsewhere around the world. So isn't the conclusion that he's going to stay a prisoner of the United States. And, if that's the case, despite your confidence in his conviction...

VICE PRES. BIDEN: No, it's not the case.

MR. GREGORY: ...despite your confidence in conviction, what is--where is the fairness--the perception of fairness in our system?

VICE PRES. BIDEN: David, he--the, the--what the attorney general said, he would not be released into America, that is a fact. But we're not even going to have to get to that place. I'm not going to speculate on what would happen to him if, in fact, he were acquitted. I assure you, I assure you, acquitted or not, he will not be walking the streets of the United States of America. He will not be acquitted.

MR. GREGORY: By such statements, are you prejudging the trial, and doesn't that undercut the, the goal of fairness by the rest of the world in our judicial system?

VICE PRES. BIDEN: No, look, I'm part of a team that heads up the prosecutorial apparatus of the federal government. We are confident in our case.

MR. GREGORY: Are you ruling out a military commission?

VICE PRES. BIDEN: Name me a prosecutor--I am not ruling anything out. What I am telling you is he will be held accountable under the law. We have improved military commissions considerably. The fact of the matter is, the only reason there's any discussion going on about whether or not the trial will take place in an Article III court in the court of jurisdiction with the broadest jurisdiction, New York City, is because of the response of the Congress requiring the president to have to consider the consequences of failing to heed their, their, basically, their, their concerns. So this is a discussion taking place. The decision will be made by the president. He will be held accountable. A military tribunal is available. It is the less preferable way to go. But one way or another, he will be held accountable.


First of all, this man was caught in an act of war against the US, and thus needs to come before a military tribunal and answer for his alleged actions, not go to some sort of civilian trial in NYC.
Second, the Vice President of our country does not need to come on national television and no fewer than five times undo everything our 6th Amendment stands for. If this person is headed to civilian court he is always INNOCENT before proven guilty. Our very own Vice President is going against the very Bill of Rights that help make our country great saying things like, "He will not be acquitted; he will be found guilty." and "...he will be held accountable. He will be in jail, and he will stay there."
The Vice President is confronted on the show about the things he says, about the possibility of him prejudging the trial. HIs answer, "No, look, I'm part of a team that heads up the prosecutorial apparatus of the federal government. We are confident in our case." Well Mr. Vice President I am sure 90% of our country was sure OJ Simpson was guilty also, and we all know what happened in that trial.
Bottom line is what are you upholding? Are you upholding the Bill of Rights, the government, or heaven forbid the President who gave him this part on this so called "team."
It seems very clear that in the Vice President's eyes this man IS guilty. But as someone who is very well versed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, since he is a lawyer, I am ashamed that he forgets to abide by our highest law in the land. Mr. Vice President you are NOT above the law, and when you say these things you completely undermine the foundation of the United States of America. You are innocent until proven guilty, if we change that, America becomes no better than any other country.